The Dallas Stars and Anaheim Ducks will square off on Friday in a Western Conference matchup between teams in contention for division titles this season. Both clubs enter with explosive offenses and are in the top two in their respective divisions. These teams combined for 12 goals in their first matchup this season and we are expecting another exciting game here. Before the action begins, continue reading to get my Stars vs Ducks prediction.
Our Stars vs Ducks Pick
Game Snapshot
- Matchup: Dallas Stars vs Anaheim Ducks
- Date & Time: Friday, December 19, 2025, 10:00 PM ET
- Venue: Honda Center, Anaheim, California
- Broadcast: ESPN+
Key Storylines
Recent form
The Stars have been strong of late, winning two straight games, including a 5-3 victory over the San Jose Sharks in their latest outing. Wyatt Johnston scored twice and Roope Hintz contributed offensively in that win as well. Dallas has managed to stay within four points of the Colorado Avalanche in the Central Division, which is impressive given how well the Avs have played this year.
Anaheim has lost three of its last four games coming into Friday night. Still, the Ducks are tied with the Vegas Golden Knights for the most points in the Pacific Division this season. Anaheim will try to keep exceeding expectations with a win here.
Goaltending
Dallas can deploy either Jake Oettinger or Casey DeSmith here. DeSmith is posting strong recent numbers, including a .964 save percentage in his last start. Oettinger’s performance has varied this season, though he remains a reliable starter overall. The Ducks’ primary netminder, Lukas Dostal, has a 2.73 save percentage and will likely get the nod for the hosts here.
Key skaters
Offensively, Dallas gets elite production from players like Mikko Rantanen and Jason Robertson, both at or above 40 points this season. Anaheim leads with Leo Carlsson, who has 41 points and leads the Ducks in scoring. The Stars’ power play is a major weapon, converting at over 32%, while Anaheim’s special teams are less effective both offensively and defensively.
Best Player Props
| Player | Stat |
|---|---|
| Mikko Rantanen (Stars) | |
| Leo Carlsson (Ducks) | |
| Mikko Rantanen |
Betting Trends & H2H
- The Ducks defeated the Stars 7-5 in their first meeting of the 2025-26 season.
- The Stars are just 14-21 on the puckline going into this matchup.
- Anaheim is 19-15 in the puckline market so far this year.
Stars vs Ducks Model Projection
Final Thoughts
