The Minnesota Wild and the Winnipeg Jets square off at Bell MTS Place in Game 1 of the postseason’s first round. CNBC, RSN, TVA2 and FSN will broadcast the matchup, and the puck drops at 7 p.m. ET on Wednesday, April 11.
Minnesota Wild vs. Winnipeg Jets Odds
With a moneyline of -180, Winnipeg comes into the matchup as the heavy favorite. The line for Minnesota sits at +160, and the Over/Under (O/U) is set at an even 6 goals. The line for betting the total stands at -120 over, +100 under.
The Jets are 52-30 straight up (SU) and have earned 16.9 units for moneyline bettors this year. That winning percentage, ranked third in the NHL in this young season, is a welcome improvement over the 40-42 record from the 2016-17 season campaign. Through 82 regular season matches, 41 of the team’s games have gone over the total, while 39 have gone under and just two have pushed. This season, the team is 32-9 SU at home.
Winnipeg’s connected on 23.4 percent of its power play opportunities this season, a mark that places them in the top-5 among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked eighth overall, and it’s successfully killed off 81.8 percent of all penalties.
Winnipeg, as a collective unit, has been whistled for penalties 3.9 times per game overall this season, and 4.6 per game over its last five contests. The team has had to kill penalties for just 7.4 minutes per game over its last five home outings.
Averaging 28.2 saves per game with a .924 save percentage, Connor Hellebuyck (44-23-9) has been the best option in goal for the Jets this year. If the Jets choose to give him a rest, however, head coach Paul Maurice may go with Steve Mason (5-8-8 record, .906 save percentage, 3.24 goals against average).
Blake Wheeler and Patrik Laine will each be focal points for the Jets. Wheeler (91 points) has tallied 23 goals and 68 assists and has recorded two or more points in 25 different games this year. Laine has 44 goals and 26 assists to his name and has notched a point in 50 games.
On the other bench, Minnesota is 45-37 straight up (SU) and has netted moneyline bettors 0.6 units this year. A total of 41 of its contests have gone over the total, while 37 have gone under and just four have pushed. As the visiting team, Minnesota is 18-23 SU.
Minnesota has converted on 20.4 percent of its 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 defended 81.2 percent of all opponent power plays.
Minnesota’s skaters have been penalized 3.8 times per game this season, 3.6 per game over their past five outings total, and 4.2 per game over their last five on the road. The team’s been forced to stave off opponent power plays just 7.4 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Devan Dubnyk (27.1 saves per game) has been the main option in the net for Minnesota. Dubnyk has 36 wins, 24 losses, and seven OT losses to his credit, while registering a .918 save percentage and 2.52 goals against average this year.
Leading the offensive attack for the visiting Wild will be Eric Staal, who’s got 42 goals and 34 assists on the year.
Minnesota Wild vs. Winnipeg Jets Free Picks
NHL Tip: SU Winner – Wild, O/U – Under
Notes
Betting Trends
The under has hit in three of Winnipeg’s last five games.
Minnesota has managed 27.0 shot attempts per game over its last five road games while Winnipeg is averaging 37.2 shots per game over its last five at home.
Penalties and power plays may prove to be extremely important in tonight’s game. The Wild are 12-11 in games where they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 31-19 when they’re in the box for fewer than 10 total penalty minutes. The Jets are 23-10 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than the opposition and 34-19 in games where they’re in the box for less than 10 minutes.
Winnipeg is ranked 15th with 7.2 takeaways per game. That figure has trended upward lately, as the team has forced 8.2 takeaways over its last 10 games and 8.6 takeaways over its last five.
Minnesota has averaged 4.4 takeaways per game over its last five road games, a drop-off from its season average of 5.9 takeaways per game (ranked 26th overall).
Winnipeg could hold the upper hand if this one comes down to the wire. The team’s 22-14 in games decided by one goal, while Minnesota is 12-15 in such games.
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