The Minnesota Wild hope to tie the series up at Bell MTS Place in Game 2 of the postseason’s first round. The action will get underway at 7:30 p.m. ET on Friday, April 13, and it’ll air live on USA, RSN, TVA2 and FSN.
Minnesota Wild at Winnipeg Jets Odds
Winnipeg (-200) is currently favored over Minnesota (+170), and the Over/Under (O/U) has been set at 6 goals (-105 for the over, -115 for the under).
Netting moneyline bettors 17.9 units, Winnipeg is 53-30 straight up (SU) overall thus far. That win percentage, ranked third in the NHL so far in the early season, is a welcome improvement compared to what the team did during the 2016-17 season (40-42). Among its 83 games this season, 41 have gone over the total, while 40 have gone under and just two have pushed. The team is 33-9 SU at home this year.
The Jets have been able to convert on 23.6 percent of their power play chances this year, a figure that places them in the top-5 among NHL teams. On the other hand, their penalty kill is rated ninth overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 81.8 percent of all penalties.
As a team, the Jets have been penalized 3.8 times per game overall this season, and 3.2 per game over their last five at home. The team has been forced to stave off opponent power plays for 8.9 minutes per game over their last 10 matchups, overall.
Averaging 28.1 saves per game with a .924 save percentage, Connor Hellebuyck (45 wins, 23 losses, and nine OT losses) has been the best option in goal for Winnipeg this season. If head coach Paul Maurice chooses to give him the night off, however, the team might go with Steve Mason (5-8-8 record, .906 save percentage, 3.24 goals against average).
The Jets will continue to look for leadership from Blake Wheeler and Patrik Laine. Wheeler (92 points) has tallied 23 goals and 69 assists and has recorded two or more points 25 times this year. Laine has 45 goals and 26 assists to his name and has notched at least one point in 51 games.
On the other side of the ice, Minnesota is 45-38 straight up (SU) and has lost 0.4 units for bettors taking the moneyline thus far. A total of 41 of its matches have gone over the total, while 38 have gone under and just four have pushed. As the road team, the Wild are 18-24 SU.
The Wild have converted on 20.3 percent of their power play opportunities this season, a mark that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 13th overall and it’s successfully killed off 81.0 percent of all opponent power plays.
Minnesota’s skaters have been penalized 3.7 times per game in total this season, 3.4 per game over their past five games total, and 3.6 per game over their last five games as the visiting team. The team’s had to kill penalties just 7.2 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Devan Dubnyk (.918 save percentage and 2.53 goals against average) has been the main option in goal for Minnesota. Dubnyk is averaging 27.2 saves per game and has 36 wins, 25 losses, and seven OT losses to his credit.
Eric Staal (42 goals, 34 assists) will pace the attack for the visiting Wild.
Minnesota Wild vs. Winnipeg Jets Betting Predictions
Free Pick: SU Winner – Wild, O/U – Under
Notes
Betting Trends
The total has gone under in three of Winnipeg’s last five games.
Minnesota has managed 26.4 shot attempts per game over its last five road games while Winnipeg has been attempting 36.8 shots per game over its last five at home.
Winnipeg is averaging 3.4 goals per game across its five-game win streak.
Over Minnesota’s last ten games, six of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 4-2 in those games).
The Jets this season have tallied the 11th-most hits per game (22.5).
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