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Winnipeg Jets at Ottawa Senators Free Preview 4/2/18

Terrence Lee-USA TODAY Sports

In their final head-to-head meeting of the regular season, the Winnipeg Jets and the Ottawa Senators meet at Canadian Tire Centre for an East-West showdown. The Sports Network will broadcast the matchup, which gets underway at 7:30 p.m. ET on Monday, April 2.

Winnipeg Jets vs. Ottawa Senators Odds

Winnipeg (+155) is playing the role of underdog to Winnipeg (-175) and the Over/Under (O/U) is set at an even 6 goals (-115 for the over, -105 for the under).

Winnipeg is 48-30 straight up (SU) and has earned moneyline bettors 12.9 units this season. 39 of its outings have gone over the total, while 37 have gone under and just two have pushed. This 2017-18 Jets team is 18-21 SU on the road.

Winnipeg has converted on 23.5 percent of its power play opportunities this year, a figure that places them in the top-5 among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked ninth overall, and it has successfully killed off 82.0 percent of its penalties.

The Jets, as a collective unit, have been sent to the penalty box 3.8 times per game overall during the 2017-18 season, 3.8 per game over its last five contests total, and 3.8 per game over its last five on the road. The team’s been forced to stave off opponent power plays just 7.9 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.

Averaging 28.1 saves per game with a .924 save percentage, Connor Hellebuyck (41-23-9) has been the primary option in goal for Winnipeg this year. If it decides to rest him, however, head coach Paul Maurice might turn to Steve Mason (4-8-1), who has a .906 save percentage and 3.18 goals against average this year.

Blake Wheeler and Patrik Laine will both spearhead the attack for the visiting Jets. Wheeler (87 points) has tallied 20 goals and 67 assists, and has recorded multiple points in 24 different games. Laine has 43 goals and 25 assists to his creditand has registered at least one point in 49 games.

Over on the other bench, Ottawa is 27-51 straight up (SU) and has lost 19.9 units for moneyline bettors thus far. Through 78 regular season outings, 41 of its games have gone over the total, while 37 have gone under and none have pushed. This season, the team is 16-24 SU as the home team.

The Senators have converted on just 16.5 percent of their power play chances this year, a figure that places them in the bottom 5 overall among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 29th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 75.7 percent of all penalties.

Ottawa skaters have been penalized 3.4 times per game in total this season, and 2.4 per game over their last five at home. The team has been forced to stave off opponent power plays just 6.3 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.

Craig Anderson has stopped 27.3 shots per game as the top netminder in goal for the Senators. Anderson has 23 wins, 32 losses, and six OT losses and has recorded a mediocre 3.28 goals against average and a subpar .899 save percentage this season.

Mark Stone (20 goals, 42 assists) will pace the offensive counter for the Senators.

Winnipeg Jets at Ottawa Senators Free Picks

Free Pick: SU Winner – Senators, O/U – Under

Notes

Betting Trends

The majority (60.4 percent) of Winnipeg’s wins have come by two or more goals, and the team is 29-16 overall in such games. 10 of Ottawa’s wins (37.0 percent) have been decided by two or more goals.

Extra-man opportunities may be key in the outcome of this game. The Jets are 21-10 in games where they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 32-19 when they serve fewer than 10 total penalty minutes. The Senators are 11-25 when the team serves fewer penalty minutes than the opposition and 19-35 in games where total penalty minutes are in the single digits.

Two of Winnipeg’s last ten games have gone to a shootout. The team is 2-0 in those games and 4-2 overall in shootouts this season.

Winnipeg might hold an advantage if this one comes down to the wire. The team’s 19-14 in one-goal games, while Ottawa is only 17-25 in such games.

The total has gone under in three of Ottawa’s last five outings.

Ottawa skaters have averaged 12.4 giveaways over its last five home games, a rise over its season average of 9.9 giveaways per game (ranked 19th in the league).

Winnipeg skaters have averaged 9.6 giveaways over its last five home games, its season average of 10.3 giveaways per game (ranked 23rd overall).

This game features a couple of the more physical teams in the league. Winnipeg skaters have accounted for the league’s 12th-most hits per game (22.5) while the Senators have handed the sixth-most (24.1).

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Written by GMS Previews

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