New Jersey Devils vs. Winnipeg Jets Matchup Preview

betdsiArticles, Hockey, NHL

Bell MTS Place is the site for an East-West showdown as the New Jersey Devils pay a visit to Manitoba to take on the Winnipeg Jets. MSG Network will showcase the matchup, which gets going at 3 p.m. ET on Saturday, November 18.

New Jersey Devils vs. Winnipeg Jets Odds

With a -160 moneyline, Winnipeg enters the game as the heavy favorite. The line for New Jersey sits at +140. The Over/Under (O/U), set at 6 goals, initially opened at -115 for the over and -105 for the under. That line has since moved however, and it now sits at -120 money on the over, +100 on the under. Winnipeg is 11-7 straight up (SU) and has earned moneyline bettors 4.0 units this year. That winning percentage, ranked fourth in the league in this young season, is a welcome improvement over the 40-42 record from the 2016-17 season campaign. Through 18 regular season matches, 10 of the teams games have gone over the total, while eight have gone under and none have pushed. The team is 6-3 SU at home this year. The Jets have converted on 21.9 percent of their power play opportunities this season, a mark that’s good enough for ninth-best in the NHL. On the other hand, their penalty kill is rated 19th overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 79.7 percent of all penalties. As a team, the Jets have been penalized 4.5 times per game overall this season, and 5.8 per game over their last five matchups home outings. The teams had to kill penalties for 16.0 minutes per game over their last five home outings. Averaging 28.6 saves per game with a .930 save percentage, Connor Hellebuyck (10-4-2) has been the top goalkeeper for Winnipeg this year. If the Jets, however, decide to rest him, Winnipeg could roll with Steve Mason (1-5-5 record, .892 save percentage, 3.76 goals against average). The Jets will continue seeking offensive production from Blake Wheeler and Mark Scheifele. Wheeler (24 points) has tallied five goals and 19 assists and has recorded multiple points in seven different games this year. Scheifele has 11 goals and 11 assists to his credit and has notched a point in 11 contests. On the other bench, New Jersey is 11-7 straight up (SU) and has netted 6.5 units for moneyline bettors this season. Through 18 regular season outings, 10 of its games have gone over the total, while eight have gone under and none have pushed. The Devils are 6-3 SU as the visiting team this season. The Devils have scored on 23.7 percent of their power play chances this season, a mark that places it in the top-10 among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 16th overall and it’s successfully killed off 80.8 percent of all penalties. New Jersey’s skaters have been penalized 4.5 times per game this season, and 3.0 per game over their last five on the road. The team has had to kill penalties just 7.1 minutes per game over their last 10 outings. Cory Schneider (.924 save percentage and 2.64 goals against average) has been the primary option in goal for New Jersey. Schneider is averaging 31.9 saves per game and has eight wins, five losses, and two OT losses to his credit. Taylor Hall (six goals, 13 assists) has been one of the primary facilitators on offense for the visiting Devils.

New Jersey Devils at Winnipeg Jets Free Picks

Predictions: SU Winner – Devils, O/U – Over

Betting Trends:

  • The total has gone under in four of Winnipeg’s last five games.
  • Winnipeg has allowed 2.7 goals per game overall this season, but has given up only 1.3 per contest across its three-game winning streak.
  • Six of Winnipeg’s last ten contests have been decided by two or more goals, and the team is 5-1 overall in those games.
  • New Jersey skaters have dished out the 12th-most hits in the league (22.2 per game), but the teams recorded just 19.4 hits over their last five away games.