The United Center is playing host to an intriguing tilt as the Winnipeg Jets pay a visit to the Chicago Blackhawks. The opening face-off is at 8:30 p.m. ET on Friday, December 14, and fans at home can witness this divisional matchup live on NBC Sports Chicago.
Winnipeg Jets vs. Chicago Blackhawks Odds
This matchup’s moneyline and Over/Under odds have not been posted by bookmakers yet.
Winnipeg is 20-11 straight up (SU) and has netted moneyline bettors 3.3 units this season. 14 of its matches have gone over the total, while 12 have gone under and just four have pushed. As a road team this season, the Jets are 8-5 SU.
Winnipeg currently has the first-strongest power-play unit in the NHL, as it’s found the net on 30.4 percent of its extra-man opportunities this season. Its penalty kill is ranked 10th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 81.9 percent of its penalties.
Winnipeg, as a collective unit, has been penalized 3.9 times per game overall this season, and 2.6 per game over its last ten. The team has had to defend opponent power plays just 6.5 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Averaging 27.2 saves per game with a .908 save percentage, Connor Hellebuyck (14-10-1) has been the best option in goal for Winnipeg this season. Hellebuyck played last night, however, so head coach Paul Maurice may choose to rest him and turn to Laurent Brossoit instead (6-2-1 record, .932 save percentage, 2.27 goals against average).
Blake Wheeler and Mark Scheifele will both spearhead the attack for the visiting Jets. Wheeler (40 points) is up to five goals and 35 assists, and has recorded two or more points in 10 different games. Scheifele has 18 goals and 22 assists to his nameand has notched at least one point in 21 games.
Chicago is 10-23 straight up (SU) and has lost 13.1 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through 33 regular season outings, 18 of its games have gone over the total, while 13 have gone under and just two have pushed. This season, the team is 6-9 SU at home.
Chicago has converted on just 12.1 percent of its power play opportunities this season, a figure that places it in the bottom overall among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 29th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 72.9 percent of all opponent power plays.
Chicago players have been called for penalties only 3.4 times per game this season, 3.0 per game over their past five contests total, and 3.8 per game over their last five home outings. The team’s had to stave off opponent power plays just 6.6 minutes per game over their last five outings.
Corey Crawford (28.9 saves per game) has been the top choice in goal for Chicago. Crawford has six wins, 15 losses, and one overtime loss and has recorded a fairly-weak .903 save percentage and 3.20 goals against average this season.
The home team offense will be led by Patrick Kane (15 goals, 22 assists).
Winnipeg Jets vs. Chicago Blackhawks Betting Predictions
Pick: SU Winner \u2013 Blackhawks, O/U \u2013 Under
Betting Notes
- For both of these teams, the total has gone over in four of their past five games.
- Penalties and power plays could prove to be even more critical than usual in this game. The Jets are 11-5 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 12-7 in games where they serve fewer than 10 total penalty minutes. The Blackhawks are 2-10 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than the opposition and 7-17 when they’re in the box for less than 10 minutes.
- Chicago skaters have averaged 8.4 takeaways per game over its last five home games, an improvement over its season average of 7.3 takeaways per game (ranked 17th in the NHL).
- Winnipeg has scored 3.6 goals per game overall this season, but has raised it up to 6.0 per contest over their three-game winning streak.
- Winnipeg skaters have forced 7.8 takeaways per game over its last five road games, its season average of 7.4 takeaways per game (ranked 17th in the NHL).
- Winnipeg may hold an advantage if this one comes down to the wire. The team’s 7-5 in games decided by one goal, while Chicago is 5-10 in such games.
