Facing each other for the second and final time this season, the Winnipeg Jets and the Philadelphia Flyers clash at the Wells Fargo Center in an East-West tilt. NBC Sports Philadelphia will showcase the matchup, which gets underway at 1 p.m. ET on Saturday, March 10.
Winnipeg Jets at Philadelphia Flyers Odds
Winnipeg is 41-26 straight up (SU) and has netted moneyline bettors 10.8 units this season. Through 67 regular season matches, 34 of its games have gone over the total, while 31 have gone under and just two have pushed. As an away team in 2017-18, the Jets are 17-17 SU.
Winnipeg currently touts the third-best power-play unit in the NHL, as it’s converted on 24.6 percent of its extra-man opportunities this year. Additionally, its penalty kill is ranked eighth overall, and it’s successfully killed off 82.7 percent of its penalties.
The Jets, as a collective unit, have been called for penalties 3.9 times per game in the 2017-18 season, and 2.6 per game over its past five outings. The teams been forced to defend opponent power plays just 6.2 minutes per game over their last five outings.
Sporting a .923 save percentage and 28.0 saves per game, Connor Hellebuyck (35-20-8) has been the best option in goal for Winnipeg this year. If Winnipeg decides to rest him, however, head coach Paul Maurice may go with Steve Mason (4-8-1), who has a .906 save percentage and 3.18 goals against average this year.
Blake Wheeler and Patrik Laine will both spearhead the attack for the visiting Jets. Wheeler (75 points) is up to 18 goals and 57 assists, and has recorded multiple points in 21 different games. Laine has 39 goals and 23 assists to his credit, and has registered at least one point in 43 games.
On the other side of the rink, Philadelphia is 34-34 straight up (SU) and has lost 3.3 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through 68 regular season contests, 35 of its games have gone over the total, while 31 have gone under and just two have pushed. It’s 16-17 SU as the home team this year.
The Flyers have converted on just 20.2 percent of their power play opportunities this season, a mark that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 29th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 75.6 percent of all opponent power plays.
Flyers players have been whistled for penalties 3.5 times per game in total this season, and 2.6 per game over their last five at home. The teams been forced to defend opponent power plays just 7.7 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Brian Elliott has denied 26.3 shots per game as the primary netminder in goal for the Flyers. Elliott has 22 wins, 19 losses, and seven OT losses to his name and has recorded a pedestrian 2.72 goals against average and a fairly-weak .908 save percentage this season.
The home team will be led on offense by Claude Giroux (23 goals, 57 assists).
Winnipeg Jets vs. Philadelphia Flyers Betting Predictions
Free NHL Tip: SU Winner – Flyers, O/U – Under
Betting Notes
- Two of Philadelphia’s last ten games have ended in a shootout. The team is 1-1 in those games and 2-6 overall in shootouts this year.
- Philadelphia has allowed 3.0 goals per game overall this season, but has allowed 4.6 goals per matchup over its five-game losing streak.
- Over Winnipeg’s last ten games, five of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 5-0 in those games).
