Bell MTS Place is the site for a Western Conference showdown as the Winnipeg Jets welcome the visiting Vancouver Canucks. Sportsnet Pacific will broadcast the game, and the opening face-off takes place at 8 p.m. ET on Monday, December 11.
Vancouver Canucks vs. Winnipeg Jets Odds
With a -185 moneyline, Winnipeg comes into the game as the substantial favorite. The line for Vancouver sits at +160, and the oddsmakers have set the Over/Under (O/U) at 6 goals (-110 for the over, -110 for the under).
Winnipeg is 17-13 straight up (SU) and has earned moneyline bettors 3.3 units this season. That winning percentage, ranked third in the Central Division so far this season, is a welcome improvement compared to how the team performed during last years regular season (40-42). Among the teams 30 games this season, 17 have gone over the total, while 13 have gone under and none have pushed. This season, the team is 10-3 SU at home.
The Jets have been able to convert on 25.9 percent of their power play chances this year, a mark that places them in the top-5 among NHL teams. On the other hand, their penalty kill is rated 22nd overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 79.1 percent of all penalties.
The Jets, as a collective unit, have been whistled for penalties 4.4 times per game overall this season, 4.6 per game over their past five matchups total, and 4.0 per game over their last five at home. The teams had to kill penalties for 8.6 minutes per game over their last five home outings.
With a .919 save percentage and 26.9 saves per game, Connor Hellebuyck (15-9-4) has been the best option in goal for the Jets this year. If Winnipeg chooses to give him a breather, however, it may turn to Steve Mason (2-6-6 record, .904 save percentage, 3.45 goals against average).
The Jets will continue to rely on offensive production from Blake Wheeler and Mark Scheifele. Wheeler (38 points) has tallied eight goals and 30 assists and has recorded multiple points in 10 different games this year. Scheifele has 14 goals and 20 assists to his name and has recorded at least one point in 18 games.
Over on the other bench, Vancouver is 14-16 straight up (SU) and has earned moneyline bettors 2.3 units this year. Through 30 regular season outings, 15 of its games have gone over the total, while an additional 15 have gone under and none have pushed. The Canucks are 9-7 SU as an away team this season.
The Canucks have converted on 21.0 percent of their power play chances this year, a mark that’s good enough for ninth-best in the league. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 17th overall and it’s successfully killed off 80.2 percent of all opponent power plays.
Vancouver’s skaters have been called for penalties 3.9 times per game this season, and 3.2 per game over their last five on the road. The team has had to kill penalties just 6.6 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Jacob Markstrom (.916 save percentage and 2.44 goals against average) has been the main option in goal for Vancouver. Markstrom is averaging 26.4 saves per game and owns an 8-13-3 record.
Brock Boeser (15 goals, 12 assists) will pace the attack for the visiting Canucks.
Vancouver Canucks at Winnipeg Jets Betting Picks
Predictions: SU Winner – Jets, O/U – Under
Betting Trends
- Extra-man opportunities could be critical in tonight’s matchup. The Canucks are 6-5 in games where they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 9-11 when they’re in the box for fewer than 10 total penalty minutes. The Jets are 7-5 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than the opposition and 8-6 in games where total penalty minutes are in the single digits.
- The over has hit in four of Winnipeg’s last five games.
- Winnipeg has allowed 2.9 goals per game (overall) this year, but has given up 5.0 goals per matchup over its three-game losing streak.
- Winnipeg skaters have averaged 10.6 giveaways over its last five home games, a rise over its season average of 9.6 giveaways per game (ranked 14th in the NHL).
- Vancouver is ranked 13th this season with 9.0 giveaways per game. That figures trended upward recently, as it’s averaged 10.5 giveaways over its last 10 games and 10.8 giveaways over its last five.
- The Jets this season have handed the 11th-most hits in the league (22.3 per game).
