The Winnipeg Jets at Bridgestone Arena in Game 5 of the Western Conference Semifinals. NBC Sports Network will air the game, which gets going at 9:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, May 5.
Winnipeg Jets at Nashville Predators Odds
Nashville enters the contest as the obvious favorite with a moneyline of -160. The line for Winnipeg sits at +140, and the Over/Under (O/U) is set at 6 goals (-110 for the over, -110 for the under).
Nashville is 59-33 straight up (SU) and has netted moneyline bettors 12.9 units this season. That winning percentage, ranked second in the league in this young season, is an improvement over the 41-41 record from the 2016-17 season campaign. Among the team’s 92 games this season, 46 have gone over the total, while 45 have gone under and just one has pushed. The team’s 31-15 SU at home this year.
Following a regular season where they converted 21.2 percent of all power-play opportunities (the 14th-rated), the Predators have connected on 21.9 percent of their postseason power play chances. Their penalty kill has gone from 82.1 percent in the regular season to 83.9 percent in the playoffs.
The Predators’ offense attempted 32.6 shots per game in the regular season, resulting in 3.3 goals per contest (ranked seventh overall in the NHL). In the playoffs, the club is risen to an average of 36.0 shots on goal 3.4 goals per game.
Sporting a .925 save percentage and 28.6 saves per game, Pekka Rinne (48-21-4) has been the best goalkeeper for Nashville this season. If head coach Peter Laviolette decides to give him a rest, however, the team may roll with Juuse Saros (12-16-16 record, .927 save percentage, 2.36 goals against average).
Filip Forsberg and Viktor Arvidsson will each lead the offensive attack for the Predators. Forsberg (76 points) has tallied 31 goals and 45 assists and has recorded two or more points 22 times this year. Arvidsson has 32 goals and 35 assists to his credit and has recorded a point in 47 contests.
On the other side of the ice, Winnipeg is 58-33 straight up (SU) and has netted 19.8 units for moneyline bettors this season. Through 91 regular season matches, 45 of its games have gone under the total, while 44 have gone over and just two have pushed. The Jets are 22-23 SU as a road team this season.
The Jets have scored on 23.6 percent of their power play opportunities this year, a mark that places it in the top-five among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked ninth overall and it’s successfully killed off 81.0 percent of all penalties.
Winnipeg’s players have been penalized 3.9 times per game in total this season, 4.0 per game over their past five games total, and 4.2 per game over their last five games as the visiting team. The team’s had to defend opponent power plays 8.6 minutes per game over their last five outings.
Connor Hellebuyck (28.1 saves per game) has been the main option in goal for Winnipeg. Hellebuyck owns a 50-26-10 record, while registering a .924 save percentage and 2.36 goals against average this year.
Blake Wheeler (26 goals, 75 assists) has been one of the most vital offensive playmakers for the visiting Jets.
Winnipeg Jets vs. Nashville Predators Free Picks
Free NHL Pick: SU Winner – Jets, O/U – Under
Notes
Betting Trends
Winnipeg has managed 32.0 shot attempts per game over its last five road games while Nashville is averaging 39.6 shots per game over its last five at home.
Seven of Winnipeg’s last ten games have been decided by two goals or more. The team is 6-1 in those games.
Winnipeg skaters have dished out the 11th-most hits in the league (22.9 per game).
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