The Winnipeg Jets at the Xcel Energy Center in Game 4 of the NHL postseason’s first round. The game will get underway at 8 p.m. ET on Tuesday, April 17 and it’ll be televised live on CNBC, RSN, TVA2 and FSN.
Winnipeg Jets vs. Minnesota Wild Odds
The money line for each team is currently set at an identical -110 and the Over/Under (O/U) is set at 6 goals (-105 for the over, -115 for the under).
Winnipeg is 54-31 straight up (SU) and has earned moneyline bettors 17.8 units this year. Through 85 regular season outings, 42 of its games have gone over the total, while 41 have gone under and just two have pushed. As an away team in 2017-18, the Jets are 20-22 SU.
After producing the fifth-best power-play unit in the regular season (converting 23.4 percent of all chances), the Jets have connected on 22.2 percent of their extra-man advantages in the early stages of this postseason.
Winnipeg’s offense attempted 32.4 shots per game in the regular season, resulting in 3.4 goals per outing (ranked second overall in the NHL). In the playoffs, the team’s up to an average of 38.3 shots on goal 3.0 goals per game.
With a .922 save percentage and 27.7 saves per game, Connor Hellebuyck (46-24-9) has been the top option in goal for Winnipeg this season. If Winnipeg decides to rest him, however, head coach Paul Maurice might turn to Steve Mason (5-9-1 record, .907 save percentage, 3.15 goals against average).
Blake Wheeler and Patrik Laine will both lead the way for the visiting Jets. Wheeler has 93 points on 24 goals and 69 assists, and has recorded two or more points 25 times. Laine has 46 goals and 28 assists to his name (and has logged a point in 53 games).
On the other side of the ice, Minnesota is 46-39 straight up (SU) and has lost 0.4 units for moneyline bettors thus far. Through 85 regular season matches, 42 of its games have gone over the total, while 39 have gone under and just four have pushed. It’s 28-14 SU at home this year.
Minnesota has converted on 21.0 percent of its power play opportunities this year, a figure that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 13th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 81.1 percent of all opponent power plays.
Minnesota players have been sent to the penalty box 3.8 times per game in total this season, and 5.2 per game over their last five contests. The team’s been forced to kill penalties a whopping 15.2 minutes per game over their last five outings.
Devan Dubnyk (27.5 saves per game) has been the primary netminder in goal for Minnesota. Dubnyk has 37 wins, 26 losses, and seven OT losses and has recorded a 2.55 goals against average and a .918 save percentage this year.
Eric Staal (43 goals, 35 assists) will pace the attack for the Wild.
Winnipeg Jets vs. Minnesota Wild Betting Picks
Prediction: SU Winner – Wild, O/U – Under
Betting Trends
- The over has hit in three of Minnesota’s last five outings.
- The Jets are 24-11 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 35-20 in games where they’re in the box for fewer than 10 penalty minutes, total.
- Minnesota is ranked 25th in the league with 5.8 takeaways per game. That figure’s trended lower, however, as it has averaged 4.6 takeaways over its last 10 games and 3.8 takeaways over its last five.
- Winnipeg is putting up 3.0 goals per game over the team’s five-game winning streak.
- Winnipeg skaters have averaged 5.8 takeaways per game over its last five road games, a drop-off from its season average of 7.1 takeaways per game (ranked 16th in the league).
- Winnipeg could hold the upper hand if it’s a tight one late. The team’s an impressive 23-14 in games decided by one goal, while Minnesota is 12-16 in such games.
