Avalanche vs Ducks Picks and Prediction – 4/14/2025

The Colorado Avalanche travel to the Honda Center to face the Anaheim Ducks on April 13 at 8:00 PM ET. Colorado sits at 48-28-4 after falling 4-1 to Vancouver in the last outing, while Anaheim holds a 35-36-8 mark and is coming off a 6-1 loss to the Kings. The Avalanche have won three of the last five, and the Ducks have dropped three of the last five. Hit the ice running with our NHL picks.

Colorado's recent stretch has been a bit rocky, but they’re still one of the West's most dangerous teams. After back-to-back road wins over Columbus and Chicago, the Avalanche stumbled in a tough matchup against Vancouver. Nathan MacKinnon continues to drive the offense, tallying 116 points with 32 goals and 84 assists. However, key injuries are starting to stack up with Cale Makar, Ross Colton, and Jonathan Drouin among several out. 

Defensively, the Avalanche remain strong, giving up just 2.80 goals per game and allowing only 25.9 shots on goal per contest. The power play is deadly at 24.6%, while the penalty kill sits at a solid 79.7%. Goaltending has been reliable with MacKenzie Blackwood posting a 2.50 GAA and .914 save percentage in 28 wins. Colorado's ability to limit chances and control pace remains a major advantage.

Anaheim enters this matchup after a blowout loss to the Kings, but they had picked up two solid wins prior against Calgary and Edmonton. Troy Terry has been the Ducks' top contributor with 53 points, including 20 goals and 33 assists. Mason McTavish leads with 21 goals, but Anaheim's offense has struggled to be consistent, ranking near the bottom with 2.68 goals per game.

The Ducks give up too much defensively, allowing 3.19 goals per game and over 32 shots on goal. The penalty kill is weak at 73.6%, and the power play clicks at just 12.0%. Lukas Dostal has started most games, but his 3.11 GAA and .903 save percentage show the strain Anaheim’s defense puts on its netminders. With John Gibson questionable, goaltending could be even shakier. 

Colorado is deeper, faster, and better structured at both ends. Even with injuries, the Avalanche still own a massive special teams advantage—24.6% on the power play vs 12.0% for Anaheim, and 79.7% PK vs 73.6%. Nathan MacKinnon is in MVP form and Anaheim just gave up six goals in the last outing. Final Score Prediction: Colorado Avalanche wins 4-2.