Anaheim Ducks Playoff Push: February 3rd, 2018

At the suggestion of a reader, this article will look at the games around the league today and how they will affect the Ducks. Betting lines provided are per the Score app.

The Ducks are currently 25-18-10, which is good for 60 points, in 53 games (written after the Ducks loss to Montreal). This point total puts the Ducks barely into the third spot of the Pacific Division.

A lot is in play every night with how close the Western Conference playoff race is. Here is the current Western Conference race along with playoff % (Prior to the Ducks loss this):

The following is a list of games that include the teams the Ducks are in the race with:

Colorado Avalanche @ Winnipeg Jets (4 PM Pacific)

Point Totals: The Avalanche have 60 points in 50 games and the Jets have 69 points in 52 games.

Betting Line: The Jets are favored in the betting odds at -185.

Corsica avg prediction: The Jets are the favorite at 62.1%

Impact on the Ducks:

-With an Avalanche win, the Ducks will be 2 points back of the Avs.

-With an Avalanche shootout/OT loss, the Ducks will be a point back of the Avs.

-With an Avalanche regulation loss, the Ducks will be tied with the Avs.

An Avalanche regulation loss is better for the Ducks playoff chances, but this game only affects the Ducks playoff chances if they fall out of a Pacific Division spot and are battling for a Wild Card spot.

Minnesota Wild @ Dallas Stars (5 PM Pacific)

Point Totals: The Wild have 61 points in 51 games and the Stars have 62 points in 52 games.

Betting Line: The Stars are favored in the betting odds at -150.

Corsica avg prediction: The Stars are the favorite at 56.9%

Impact on the Ducks:

-With a Wild regulation win, the Ducks will be 3 points back of the Wild and 1 point back of the Stars.

-With a Wild Shootout/OT win, the Ducks will be 3 points back of the Wild and 2 points back of the Stars.

-With a Stars Shootout/OT win, the Ducks will be 2 points back of the Wild and 4 points back of the Stars.

-With a Stars regulation win, the Ducks will be 1 point back of the Wild and 4 points back of the Stars.

This is one of those games you want to shoot into the sun and hope both teams lose. Really either team winning hurts the Ducks, so you just gotta root for this game to end in regulation.

Chicago Blackhawks @ Calgary Flames (7 PM Pacific)

Point Totals: The Blackhawks have 55 points in 51 games and the Flames have 58 points in 51 games.

Betting Line: The Flames are favored in the betting odds at -145.

Corsica avg prediction: The Flames are the favorite at 54.1%

Impact on the Ducks:

-With a Blackhawks regulation win, the Ducks will be 2 points up on the Flames and 3 points up on the Blackhawks.

-With a Blackhawks Shootout/OT win, the Ducks will be 1 point up on the Flames and 3 points up on the Blackhawks.

-With a Flames Shootout/OT win, the Ducks will be tied with the Flames and 4 points up on the Blackhawks.

-With a Flames regulation win, the Ducks will be tied with the Flames and 5 points up on the Blackhawks.

This is an easy game to pick who to root for. It is the Blackhawks. They are not in the division and further back of the Ducks.

Arizona Coyotes @ Los Angeles Kings (7:30 PM Pacific)

Point Totals: The Coyotes have 33 points in 51 games and the Kings have 59 points in 51 games.

Betting Line: The Kings are favored in the betting odds at -180.

Corsica avg prediction: The Kings are the favorite at 60.2%

Impact on the Ducks:

-With a Kings win, the Ducks will be 1 point back of the Kings.

-With a Kings shootout/OT loss, the Ducks will be tied with the Kings

-With a Kings regulation loss, the Ducks will be 1 point up on the Kings.

A Kings regulation loss is obviously the best case scenario here.

Overall Impact

A Flames & Kings loss will keep the Ducks in a Pacific Division playoff spot. If one of the Kings or Flames win then the Ducks will be out of a Pacific Division and a wild card spot.

If you have any suggestions for how to improve this article, please let me know in the comments and we can incorporate it.