Canadian Tire Centre is the site for an enticing matchup as the Winnipeg Jets face off against the Ottawa Senators. It’s the last time that these two clubs will go at it in the regular season. This East-West matchup gets underway at 7:30 p.m. ET on Thursday, February 20, and it will be broadcasted live on The Sports Network.
Winnipeg Jets at Ottawa Senators Odds
Ottawa (+120) is entering this one as the underdog to Winnipeg (-140), and oddsmakers have set the Over/Under (O/U) at 7 goals. The line for betting that total stands at -110 for the over and -110 on the under.
Winnipeg is 31-30 straight up (SU) and has earned moneyline bettors 3.5 units this year. 31 of its contests have gone under the total, while 28 have gone over and just two have pushed. As an away team this season, the Jets are 15-13 SU.
Winnipeg has converted on 19.2 percent of its power play chances this season, a figure that’s right around league average. Its penalty kill is ranked 27th out of 31 teams, and the team’s successfully killed off only 75.7 percent of all penalties.
Winnipeg, as a collective unit, has been sent to the penalty box just 3.1 times per game overall this season, and 4.0 per game over its last five on the road. The team has been forced to defend opponent power plays just 5.4 minutes per game over their last five outings.
Sporting a .919 save percentage and 28.6 saves per game, Connor Hellebuyck (27-23-5) has been the best option in goal for Winnipeg this year. If head coach Paul Maurice decides to rest him, however, the team might turn to Laurent Brossoit (6-11), who has a .888 save percentage and 3.48 goals against average this year.
The visiting Jets have relied on Mark Scheifele and Kyle Connor this season. Scheifele has 61 points on 23 goals and 38 assists, and has recorded two or more points 16 times. Connor has 29 goals and 32 assists to his name (and has notched at least one point in 37 games).
Ottawa is 21-39 straight up (SU) and has lost 11.8 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through 60 regular season outings, 32 of its games have gone over the total, while 27 have gone under and just one has pushed. It’s 15-17 SU at home this year.
Ottawa has converted on just 15.6 percent of its power play opportunities this season, a figure that’s ranked 28th in the NHL. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 21st overall, and it’s successfully killed off 78.8 percent of all opponent power plays.
The Senators have been penalized 3.8 times per game this season, and 2.0 per game over their last five at home. The team’s been forced to kill penalties just 7.0 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Craig Anderson (25.8 saves per game) has been the primary netminder in goal for Ottawa. Anderson has nine wins, 19 losses, and two overtime losses to his name and has registered a poor .900 save percentage and 3.22 goals against average this season.
Jean-Gabriel Pageau (24 goals, 16 assists) will pace the attack for the Senators.
Winnipeg Jets at Ottawa Senators Free Picks
Free Prediction: SU Winner – Senators, O/U – Under
Betting Notes
- For both of these teams, the under has hit in three of their past five matchups.
- Winnipeg has managed 26.2 shot attempts per game over its last five road games while Ottawa is averaging 34.0 shots per game over its last five home outings.
- Penalties and power plays may have a critical role tonight. The Jets are 14-19 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 21-26 in games where they’re in the box for fewer than 10 penalty minutes, total. The Senators are 7-17 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than the opposition and 12-19 in games where total penalty minutes are in the single digits.
- Winnipeg is 3-1 in games decided by a shootout this season while Ottawa is 0-5 in shootouts.
- Ottawa is ranked 28th overall with 6.3 takeaways per game. That figure has trended down lately, however, as the team has averaged 5.4 takeaways over its last 10 games and 5.6 takeaways over its last five.
- Winnipeg is ranked 21st in the league with 6.8 takeaways per game. That figure has trended lower, however, as it has created 6.2 takeaways over its last 10 games and 5.8 takeaways over its last five.
- Winnipeg may hold the upper hand if it’s a tight one late. The team’s 15-12 in one-goal games, while Ottawa is only 8-15 in such games.
