Two teams facing each other for the second time this season, the Winnipeg Jets and the Chicago Blackhawks take the ice at the United Center for a divisional matchup. The match gets started at 8:30 p.m. ET on Friday, January 12, and it’ll be broadcasted live on NBC Sports Chicago.
Winnipeg Jets vs. Chicago Blackhawks Odds
Each side currently has an identical -110 money line for this one and the oddsmakers have set the Over/Under (O/U) at an even 6 goals. The odds for betting the total sit at -110 for the over and -110 for the under.
Winnipeg is 26-18 straight up (SU) and has netted moneyline bettors 7.3 units this season. 23 of its matches have gone over the total, while 19 have gone under and just two have pushed. The Jets are 10-14 SU as the away team in 2017-18.
Winnipeg currently has the second-strongest power-play unit in the NHL, as it’s converted on 25.8 percent of its extra-man opportunities this season. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 16th overall, and it has successfully killed off 81.2 percent of all penalties.
For the team as a whole, the Jets have been sent to the penalty box 4.0 times per game this season, and 2.6 per game over its last five on the road. The teams been forced to defend opponent power plays just 6.7 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Sporting a .923 save percentage and 27.5 saves per game, Connor Hellebuyck (23-12-6) has been the top option in goal for Winnipeg this season. If head coach Paul Maurice chooses to rest him, however, Winnipeg might go with Steve Mason (3-8-1), who has a .897 save percentage and 3.52 goals against average this year.
Blake Wheeler and Mark Scheifele will both lead the way for the visiting Jets. Wheeler (52 points) is up to 14 goals and 38 assists, and has recorded two or more points in 14 different games. Scheifele has 15 goals and 23 assists to his credit (and has notched a point in 21 games).
On the other side of the ice, Chicago is 21-22 straight up (SU) and has lost 3.9 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through 43 regular season matches, 22 of its games have gone under the total, while 19 have gone over and just two have pushed. It’s 11-9 SU at home this year.
The Blackhawks have converted on just 16.1 percent of their power play opportunities this year, a figure that’s ranked 26th in the NHL. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 13th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 81.8 percent of all opponent power plays.
Chicago players have been whistled for penalties only 3.7 times per game in total this season, and 2.8 per game over their last five home outings. The teams been forced to stave off opponent power plays just 8.7 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Corey Crawford (27.9 saves per game) has been the primary option in goal for the Blackhawks. Crawford has 16 wins, 12 losses, and two overtime losses and has registered a .929 save percentage and 2.27 goals against average this season.
Patrick Kane (18 goals, 27 assists) will pace the offensive counter for Chi-town.
Winnipeg Jets at Chicago Blackhawks Betting Predictions
Predictions: SU Winner – Blackhawks, O/U – Over
Betting Notes
- Over Winnipeg’s last ten games, six of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 5-1 in those games).
- Winnipeg has averaged 3.4 goals per game overall this season, but is scoring 5.0 per match up over the teams three-game winning streak.
- The Jets are 13-6 in games where they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 15-10 when they serve fewer than 10 penalty minutes, in total.
- The over has hit in three of Chicago’s last five games.
- Chicago has averaged 8.0 giveaways over its last five home games, an improvement from its season average of 9.1 giveaways per game (ranked 14th overall).
- Winnipeg has averaged 10.2 giveaways over its last five home games, right in line with its season average of 9.9 giveaways per game (ranked 18th in the NHL).
