The Scottrade Center will play host to a Central Division clash as the St. Louis Blues welcome the visiting Winnipeg Jets. It’s the fourth and last time that the two clubs will meet in the regular season. The match gets underway at 8 p.m. ET on Friday, February 23 and it will air live on Fox Sports Midwest.
Winnipeg Jets vs. St. Louis Blues Odds
Winnipeg (-105) is entering this one as the underdog to St. Louis (-115) and the oddsmakers have set the Over/Under (O/U) at 6 goals (-105 for the over, -115 for the under).
Winnipeg is 35-25 straight up (SU) and has earned 6.0 units for moneyline bettors this year. 31 of its contests have gone over the total, while 27 have gone under and just two have pushed. The Jets are 12-17 SU on the road in 2017-18.
Winnipeg currently touts the third-best power-play unit in the NHL, as it’s found the net on 24.4 percent of its extra-man advantages this season. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 11th overall, and it has successfully killed off 82.1 percent of its penalties.
The Jets, as a collective unit, have been penalized 3.9 times per game this season, and 4.8 per game over its past five matchups. The team has had to kill penalties 8.8 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Boasting a .922 save percentage and 27.5 saves per game, Connor Hellebuyck (31-19-8) has been the top option in goal for Winnipeg this season. If it chooses to rest him, however, Winnipeg may turn to Steve Mason (3-8-1), who has a .897 save percentage and 3.52 goals against average this year.
Blake Wheeler and Patrik Laine will both lead the way for the visiting Jets. Wheeler has 69 points on 17 goals and 52 assists, and has recorded two or more points 19 times. Laine has 28 goals and 20 assists to his credit (and has logged at least one point in 36 games).
St. Louis is 34-27 straight up (SU) and has lost 0.3 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through 61 regular season matches, 36 of its games have gone under the total, while 24 have gone over and just one has pushed. The team is 19-13 SU at home this year.
The Blues have converted on just 16.6 percent of their power play chances this year, a figure that places them in the bottom 5 overall among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 12th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 82.0 percent of all penalties.
St. Louis players have been sent to the penalty box only 3.5 times per game in total this season, 3.2 per game over their past five contests total, and 3.2 per game over their last five at home. The team’s been forced to kill penalties just 7.7 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Jake Allen (25.2 saves per game) has been the primary selection in goal for the Blues. Allen has 19 wins, 22 losses, and two OT losses and has maintained a subpar .908 save percentage and 2.72 goals against average this season.
Brayden Schenn (24 goals, 31 assists) will lead the attack for the home team.
Winnipeg Jets at St. Louis Blues Free Picks
Free Pick: SU Winner – Blues, O/U – Under
Betting Trends
- Winnipeg is 2-2 in games decided by a shootout this season while St. Louis is 3-0 in shootouts.
- The over has hit in four of Winnipeg’s last five games.
- St. Louis has averaged 2.8 goals per game (overall) this year, but is averaging 1.8 goals per contest over its four-game losing skid.
- Six of Winnipeg’s last ten games have been decided by two goals or more. The team is 4-2 in those games.
- The Blues this season have handed the ninth-most hits per game (22.4).
