Detroit Red Wings vs. Anaheim Ducks Picks and Prediction for Friday, October 31, 2025
Use Code WWWC Detroit Red Wings (7-3-0) vs. Anaheim Ducks (5-3-1)
The 2025-26 NHL betting action continues Friday, October 31, with a small three-game card, and in this preview, we are breaking down the cross-conference battle from Honda Center in Anaheim, CA, to get you the Red Wings vs. Ducks prediction.
Detroit and Anaheim open their two-game regular-season series, and the Ducks are -140 moneyline favorites with a total of 6.5 goals. Last season, they split a two-game set, with each team emerging victorious on the home ice.
Read more about this Red Wings vs. Ducks prediction, and check out all our NHL picks for Friday’s slate. The puck drop at Honda Center is set at 10:00 PM ET. Thursday’s games have been excluded from the analysis, and the Red Wings visited the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday night.
The Red Wings play without rest
The Detroit Red Wings were looking for their third straight victory on Thursday night. In their previous two outings, the Red Wings beat the St. Louis Blues twice, 6-4 as slight -105 home dogs and 5-2 in a pick ‘em contest in Saint Louis.
Get Free $30 Credit for Premium Picks + Exclusive Discounts
Subscribe Now
The Red Wings were second in the Atlantic Division on Thursday morning, two points behind the Montreal Canadiens. Detroit was 10th in the NHL in goals for (3.50 per game) and tied for 19th in goals against (3.10).
Cam Talbot was confirmed for Thursday’s clash against the Kings, which means that we will see John Gibson in the crease on Friday. Gibson, who spent the previous 12 seasons with the Ducks, joined the Red Wings in the offseason. He’s 4-2-0 with a 3.20 GAA and a .876 save percentage in 2025-26.
Detroit will probably miss Patrick Kane (upper body). The veteran winger hasn’t played since October 17, and Kane hopes to rejoin the team in the next few days. He’s accounted for two goals and three assists in five appearances this season.
The Ducks start a three-game homestand
The Anaheim Ducks just finished their five-game road trip with a 3-1-1 record. During that stretch, the Ducks have lost at the Chicago Blackhawks 2-1 in overtime and the Tampa Bay Lightning 4-3 while beating the Nashville Predators 5-2, the Boston Bruins 7-5, and the Florida Panthers 3-2 in a shootout.
The Ducks were fifth in the Pacific Division on Thursday morning. They ranked 12th in the NHL in goals for (3.44 per game) and 24th in goals against (also 3.44). Leo Carlsson leads the way for Anaheim with four goals and seven assists, while Cutter Gauthier is the team’s leading goalscorer with six.
Lukas Dostal is expected to guard the cage on Friday night. The 25-year-old netminder is 3-3-1 with a 2.84 GAA and a .906 save percentage, while Petr Mrazek is 2-0-0 with a 5.52 GAA and a .831 save percentage.
The Ducks cannot count on center Mikael Granlund (lower body). Defenseman Radko Gudas (lower body) is questionable for Friday’s game versus Detroit, while winger Chris Kreider (illness) is listed as probable.
Red Wings vs. Ducks Pick
Moneyline Pick for Red Wings vs. Ducks
- Anaheim Ducks (5 units)
This is a tricky spot for the Red Wings. They will have to deal with fatigue on the second night of a back-to-back, coming off a tough clash against the LA Kings. Hereof, I expect the Ducks to come out on top. They’ve had enough time to rest and prepare for this battle.
The Ducks certainly need more from their defense. They allow 30.8 shots per game, which is a lot. But their offense has been working well thus far, and Lukas Dostal has had a few strong displays. Dostal has allowed two goals in three of his previous four starts.
It’s a similar story with the Red Wings, whose offense has been a better part of the team. Detroit has allowed 17 goals over its previous four showings. John Gibson has conceded 10 goals over his last three starts.
Over/Under Pick for Red Wings vs. Ducks
- Over 6.5 (5 units)
As I noted, the Ducks allow too many shots toward their netminders. Lukas Dostal has been playing well, but it’s hard to expect him to shut the Red Wings down. The Ducks will continue to lean on their offense, and they will see a familiar face in Detroit’s crease.
John Gibson has faced 82 shots over his previous three starts. He’ll need goal support, and the Red Wings certainly have weapons to hurt the Ducks’ shaky defense. I expect a high-scoring affair at Honda Center on Friday night. Three of the last four encounters between Detroit and Anaheim have produced more than six goals in total.
Never Tried Winners and Whiners? Now Is Your Chance
- Get your first daily picks package for ONLY $1 using coupon code DOLLAR
- If the pick loses, we credit your account with 3 Flex Picks
- If the pick wins, we still give you 1 Flex Pick on the house
- Win or lose, you walk away ahead. One dollar. No catch.
Up To $1500 in Bonus Bets Paid Back if your First Bet Does Not Win
New Users – Bet $5 Get $200 in Bet Reset Tokens for 5 Days
