Two clubs that split their season series 6-6 a year ago, the Winnipeg Jets and the Nashville Predators collide at Bridgestone Arena for a divisional showdown. The Sports Network will broadcast the matchup, which gets going at 8 p.m. ET on Thursday, October 11.
Winnipeg Jets at Nashville Predators Odds
Nashville is 2-1 straight up (SU) and has earned moneyline bettors 0.3 units this year. That win percentage, the best in the Central Division so far in the early season, is a big slide from what the team recorded during the 2017-18 season (53-29).
The Preds have successfully connected on 0.0 percent of their power play chances so far. That’s a noticeable drop-off from last season, when they were ranked 11th in the league by scoring on 21.2 percent of their extra-man chances. Their penalty kill has fallen off significantly year-over-year as they’ve gone from successfully defending 82.2 percent of opponents’ power plays (ranked sixth overall last season) to 66.7 percent this year.
The Predators, as a collective unit, have been penalized 4.0 times per game this season. Last year, they posted the highest figure in the league with 4.5 penalties per game. After serving an average of 10.9 penalty minutes per game a season ago the team has had to stave off opponent power plays for just 8.0 minutes per outing this year.
Averaging 29.0 saves per game with a .921 save percentage, Pekka Rinne (1-1) has been the top goalkeeper for Nashville this year. If the Preds choose to give him the night off, however, the team could roll with Juuse Saros (1-0 record, .897 save percentage, 3.00 goals against average).
The Preds will continue looking for offensive production via P.K. Subban and Mattias Ekholm. Subban (three points) is up to one goal and two assists while Ekholm has one goal and two assists to his name so far in the early stages of the season.
On the other side of the ice, Winnipeg is 2-1 straight up (SU) and has earned 0.8 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through three regular season outings, one of its games has gone under the total, while none have gone over and two have pushed. As the visiting team so far, the Jets are 1-1 SU.
The Jets have recorded a goal on 25.0 percent of their power play chances this year after converting on 23.4 percent of their extra-man opportunities last season (when the team ranked sixth in the league in that category). The team has gone from killing off 81.0 percent of opponent power plays (ranked 11th overall last season) to 72.7 percent in 2018-19.
Winnipeg’s skaters have been penalized 4.3 times per game this season, a number that’s 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 has had to kill penalties for 9.7 minutes per outing this year.
Connor Hellebuyck (29.0 saves per game) has been the primary option in goal for Winnipeg. Hellebuyck has two wins and one to his credit, and has registered a .926 save percentage and 2.34 goals against average this year.
Kyle Connor (three goals, one assist) and Mark Scheifele (one goal, two assists) are the top point-getters for Winnipeg and will lead the attack for the visiting Jets.
Winnipeg Jets at Nashville Predators Free Picks
Prediction: SU Winner – Jets, O/U – Over
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Notes
Betting Trends
Winnipeg has managed 29.0 shot attempts per game over its last five road games while Nashville has been attempting 43.0 shots per game over its last five at home.
Nashville 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 Preds logged 21.0 hits per matchup.
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