Anaheim Ducks vs New Jersey Devils Picks, Prediction, Odds, and Line Movement for Thursday October 22 2026

Anaheim arrives in Newark having dropped four consecutive games, while New Jersey enters 5-4 with a modest minus-one goal differential. That record gives the Devils a legitimate home-ice advantage, particularly because the Ducks have spent much of the week traveling through the Eastern time zone. It does not make the matchup as one-sided as the moneyline suggests. Anaheim has a 3-2 road record despite its overall 4-5 start, and New Jersey has allowed 30 goals through nine games. Both defenses have given opponents opportunities, so a favorite priced close to two-to-one must deliver more than just the presumed advantage of a better recent record.

The Ducks' 5-2 defeat against the Rangers on Monday was followed by another loss to the Islanders on Tuesday, leaving the club chasing the game too frequently on its eastern swing. Anaheim's rush chances have not consistently translated into long offensive-zone possession. The forwards have sometimes arrived at the blue line without enough support, forcing low-percentage attempts or turnovers. That issue can be corrected without major lineup changes if the first forechecker forces New Jersey to turn and the next forward arrives through the slot. A young club can still produce a dangerous offensive period, and Anaheim's speed is the clearest upset route.

The Devils are 4-2 at home, but 29 goals scored and 30 allowed in nine games suggest their early results have not come from completely shutting down opponents. New Jersey recently beat Colorado 4-3, a valuable result against a skilled attack, although it required timely saves and a willingness to handle sustained pressure. If the Devils cannot settle defensive-zone entries, Anaheim can target the space between their defensemen and the backchecking forwards. New Jersey should still enjoy stretches of territorial advantage, especially with last change at home. The issue for a heavy favorite is whether those stretches produce enough clean looks to justify the price.

Lukas Dostal was the projected Ducks starter at the latest check, but confirmation was still pending. New Jersey was initially associated with Jake Allen in earlier goalie listings, yet Thursday's morning skate shifted the expectation toward Nico Daws. Daws was first off the ice and is considered likely, not confirmed. His limited early work includes both an encouraging recent performance and uneven aggregate numbers, making the netminding gap less obvious than an Allen-based assumption might imply. Anaheim needs Dostal to handle New Jersey's traffic better than in its recent losses, but the Devils should not be treated as having a locked-in goaltending advantage.

Anaheim has been without Troy Terry and Ryan Poehling, two players whose different roles matter: Terry provides playmaking and finishing, while Poehling helps with pace and matchup depth. Ian Moore has also been absent. New Jersey's own unavailable players include Nick Bjugstad and Seamus Casey, and its forward rotations have changed as players work back into the lineup. Anaheim will need to spread its offensive chances rather than waiting for one rush line to solve the defense. The Ducks' defensive pairings must also make better decisions at the offensive blue line; New Jersey is capable of breaking quickly if an aggressive pinch fails.

Anaheim was +186 in the 11:05 AM reference market, with New Jersey around -210. A separately identified sportsbook quote listed the Ducks at +180, while another public board showed the underdog closer to +160. These snapshots do not prove a clean book-specific move, but they show why the entry number is central to the opinion. A longshot is less attractive if its price falls by twenty cents without a corresponding improvement in the team's circumstances. The Ducks are not an automatic bet simply because they lost four in a row, and the preference depends on receiving enough compensation for the upset risk.

The Ducks must force New Jersey's defenders to skate back toward their own goal, not let them advance cleanly through the neutral zone. That means placing pucks behind the defense, recovering them on the forecheck and turning the resulting scrambles into chances between the circles. A patient first period would help a traveling team that has struggled when falling behind. The Devils are better positioned to dictate the game if they score early and force Anaheim to chase. The underdog case depends on a close first forty minutes, a more competitive goaltending matchup than the opening label implies, and one decisive special-teams chance.

Best Bet: Anaheim Ducks moneyline (+180). This is a deliberately aggressive plus-money pick, not a declaration that Anaheim has the stronger form. New Jersey deserves to be favored, but its defensive leakage and the probable Daws start leave room for an upset at a large return. The missing Ducks forwards and recent losing streak are substantial risks. Prediction: Anaheim Ducks 4, New Jersey Devils 3. The projected one-goal finish fits the straight moneyline; confirm the exact available underdog quote and both starters before publication.