The New York Islanders, led by Mathew Barzal and Josh Bailey, are preparing to take the ice against Blake Wheeler, Mark Scheifele, and the Winnipeg Jets at Bell MTS Place in an East-West showdown. The puck is going to drop at 8 p.m. ET on Thursday, March 28, and it will be showcased live on The Sports Network.
New York Islanders at Winnipeg Jets Odds
New York (+130) is playing the role of underdog to Winnipeg (-150), and the oddsmakers have set the Over/Under (O/U) at 6 goals. The odds for betting the total sit at -130 for the under and +110 for the over.
Winnipeg is 45-31 straight-up (SU) and has earned 4.0 units for moneyline bettors this season. That win percentage, the NHL’s fourth-strongest so far in the early season, is fairly close to what the team managed during last year’s regular season (52-30). Of the team’s 76 games this season, 37 have gone over the total, while 32 have gone under and just seven have pushed. The team is 25-14 SU at home this year.
The Jets have converted on 25.5 percent of their power play chances this year, a figure that’s good enough for fourth-best in the league. On the other hand, their penalty kill is ranked 23rd overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 79.2 percent of all penalties.
Averaging 29.5 saves per game with a .913 save percentage, Connor Hellebuyck (32-26-2) has been the best option in goal for Winnipeg this season. If Winnipeg chooses to give him the night off, however, head coach Paul Maurice might turn to Laurent Brossoit (13-8-8 record, .925 save percentage, 2.52 goals against average).
In the other locker room, New York is 44-33 straight up (SU) and has earned 14.5 units for moneyline bettors this season. Through 77 regular season outings, 47 of its games have gone under the total, while 25 have gone over and just five have pushed. The Islanders are 21-17 SU as an away team this season.
The Islanders have converted on just 14.5 percent of their power play chances this season, a figure that places them in the bottom- overall among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 21st overall and it’s successfully defended 79.7 percent of all opponent power plays.
Robin Lehner (2.17 goals against average and .928 save percentage) has been the primary option in goal for New York. Lehner is averaging 26.2 saves per game and has 23 wins, 19 losses, and five OT losses to his credit.
New York Islanders vs. Winnipeg Jets Free Picks
Free Prediction: SU Winner – Jets, O/U – Under
Betting Trends
- Extra-man opportunities could play a critical role in tonight’s matchup. The Islanders are 18-11 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 33-22 in games where they’re in the penalty box for fewer than 10 minutes, in total. The Jets are 21-14 when the team serves fewer penalty minutes than the opposition and 28-21 in games where they’re in the box for less than 10 minutes.
- Winnipeg is 2-1 in games decided by a shootout this season while New York is 4-5 in shootouts.
- The under has hit in four of Winnipeg’s last five outings.
- New York is ranked 19th this season with 11.2 giveaways per game. That figure’s trended upward recently, as it’s averaged 14.5 giveaways over its last 10 games and 15.6 giveaways over its last five.
- Winnipeg skaters have averaged 11.6 giveaways over its last five home games, a rise over its season average of 9.5 giveaways per game (the 12th-fewest in the league).
- New York skaters have accounted for the league’s ninth-most hits per game (24.8).
