In their third and last head-to-head meeting of the regular season, the Calgary Flames and the Winnipeg Jets face off at Bell MTS Place in a Western Conference showdown. The first puck will drop at 8 p.m. ET on Thursday, April 5, and it will be showcased live on Sportsnet West.
Calgary Flames vs. Winnipeg Jets Odds
Winnipeg enters the matchup as the heavy favorite with a -230 moneyline. The line for Calgary sits at +190, and the Over/Under (O/U) has been set at 6 goals. The odds for betting the total stand at -110 for the over and -110 on the under.
Winnipeg is 50-30 straight up (SU) and has netted moneyline bettors 14.9 units this season. That winning percentage, ranked fourth in the NHL so far this season, is a welcome improvement compared to how the team performed during last year’s regular season (40-42). Through 80 regular season outings, 41 of the team’s games have gone over the total, while 37 have gone under and just two have pushed. The team’s 30-9 SU at home this year.
The Jets enter the matchup with the third-best power-play unit in the NHL, as the team has found the net on 23.8 percent of their extra-man opportunities this year. On the other hand, their penalty kill is rated 12th overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 81.5 percent of all penalties.
As a team, the Jets have been called for penalties 3.9 times per game overall this season, and 5.0 per game over their last five outings. The team has had to defend opposition power plays for just 7.8 minutes per contest over their last five home games.
Boasting a .922 save percentage and 28.2 saves per game, Connor Hellebuyck (42-23-9) has been the primary option in goal for Winnipeg this year. If Winnipeg decides to rest him, however, the team could turn to Steve Mason (5-8-8 record, .906 save percentage, 3.24 goals against average).
Blake Wheeler and Patrik Laine will both be focal points for the Jets. Wheeler (89 points) has put up 22 goals and 67 assists and has recorded two or more points on 24 different occasions this year. Laine has 44 goals and 25 assists to his credit and has notched a point in 49 games.
On the other bench, Calgary is 36-44 straight up (SU) and has lost 16.0 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through 80 regular season contests, 40 of its games have gone under the total, while 38 have gone over and just two have pushed. The Flames are 20-20 SU as the visiting team this season.
The Flames have converted on just 16.1 percent of their power play chances this year, a mark that places them in the bottom-five overall among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 12th overall and it’s successfully killed off 81.4 percent of all opponent power plays.
Calgary’s skaters have been penalized 4.4 times per game this season, and 5.6 per game over their past five games. The team has had to stave off opponent power plays an unhealthy 13.6 minutes per game over their last five outings.
Mike Smith (.916 save percentage and 2.65 goals against average) has been the primary option in goal for Calgary. Smith is averaging 28.1 saves per game and has 26 wins, 29 losses, and six OT losses to his credit.
Johnny Gaudreau (23 goals, 59 assists) has been one of the top playmaking threats for the visiting Flames.
Calgary Flames at Winnipeg Jets Free Picks
Free NHL Tip: SU Winner – Jets, O/U – Under
Notes
Betting Notes
Two of Winnipeg’s last ten games have ended in a shootout. The team is 2-0 in those games and 4-2 overall in shootouts this season.
The total has gone over in four of Winnipeg’s last five outings.
Winnipeg has averaged 3.4 goals per game overall this season, but is scoring 4.7 per match up in its last three games (the team’s a perfect 0-0 SU over that span).
Eight of Calgary’s last ten games have been decided by two goals or more. The team is 0-8 in those games.
The Jets this season have handed the 11th-most hits per game (22.6).
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