The Prudential Center plays host to an East-West tilt as the New Jersey Devils welcome the visiting Winnipeg Jets. It’s the final time that these two clubs will meet in the regular season. The first puck will drop at 7 p.m. ET on Thursday, March 8, and you will be able to catch it live on MSG Network.
Winnipeg Jets vs. New Jersey Devils Odds
Each team currently has an identical -110 money line for this one, and the Over/Under (O/U) is set at 6 goals. The odds for betting the total stand at -120 for the over and +100 for the under.
Winnipeg is 40-26 straight up (SU) and has earned moneyline bettors 9.8 units this season. 34 of its outings have gone over the total, while 30 have gone under and just two have pushed. The Jets are 16-17 SU on the road in 2017-18.
Winnipeg enters the match up with the second-best power-play unit in the NHL, as it’s found the net on 24.7 percent of its extra-man opportunities this season. Its penalty kill is ranked ninth overall, and the team’s successfully killed off 82.4 percent of its penalties.
For the team as a whole, the Jets have been penalized 3.9 times per game overall this season, and 2.8 per game over its past five outings. The team’s been forced to defend opponent power plays just 6.2 minutes per game over their last five outings.
Boasting a .922 save percentage and 27.7 saves per game, Connor Hellebuyck (34-20-8) has been the primary option in goal for Winnipeg this season. If it chooses to give him a rest, however, Winnipeg may turn to Steve Mason (4-8-1), who has a .906 save percentage and 3.18 goals against average this year.
Blake Wheeler and Patrik Laine will both look to continue their strong seasons for the visiting Jets. Wheeler (75 points) has tallied 18 goals and 57 assists, and has recorded multiple points 21 times. Laine has 38 goals and 23 assists to his credit (and has logged a point in 42 games).
Over on the other bench, New Jersey is 34-33 straight up (SU) and has earned 5.5 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through 67 regular season matches, 33 of its games have gone over the total, while 32 have gone under and just two have pushed. It’s 18-16 SU at home this year.
The Devils have converted on 21.3 percent of their power play chances this season, a figure that’s good enough for ninth-best in the league. Its penalty kill is also ranked ninth overall, and it’s successfully killed off 82.6 percent of all penalties.
New Jersey skaters have been sent to the penalty box 3.8 times per game in total this season, and 2.4 per game over their last five at home. The team has been forced to stave off opponent power plays just 6.3 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Cory Schneider (28.7 saves per game) has been the primary choice in goal for the Devils. Schneider has 18 wins, 19 losses, and six OT losses to his credit and has recorded a pedestrian 2.80 goals against average and a .912 save percentage this season.
Taylor Hall (30 goals, 44 assists) will pace the offensive attack for the home team.
Winnipeg Jets vs. New Jersey Devils Betting Predictions
Prediction: SU Winner – Jets, O/U – Under
Betting Notes
- New Jersey is 4-4 in games decided by a shootout this season while Winnipeg is 2-2 in shootouts.
- The total has gone under in four of New Jersey’s last five games.
- Winnipeg has managed 26.8 shot attempts per game over its last five road games while New Jersey is averaging 34.4 shots per game over its last five at home.
- Five of Winnipeg’s last ten games have been decided by two goals or more. The team is 5-0 in those games.
- The Devils this season have handed the 12th-most hits per game (22.2), but that average has risen to 27.6 over their past five home games.
