Two clubs that split their season series 1-1 a year ago, the Winnipeg Jets and the Florida Panthers collide at Hartwall Arena for an East-West tilt. The action will get going at 2 p.m. ET on Thursday, November 1, and it can be viewed live on NBC Sports Network.
Winnipeg Jets at Florida Panthers Odds
Winnipeg (-145) is currently favored over Florida (+125), and the Over/Under (O/U) has been set at an even 6 goals (-120 for the over, +100 for the under).
Winnipeg is 7-5 straight up (SU) and has earned 0.5 units for moneyline bettors this year. Seven of its matches have gone under the total, while three have gone over and just two have pushed. The Jets are 2-3 SU on the road in 2018-19.
The Jets have impressively found the net on 31.4 percent of their power play opportunities thus far. That’s a noticeable step forward from last season, when they were ranked sixth in the NHL by scoring on 23.4 percent of their extra-man opportunities. Their penalty kill has also gotten stronger, as they’ve gone from successfully defending 81.0 percent of opponents’ power plays (ranked 11th overall last season) to 82.9 percent this year.
For the team as a whole, the Jets have been called for penalties 4.5 times per game this season, a number that is up a bit from the 3.8 penalties per game given up last year. After serving an average of 8.6 penalty minutes per game a season ago the team’s had to kill penalties for a taxing 14.2 minutes per matchup this year.
With a .907 save percentage and 29.2 saves per game, Connor Hellebuyck (4-5-1) has been the top option in goal for Winnipeg this season. If Winnipeg decides to rest him, however, they could turn to Laurent Brossoit (3-0), who has a .957 save percentage and 1.67 goals against average this year.
The visiting Jets have relied on Mark Scheifele and Blake Wheeler this season. Scheifele has 12 points on six goals and six assists, and has recorded multiple points in two different games. Wheeler has two goals and nine assists to his credit, and has registered at least one point in eight games.
Florida is 2-7 straight up (SU) and has already lost 7.7 units for moneyline bettors thus far. Through nine regular season outings, five of its games have gone over the total, while four have gone under and none have pushed. It’s 0-3 SU at home this season.
The Panthers have killed off a remarkable 71.0 percent of all penalties, a few points lower than the 80.3 percent they recorded a year ago (when they were ranked 15th in the NHL). They have converted on 15.0 percent of their power plays this year after scoring on 18.9 percent (ranked 21st in league) last season.
Panthers players have been penalized 4.2 times per game this season. Last year, that number was at 4.1, the sixth-worst mark in the NHL. After serving an average of 11.0 penalty minutes per game a season ago the team has been forced to kill penalties for 9.7 minutes per outing this year.
James Reimer (18.6 saves per game) has been the primary option in goal for the Panthers. Reimer has two wins, five losses, and one overtime loss and has registered a mediocre 3.41 goals against average and a poor .878 save percentage this season.
Evgenii Dadonov (four goals, six assists) will pace the offensive counter for the Panthers.
Winnipeg Jets at Florida Panthers Betting Predictions
NHL Tip: SU Winner – Panthers, O/U – Over
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Notes
Betting Notes
After going 3-3 in games decided by a shootout last year, the Panthers are off to a 1-2 start in shootouts this season. Winnipeg went 4-2 in shootouts last year and has yet to participate in one this time around.
The total has gone over in three of Florida’s last five outings.
Winnipeg has managed 30.2 shot attempts per game over its last five road games while Florida is averaging 34.7 shots per game over its last five at home.
Florida has yet to win a game by two more more goals this season.
Winnipeg skaters registered 23.3 hits per game last season, while the Panthers logged 20.2 hits per matchup.
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