Bell MTS Place is playing host to an intriguing tilt as the Boston Bruins visit Manitoba to take on the Winnipeg Jets. It’s the last time that these two clubs will meet in the regular season. The game gets started at 8 p.m. ET on Friday, January 31, and you can watch this East-West matchup live on New England Sports Network.
Boston Bruins vs. Winnipeg Jets Odds
Boston (-145) is favored over Winnipeg (+125) and the Over/Under (O/U) is set at an even 6 goals. If bettors want to put some action on this game’s total, they’ll be looking at odds of -105 for the over and -115 for the under.
Boston is 29-22 straight up (SU) and has lost 6.3 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through 51 regular season matches, 26 of its games have gone under the total, while 22 have gone over and just three have pushed. As a road team in 2019-20, the Bruins are 12-11 SU.
Boston has converted on 25.5 percent of its power play chances this year, a mark that places them in the top-5 among NHL teams. Additionally, it has the sixth-best penalty kill in the league, and it has successfully killed off 83.2 percent of its penalties.
For the team as a whole, Boston has been whistled for penalties 3.6 times per game during the 2019-20 season, 3.6 per game over its past five outings total, and 4.0 per game over its last five road outings. The team has had to kill penalties just 7.6 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Averaging 27.4 saves per game with a .925 save percentage, Tuukka Rask (17-11-6) has been the top option in goal for Boston this season. If Boston decides to rest him, however, head coach Bruce Cassidy could turn to Jaroslav Halak (12-12-6 record, .918 save percentage, 2.47 goals against average).
David Pastrnak and Brad Marchand will both look to continue their strong seasons for the visiting Bruins. Pastrnak (70 points) has tallied 37 goals and 33 assists, and has recorded two or more points in 21 different games. Marchand has 21 goals and 44 assists to his name, and has registered at least one point in 37 games.
On the other side of the ice, Winnipeg is 25-26 straight up (SU) and has earned moneyline bettors 1.3 units this season. 26 of its contests have gone under the total, while 24 have gone over and just one has pushed. This season, the team’s 11-13 SU as the home team.
Winnipeg has converted on 20.0 percent of its power play chances this season, a figure that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 28th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 74.4 percent of all penalties.
The Jets have been penalized only 3.0 times per game this season, and 2.4 per game over their last five at home. The team’s been forced to stave off opponent power plays just 7.1 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Connor Hellebuyck has stopped 28.0 shots per game as the primary selection in goal for Winnipeg. Hellebuyck has 22 wins, 20 losses, and four OT losses to his name and has maintained a mediocre 2.74 goals against average and a .917 save percentage this year.
The home team offense will be led by Mark Scheifele (23 goals, 31 assists).
Boston Bruins at Winnipeg Jets Betting Picks
Prediction: SU Winner – Jets, O/U – Under
Betting Trends
- For both of these clubs, the over has hit in three of their past five matchups.
- The Jets are 12-15 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 17-23 in games where they’re in the penalty box for fewer than 10 minutes, total.
- Winnipeg is 3-1 in games decided by a shootout this season while Boston is 0-7 in shootouts.
- Winnipeg has forced 5.4 takeaways per game over its last five home games, a drop-off from its season average of 6.9 takeaways per game (ranked 21st overall).
- Boston is ranked 14th in the league with 7.8 takeaways per game. That figure has trended down recently, however, as it has created 6.2 takeaways over its last 10 games and 4.8 takeaways over its last five.
- Winnipeg may hold an advantage if this one comes down to the wire. The team’s 14-9 in games decided by one goal, while Boston is 11-16 in such games.
