- UPDATE: Added a prediction for who will win tonight.
Business is picking up between the Vegas Golden Knights and Anaheim Ducks, with their series tied 1-1 and heading to the Honda Center tonight.
My top Golden Knights vs. Ducks predictions and NHL picks for Friday, May 8 are calling for Anaheim to take the series lead in a higher-scoring Game 3.
Puck drop is set for 9:30 p.m. ET from the Honda Center in Anaheim, with the game airing on TNT and Sportsnet.
Golden Knights vs Ducks Game 3 prediction
Who will win Golden Knights vs Ducks Game 3?
Ducks: The Ducks have been the better 5-on-5 team this series with a 57.1 Corsi For percentage and 56.2 expected goals percentage, and Golden Knights starter Carter Hart isn’t maintaining his .951 SV% through two games after posting a .864 mark on the road in Round 1.
Golden Knights vs Ducks best bet: Over 5.5 (-135)
The offensive floodgates will open for the Vegas Golden Knights and Anaheim Ducks in Game 3.
They’ve combined to score just eight times in the series despite piling up 12.38 expected goals and 49 high-danger scoring chances, and both goalies have been unsustainably solid.
Vegas No. 1 Carter Hart has a .951 save percentage with 3.57 goals saved above expected, and Anaheim starter Lukas Dostal sports respective .930 and 2.11 marks.
The window for positive regression is particularly wide open at 5-on-5, with the Golden Knights posting a 6.0 team shooting percentage and the Ducks at 6.7.
So, considering they respectively posted 9.72 and 9.1 marks in Round 1, the uptick in scoring is coming.
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Golden Knights vs Ducks Game 3 same-game parlay
Anaheim has caved Vegas in at 5-on-5 with a 57.1 Corsi For percentage and 56.1 expected goals percentage through two games, and now the Ducks have the last-change advantage on home ice for Game 3.
In addition to Hart's highlighted unsustainable numbers, the Vegas netminder also posted an .864 SV% on the highway in the opening round.
Turning to the final leg of this same-game parlay, Ducks star Cutter Gauthier has been held without a point despite posting an elite 67.2 CF% and 84.2 xGF% at 5-on-5 and pacing Anaheim with 1.22 individual expected goals and 12 scoring chances. After recording seven points in Round 1, he's positioned to leave his mark on the scoresheet in Game 3.
Golden Knights vs Ducks SGP
- Ducks moneyline
- Over 5.5
- Cutter Gauthier Over 0.5 points
Golden Knights vs Ducks Game 3 goal scorer pick
Cutter Gauthier (+175)
Sticking with Gauthier, the last-change advantage stands to help head coach Joel Quenneville find his star scorer more favorable on-ice matchups, and 24 of Gauthier’s 41 goals came on home ice during the regular season.
Additionally, both his 1.52 individual expected goals per 60 minutes and 14.8 SH% this postseason are right in line with his 1.41 and 14.4% marks during the regular season, so I’m bullish on the go-to scorer hitting the back of the net in Game 3.
Golden Knights vs Ducks odds for Game 3
- Moneyline: Golden Knights -110 | Ducks -110
- Puck Line: Golden Knights -1.5 (+210) | Ducks +1.5 (-270)
- Over/Under: Over 5.5 (-135) | Under 5.5 (+115)
Golden Knights vs Ducks trend
Anaheim has hit the Over in six of its last 10 home games (+4.75 Units / 39% ROI). Find more NHL betting trends for Golden Knights vs. Ducks.
How to watch Golden Knights vs Ducks Game 3
| Location | Honda Center, Anaheim, CA |
| Date | Friday, May 8, 2026 |
| Puck drop | 9:30 p.m. ET |
| TV | TNT, Sportsnet |
Golden Knights vs Ducks latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
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