In their first head-to-head meeting of the regular season, the New York Rangers and the Winnipeg Jets face off at Bell MTS Place in an East-West matchup. MSG Network will broadcast the game, and the action gets underway at 3 p.m. ET on Sunday, February 11.
New York Rangers at Winnipeg Jets Odds
Winnipeg (-240) is currently the favorite over New York (+200), and the Over/Under (O/U) is set at an even 6 goals (-120 money on the under, +100 on the over).
The Jets are 32-23 straight up (SU) and have netted moneyline bettors 7.5 units this year. That early-season winning percentage is a welcome improvement over the 40-42 record from the 2016-17 season campaign. Among the teams 55 games this season, 27 have gone over the total, while 26 have gone under and just two have pushed. This season, the teams 20-6 SU at home.
Winnipeg currently touts the second-best power-play unit in the NHL, as the team has scored on 24.2 percent of their extra-man chances this year. On the other hand, its penalty kill is rated ninth overall, and it’s successfully killed off 82.4 percent of all penalties.
Winnipeg, as a collective unit, has been penalized 3.9 times per game overall this season, and 2.6 per game over its last five matchups at home. The teams had to kill penalties for just 6.4 minutes per game over its last 10 outings, overall.
With a .923 save percentage and 27.6 saves per game, Connor Hellebuyck (28-17-8) has been the top option in goal for the Jets this year. If head coach Paul Maurice chooses to give him a breather, however, the Jets may turn to Steve Mason (3-8-8 record, .897 save percentage, 3.52 goals against average).
Blake Wheeler and Patrik Laine will each be focal points for the Jets. Wheeler (59 points) is up to 14 goals and 45 assists and has recorded two or more points in 17 different games this year. Laine has 25 goals and 17 assists to his name and has notched at least one point in 33 contests.
Over on the other bench, New York is 26-29 straight up (SU) and has lost 5.5 units for bettors taking the moneyline this year. A total of 31 of its games have gone over the total, while 22 have gone under and just two have pushed. New York’s 8-16 SU as a road team this season.
New York has converted on 20.6 percent of its power play chances this season, a mark that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 12th overall and it’s successfully killed off 81.9 percent of all penalties.
New York’s players have been penalized 3.7 times per game in total this season, and 4.8 per game over their last five road outings. The teams been forced to kill penalties 12.4 minutes per game over their last five road outings.
Henrik Lundqvist (28.2 saves per game) has been the main choice in goal for New York. Lundqvist has 22 wins, 25 losses, and four OT losses to his credit, while registering a .918 save percentage and 2.77 goals against average this year.
For the visiting Rangers, the offense will run through Mats Zuccarello (eight goals, 31 assists) and J.T. Miller (12 goals, 25 assists).
New York Rangers vs. Winnipeg Jets Free Picks
Prediction: SU Winner – Jets, O/U – Under
Betting Trends
- The total has gone under in three of Winnipeg’s last five games.
- The extra-man advantage may have a critical role in this one. The Rangers are 10-11 in games where they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 17-15 when they’re in the box for fewer than 10 penalty minutes, total. The Jets are 15-8 when the team serves fewer penalty minutes than the opposition and 20-15 in games where they’re in the box for less than 10 minutes.
- Two of Winnipeg’s last ten games have been decided by a shootout. The team is 1-1 in those games and 2-2 overall in shootouts this season.
- Winnipeg skaters have forced 6.0 takeaways per game over its last five home games, a drop-off from its season average of 6.9 takeaways per game (ranked 19th overall).
- One of the top teams at creating pressure on opposing offenses, New York is ranked third this season with 9.4 takeaways per game. That figure has trended down, however, as the team has averaged 5.9 takeaways over its last 10 games and 5.8 takeaways over its last five.
