Two clubs that are squaring off for the final time this season, the Winnipeg Jets and the Philadelphia Flyers clash at the Wells Fargo Center for an East-West matchup. The first puck will drop at 1 p.m. ET on Saturday, March 10, and fans at home can watch the game live on NBC Sports Philadelphia.
Winnipeg Jets at Philadelphia Flyers Odds
Winnipeg is 41-26 straight up (SU) and has earned moneyline bettors 10.8 units this season. 34 of its games have gone over the total, while 31 have gone under and just two have pushed. The Jets are 17-17 SU on the road in 2017-18.
Winnipeg currently has the third-strongest power-play unit in the NHL, as it’s found the net on 24.6 percent of its extra-man advantages this season. Its penalty kill is ranked eighth overall, and it’s successfully killed off 82.7 percent of all penalties.
Winnipeg, as a collective unit, has been sent to the penalty box 3.9 times per game in the 2017-18 season, and 2.6 per game over its past five contests. The team has been forced to kill penalties just 6.2 minutes per game over their last five outings.
With a .923 save percentage and 28.0 saves per game, Connor Hellebuyck (35-20-8) has been the top option in goal for Winnipeg this year. If it decides to give him a rest, however, head coach Paul Maurice might roll with 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 spearhead the attack for the visiting Jets. Wheeler (75 points) is up to 18 goals and 57 assists, and has recorded multiple points in 21 different games. Laine has 39 goals and 23 assists to his name (and has registered a point in 43 games).
On the other side of the rink, Philadelphia is 34-34 straight up (SU) and has lost 3.3 units for moneyline bettors this year. 35 of its matches have gone over the total, while 31 have gone under and just two have pushed. This season, the team is 16-17 SU as the home team.
Philadelphia has converted on 20.2 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 29th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 75.6 percent of all opponent power plays.
Philadelphia players have been sent to the penalty box 3.5 times per game in total this season, and 2.6 per game over their last five home outings. The team’s had to kill penalties just 7.7 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Brian Elliott has stopped 26.3 shots per game as the primary selection in goal for Philadelphia. Elliott has 22 wins, 19 losses, and seven overtime losses to his name and has maintained a fairly-weak .908 save percentage and 2.72 goals against average this season.
The home team offense will be led by Claude Giroux (23 goals, 57 assists).
Winnipeg Jets vs. Philadelphia Flyers Betting Picks
NHL Prediction: SU Winner – Flyers, O/U – Under
Notes
Betting Notes
The Jets are 18-8 in games where they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 27-16 when they serve fewer than 10 penalty minutes, in total.
Two of Philadelphia’s last ten games have been decided by a shootout. The team is 1-1 in those games and 2-6 overall in shootouts this season.
Philadelphia has averaged 5.6 takeaways per game over its last five home games, right in line with its season average of 5.9 takeaways per game (ranked 26th overall).
Winnipeg is scoring 3.3 goals per game over their four-game winning streak.
Winnipeg has averaged 6.6 takeaways per game over its last five road games, its season average of 7.0 takeaways per game (ranked 20th).
Winnipeg might have an advantage if it’s a tight one late. The team’s 15-12 in games decided by one goal, while Philadelphia is 14-18 in such games.
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