Squaring off for the fourth and final time this season, the Dallas Stars and the Winnipeg Jets face off at Bell MTS Place for a Central Division matchup. The first puck will drop at 7:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, March 18, and you are able to catch the game live on Sportsnet.
Dallas Stars vs. Winnipeg Jets Odds
With a -165 moneyline, Winnipeg heads into the matchup as the obvious favorite. The line for Dallas sits at +145.
The Jets are 42-29 straight up (SU) and have earned 8.7 units for moneyline bettors this year. That win percentage, the second-best in the Central Division so far this season, is a welcome improvement compared to how the team performed during the 2016-17 season (40-42). Through 71 regular season matches, 35 of the teams games have gone over the total, while 34 have gone under and just two have pushed. The teams 25-9 SU at home this season.
Winnipeg’s converted on 23.8 percent of its power play opportunities this season, a mark that’s good enough for fourth-best in the league. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked fourth overall, and it’s successfully killed off 83.2 percent of all penalties.
As a team, Winnipeg has been penalized 3.9 times per game overall this season, and 3.2 per game over its last five home outings. The team has been forced to kill penalties for just 7.1 minutes per game over its last 10 outings, in total.
Averaging 28.3 saves per game with a .925 save percentage, Connor Hellebuyck (36-23-9) has been the top goalkeeper for the Jets this year. If head coach Paul Maurice chooses to give him a rest, however, the Jets could turn to Steve Mason (4-8-8 record, .906 save percentage, 3.18 goals against average).
Blake Wheeler and Patrik Laine will each be focal points for the Jets. Wheeler (78 points) has produced 18 goals and 60 assists and has recorded multiple points in 21 different games this year. Laine has 41 goals and 25 assists to his name and has notched at least one point in 47 games.
On the other bench, Dallas is 38-34 straight up (SU) and has lost 8.6 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through 72 regular season outings, 36 of its games have gone over the total, while 34 have gone under and just two have pushed. Dallas 14-21 SU as the road team this season.
Dallas has converted on 20.3 percent of its power play opportunities this year, a mark that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 11th overall and it’s successfully defended 82.0 percent of all opponent power plays.
Dallas skaters have been called for penalties 4.3 times per game in total this season, 4.2 per game over their last five outings total, and 4.8 per game over their last five games as the visiting team. The team has had to stave off opponent power plays 12.2 minutes per game over their last five road outings.
Ben Bishop (25.3 saves per game) has been the primary option in goal for Dallas. Bishop has 26 wins, 26 losses, and six OT losses to his credit, while registering a .916 save percentage and 2.50 goals against average this year.
Tyler Seguin (38 goals, 31 assists) will pace the attack for the visiting Stars.
Dallas Stars vs. Winnipeg Jets Free Picks
Free Pick: SU Winner – Jets, O/U – Under
Betting Notes
- The total has gone under in four of Winnipeg’s last five games.
- Dallas has managed 28.4 shot attempts per game over its last five road games while Winnipeg is averaging 37.4 shots per game over its last five at home.
- The extra-man advantage could have a key role in this one. The Stars are 14-13 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 22-17 in games where they serve fewer than 10 total penalty minutes. The Jets are 19-10 when the team serves fewer penalty minutes than the opposition and 28-18 in games where total penalty minutes are in the single digits.
- Winnipeg is 2-2 in games decided by a shootout this season while Dallas is 4-3 in shootouts.
- Winnipeg is ranked 17th overall with 7.1 takeaways per game. That figure has trended higher recently, as it has forced 7.9 takeaways over its last 10 games and 7.6 takeaways over its last five.
- Dallas has allowed 2.7 goals per game this year, but is giving up 4.0 goals per contest over its four-game losing skid.
- Dallas is ranked 29th in the NHL this season with 5.7 takeaways per game. That figure has trended down, however, as the team has averaged 5.1 takeaways over its last 10 games and 4.4 takeaways over its last five.
