Kris Letang, Sidney Crosby, and the Pittsburgh Penguins are set to do battle against Patrik Laine, Mark Scheifele, and the Winnipeg Jets at Bell MTS Place in an East-West showdown. AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh will air the matchup, and the action gets going at 7 p.m. ET on Sunday, October 13.
Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Winnipeg Jets Odds
Oddsmakers have not yet posted moneyline or Over/Under odds for this matchup.
Winnipeg is 4-2 straight up (SU) and has netted moneyline bettors 1.6 units this year. That winning percentage, ranked 2nd in the Central Division in this young season, is right in line with the 47-35 record the team managed during last year’s regular season campaign. Through six regular season matches, three of the team’s games have gone over the total, while two have gone under and none have pushed.
The Jets have successfully connected on 13.3 percent of their power play opportunities thus far. That’s a big drop-off from last season, when they were ranked fourth in the league by scoring on 24.6 percent of their extra-man chances. Their penalty kill has fallen off significantly year-over-year as they’ve gone from successfully defending 78.7 percent of opponents’ power plays (ranked 24th overall last season) to 72.7 percent this year.
Averaging 32.0 saves per game with a .928 save percentage, Connor Hellebuyck (3-1) has been the most dependable option in goal for the Jets this season. Hellebuyck did just play last night, however, so head coach Paul Maurice might decide to give him a breather and go with Laurent Brossoit instead (1-1-1 record, .889 save percentage, 3.84 goals against average).
On the other side of the ice, Pittsburgh is 3-2 straight up (SU) and has lost 1.6 units for bettors taking the moneyline this year. A total of three of its matches have gone under the total, while one has gone over and none have pushed.
The Pens have scored on 23.8 percent of their power play chances this year after converting on 23.8 percent of their extra-man opportunities last season (which ranked them fifth in the league in that category). The team’s gone from successfully defending 80.0 percent of opponent power plays (ranked 17th overall last season) to 75.0 percent this year.
Matt Murray (28.8 saves per game) has been the primary choice in the net for Pittsburgh. Murray owns a 3-2 record, while registering a .911 save percentage and 2.82 goals against average this year.
Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Winnipeg Jets Free Picks
Pick: SU Winner – Jets, O/U – Over
Betting Notes
- After winning two of their three shootouts last season, the Jets are off to a 1-0 start in shootouts this year. The Penguins were 2-3 in shootouts last year and has yet to participate in one this time around.
- Pittsburgh skaters registered 29.5 hits per game last season, while the Jets posted 22.7 hits per matchup.
