The Vegas Golden Knights look to even the series at one game apiece at Bell MTS Place in Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals. The action will get going at 8 p.m. ET on Monday, May 14, and it’s being shown live on NBC Sports Network.
Vegas Golden Knights vs. Winnipeg Jets Odds
Winnipeg (+120) is entering this one as the underdog to Winnipeg (-140), and the Over/Under (O/U) has been set at 6 goals (-120 money on the under, +100 on the over).
Earning moneyline bettors 21.8 units, Winnipeg is 61-34 straight up (SU) overall this year. That winning percentage, ranked second in the NHL so far in the early season, is a welcome improvement compared to how the team performed during last years regular season (40-42). Of its 95 games this season, 46 have gone over the total, while an additional 46 have gone under and just three have pushed. The teams 37-11 SU at home this season.
The Jets offensive attack attempted 32.4 shots per game in the regular season, leading to 3.4 goals per outing (ranked second overall in the NHL). In the postseason, the teams attempting an average of 33.2 shots on goal ( 3.6 goals per game).
Following a regular season where they scored on 23.7 percent of all power-play opportunities (the fifth-strongest), the Jets have connected on 25.7 percent of their extra-man advantages in the postseason. Their penalty kill has gone from 80.8 percent in the regular season to 72.7 percent in the playoffs.
With a .924 save percentage and 28.2 saves per game, Connor Hellebuyck (53-27-10) has been the top option in goal for the Jets this season. If the Jets, however, decide to give him the evening off, Winnipeg might go with Steve Mason (5-9-9 record, .907 save percentage, 3.15 goals against average).
The Jets will continue to lean on the offensive production via Blake Wheeler and Patrik Laine. Wheeler (109 points) has put up 26 goals and 83 assists and has recorded two or more points on 29 different occasions this year. Laine has 48 goals and 33 assists to his credit and has notched a point in 60 games.
On the other side of the ice, Vegas is 59-34 straight up (SU) and has earned moneyline bettors 20.6 units this year. A total of 46 of its games have gone over the total, while 43 have gone under and just four have pushed. As the road team, the Golden Knights are 26-21 SU.
The Golden Knights have converted on 21.3 percent of their power play opportunities this season, a figure that’s good enough for 10th-best in the NHL. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked seventh overall and it’s successfully killed off 81.9 percent of all opponent power plays.
Vegas players have been penalized only 3.4 times per game this season, and 5.0 per game over their past ten outings. The teams had to kill penalties 10.0 minutes per game over their last five road outings.
Marc-Andre Fleury (2.14 goals against average and .931 save percentage) has been the primary option in goal for Vegas. Fleury is averaging 28.5 saves per game and has 37 wins, 20 losses, and five overtime losses to his credit.
Leading the offensive attack for the visiting Golden Knights will be William Karlsson (48 goals, 41 assists) and Jonathan Marchessault (31 goals, 57 assists).
Vegas Golden Knights vs. Winnipeg Jets Betting Predictions
Pick: SU Winner – Golden Knights, O/U – Under
Betting Trends
- Vegas has managed 28.4 shot attempts per game over its last five road games while Winnipeg has been attempting 32.8 shots per game over its last five at home.
- Winnipeg is averaging 3.4 goals per game over its five-game win streak.
- Eight of Winnipeg’s last ten games have been decided by two or more goals. The team is 7-1 overall in those games.
- The Jets this season have registered the 11th-most hits per game (22.9), but the club has averaged 26.4 over their last five games as the home team.
