The BB&T Center will be hosting an East-West tilt as the Florida Panthers face off against the visiting Winnipeg Jets. The Sports Network will broadcast the matchup, and the opening face-off is at 7:30 p.m. ET on Thursday, December 7.
Winnipeg Jets at Florida Panthers Odds
Winnipeg (-125) is currently favored over Florida (+105), and the oddsmakers have set the Over/Under (O/U) at 6 goals (-110 for the over, -110 for the under). After originally posting at -130 over and +110 under, those lines have shifted.
Winnipeg is 17-11 straight up (SU) and has earned moneyline bettors 5.4 units this year. Through 28 regular season matches, 15 of its games have gone over the total, while 13 have gone under and none have pushed. The Jets are 7-8 SU on the road in 2017-18.
Winnipeg comes into the match up with the third-strongest power-play unit in the NHL, as it’s found the net on 27.0 percent of its extra-man advantages this year. Its penalty kill is ranked 17th overall, and it has successfully killed off 80.6 percent of all penalties.
Winnipeg, as a collective unit, has been whistled for penalties 4.4 times per game overall during the 2017-18 season, and 5.0 per game over its last five games. The team has had to kill penalties 8.8 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Sporting a .921 save percentage and 27.0 saves per game, Connor Hellebuyck (15-8-3) has been the best option in goal for Winnipeg this year. If Winnipeg chooses to rest him, however, head coach Paul Maurice may roll with Steve Mason (2-6-1), who has a .904 save percentage and 3.45 goals against average this year.
The visiting Jets have relied on Blake Wheeler and Mark Scheifele heavily this year. Wheeler (36 points) has tallied seven goals and 29 assists, and has recorded two or more points in 10 different games. Scheifele has 14 goals and 20 assists to his credit (and has notched a point in 18 games).
On the other side of the ice, Florida is 10-17 straight up (SU) and has lost 7.0 units for moneyline bettors thus far. Through 27 regular season contests, 14 of its games have gone over the total, while 13 have gone under and none have pushed. The team’s 5-8 SU at home this year.
Florida has converted on just 16.7 percent of its power play chances this year, a figure that’s ranked 25th in the NHL. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 28th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 75.3 percent of all penalties.
Florida players have been sent to the penalty box 4.3 times per game in total this season, and 2.0 per game over their last five home outings. The team’s been forced to stave off opponent power plays just 7.5 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Roberto Luongo (31.7 saves per game) has been the top netminder in goal for Florida. Luongo has six wins, nine losses, and two overtime losses and has registered a .928 save percentage and 2.62 goals against average this season.
Vincent Trocheck (10 goals, 17 assists) will pace the offensive counter for Florida.
Winnipeg Jets at Florida Panthers Free Picks
Predictions: SU Winner – Panthers, O/U – Over
Notes
Betting Notes
Two of Florida’s last ten games have ended in a shootout. The team is 1-1 in those games and 2-2 overall in shootouts this season.
The under has hit in three of Florida’s last five outings.
Winnipeg has managed 32.0 shot attempts per game over its last five road games while Florida is averaging 38.6 shots per game over its last five at home.
Florida has given up 3.3 goals per game, while scoring just 2.3 per contest, over its three-game losing streak.
Over Winnipeg’s last ten games, eight of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 5-3 in those games).
Winnipeg skaters have accounted for the league’s 11th-most hits per game (22.2).
