The Minnesota Wild hope to avoid elimination at Bell MTS Place in Game 5 of the postseason’s first round. USA, TVA and FSN will broadcast the matchup, which gets underway at 7:30 p.m. ET on Friday, April 20.
Minnesota Wild vs. Winnipeg Jets Odds
Winnipeg (+190) is playing the role of underdog to Winnipeg (-230), and the Over/Under (O/U) has been set at 6 goals (-130 for the under, +110 for the over).
Netting moneyline bettors 18.8 units, Winnipeg is 55-31 straight up (SU) overall thus far. 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 86 regular season contests, 42 of the team’s games have gone over the total, while an additional 42 have gone under and just two have pushed. This season, the team’s 34-9 SU at home.
After producing the fifth-best power-play unit in the regular season (scoring on 23.3 percent of all opportunities), the Jets have connected on 20.0 percent of their extra-man advantages in the early stages of this postseason.
The Jets’ offensive attack attempted 32.4 shots per game in the regular season, resulting in 3.3 goals per outing (ranked second overall in the NHL). In the postseason, the team is climbed to an average of 35.8 shots on goal (yet down to 2.8 goals per game).
Averaging 27.8 saves per game with a .923 save percentage, Connor Hellebuyck (47-24-9) has been the primary goalkeeper for Winnipeg this year. If Winnipeg chooses to give him the night off, however, head coach Paul Maurice could go with Steve Mason (5-9-9 record, .907 save percentage, 3.15 goals against average).
The Jets will continue to lean on the leadership via Blake Wheeler and Patrik Laine. Wheeler (94 points) has put up 24 goals and 70 assists and has recorded multiple points 25 times this year. Laine has 46 goals and 28 assists to his name and has notched at least one point in 54 games.
Minnesota is 46-40 straight up (SU) and has lost 1.4 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through 86 regular season matches, 42 of its games have gone over the total, while 40 have gone under and just four have pushed. The Wild are 18-25 SU as the visiting team this season.
The Wild have converted on 20.8 percent of their power play chances this year, 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 81.1 percent of all penalties.
Minnesota’s skaters have been penalized 3.8 times per game in total this season, and 4.8 per game over their last five road outings. The team’s had to defend opponent power plays 14.4 minutes per game over their last five road outings.
Devan Dubnyk (2.52 goals against average and .919 save percentage) has been the primary option in goal for Minnesota. Dubnyk is averaging 27.4 saves per game and has 37 wins, 27 losses, and seven OT losses to his credit.
Leading the offensive attack for the visiting Wild will be Eric Staal (43 goals, 35 assists) and Mikael Granlund (22 goals, 48 assists).
Minnesota Wild at Winnipeg Jets Free Picks
Prediction: SU Winner – Wild, O/U – Under
Notes
Betting Notes
The total has gone under in four of Winnipeg’s last five games.
Minnesota has managed 23.0 shot attempts per game over its last five road games while Winnipeg has been attempting 36.2 shots per game over its last five at home.
Winnipeg is averaging 3.3 goals per game over its five-game win streak.
Six of Winnipeg’s last ten games have been decided by two or more goals. The team is 4-2 overall in those games.
The Jets this season have tallied the 11th-most hits per game (22.8).
*****
