Blackhawks vs Ducks Picks and Prediction – 3/2/2025

The Chicago Blackhawks (17-35-7) head to the Honda Center to take on the Anaheim Ducks (26-25-7) in a late-night Western Conference matchup. Chicago is in a brutal slump, dropping five straight games, including a 7-5 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights. Anaheim, on the other hand, is coming off a strong 5-2 win over the Vancouver Canucks, snapping a two-game losing skid. Hit the ice running with our NHL picks.

Chicago has been struggling to generate consistent offense, averaging just 2.66 goals per game while allowing 3.53, one of the worst defensive marks in the league. Connor Bedard continues to be the lone bright spot, leading the team with 49 points (16 goals, 33 assists), while Ryan Donato has a team-high 19 goals. The power play has been solid, converting at 25.5%, but the defense has been unable to hold leads. 

Petr Mrazek has had a rough season with a 3.46 GAA and .890 save percentage, while Arvid Soderblom has been slightly better with a 3.02 GAA and .906 save percentage. The Blackhawks will also be without Jason Dickinson and Laurent Brossoit, while Nick Foligno and Alec Martinez are questionable.

Anaheim has been a tough team to figure out, but they remain competitive despite injuries. The Ducks have been strong at home (14-12-2) and have seen solid production from Troy Terry (45 points, 17 goals, 28 assists) and Frank Vatrano (18 goals). The power play is a major weakness at just 12.7%, and the team struggles to create high-danger chances. 

Defensively, Anaheim allows 3.02 goals per game, with Lukáš Dostál (2.90 GAA, .910 save percentage) getting most of the starts in net, as John Gibson remains day-to-day. The Ducks' penalty kill has also struggled, stopping just 74.4% of opposing power plays. Missing Trevor Zegras and Robby Fabbri could limit the offensive upside, but Anaheim still has enough firepower to handle a struggling Chicago team.

Chicago has been unable to stop anyone defensively, giving up 29 goals in the last five games. Anaheim isn't elite offensively, but the Ducks should have no problem exploiting a Blackhawks defense that ranks near the bottom of the league. With Chicago's poor goaltending and Anaheim playing well at home, expect the Ducks to take care of business. Final Score Prediction: Anaheim Ducks win 4-2.