A couple of teams that have put themselves squarely in playoff contention, the Winnipeg Jets and the St. Louis Blues meet at the Scottrade Center in a divisional showdown. The action will get going at 8 p.m. ET on Friday, February 23, and it will be broadcasted live on Fox Sports Midwest.
Winnipeg Jets at St. Louis Blues Odds
St. Louis enters the matchup as the slight favorite with a moneyline of -115. The line for Winnipeg sits at -105 and the Over/Under (O/U) is set at 6 goals (-105 for the over, -115 for the under).
Winnipeg is 35-25 straight up (SU) and has netted moneyline bettors 6.0 units this season. Through 60 regular season outings, 31 of its games have gone over the total, while 27 have gone under and just two have pushed. The Jets are 12-17 SU as an away team in 2017-18.
Winnipeg enters the match up with the third-strongest power-play unit in the NHL, as it’s converted on 24.4 percent of its extra-man advantages this season. Additionally, its penalty kill is ranked 11th overall, and the team’s successfully killed off 82.1 percent of its penalties.
For the team as a whole, the Jets have been called for penalties 3.9 times per game overall during the 2017-18 season, and 4.8 per game over its past five matchups. The team’s had to stave off opponent power plays 8.8 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Averaging 27.5 saves per game with a .922 save percentage, Connor Hellebuyck (31-19-8) has been the top option in goal for Winnipeg this season. If it decides to give him a rest, however, Winnipeg may turn to Steve Mason (3-8-1 record, .897 save percentage, 3.52 goals against average).
The visiting Jets have relied on Blake Wheeler and Patrik Laine this year. Wheeler has 69 points via 17 goals and 52 assists, and has recorded multiple points 19 times. Laine has 28 goals and 20 assists to his nameand has notched a point in 36 games.
On the other side of the rink, St. Louis is 34-27 straight up (SU) and has lost 0.3 units for moneyline bettors this year. 36 of its outings have gone under the total, while 24 have gone over and just one has pushed. It’s 19-13 SU at home this year.
The Blues have converted on just 16.6 percent of their power play chances this season, a mark that places them in the bottom 5 overall among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 12th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 82.0 percent of all opponent power plays.
Blues players have been sent to the penalty box only 3.5 times per game in total this season, 3.2 per game over their past five outings total, and 3.2 per game over their last five home outings. The team’s had to stave off opponent power plays just 7.7 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Jake Allen has denied 25.2 shots per game as the top netminder in goal for the Blues. Allen has 19 wins, 22 losses, and two OT losses to his credit and has registered a fairly-weak .908 save percentage and 2.72 goals against average this season.
The home team offense will be led by Brayden Schenn (24 goals, 31 assists).
Winnipeg Jets vs. St. Louis Blues Free Picks
Pick: SU Winner – Blues, O/U – Under
Notes
Betting Notes
Winnipeg is 2-2 in games decided by a shootout this season while St. Louis is 3-0 in shootouts.
The total has gone over in four of Winnipeg’s last five outings.
St. Louis has averaged 2.8 goals per game this year, but has been averaging 1.8 goals per matchup over its four-game losing streak.
Six of Winnipeg’s last ten games have been decided by two goals or more. The team is 4-2 in those games.
The Blue Notes this season have registered the ninth-most hits per game (22.4).
