Vancouver Canucks vs. Winnipeg Jets Prediction, NHL Odds
Currently the hottest team in the league, the Jets will look to extend their win streak to eight-games on Thursday night, tying their season high.
With both teams sitting in their final playoff positions, it will be tough to tell what kind of lineups we will see on either side. Some hockey fans consider these games “garbage time” but bettors see the value before the postseason. Puck drop on the final night of the regular season is set for 8:00 p.m. ET and our NHL odds have the Jets as a slight favourite, at -135 on the moneyline with the OVER/UNDER set at 5.5 goals.
Canucks vs. Jets NHL Betting Odds
The Jets took the first game of this season series 4-2, led by Mark Scheifele’s four points (1G, 3A) and linemate Gabriel Vilardi’s pair of goals (2G, 1A). Connor Hellebuyck stopped 35 of 37 shots to secure the victory as Winnipeg was outshot 37-28. Vancouver got their revenge in the next meeting, blanking the Jets 5-0 and holding them to just 22 shots. Four different Canucks’ players registered two points in that game and it was a combined shutout after Thatcher Demko left midway with an injury.
Thursday’s game will be the first of the season series to be played in Winnipeg and the Jets will be looking to win the series while simultaneously extending their win streak. The Jets won both games played at home versus the Canucks last season. Over the past two seasons, this matchup has played the UNDER 3-2 but has been fairly high-scoring, with the lowest total being five in their most recent meeting.
After playing the OVER three games in a row, the Canucks got back in the groove defensively, holding their opponents to just a single goal in back-to-back games while hitting the UNDER. They have played the UNDER in six of their past 10. Vancouver has been solid defensively all season, holding the fifth-best goals-against average in the NHL at 2.68 per game.
There are fewer teams better than the Canucks at keeping their opponent’s offence quiet but the Winnipeg Jets are one of those teams. They are tied for the fewest goals-against average at 2.42 this season but have been putting on a clinic during this seven-game win streak. They have gave up, at most, three goals in a game while collecting two shutouts in the process. Their lockdown defence has not slowed their offence as they have played the OVER/UNDER 6-1-1 in that stretch, scoring three or more goals in each outing.
Vancouver Canucks
All Star goalie Thatcher Demko made his return in goal on Tuesday night after missing 14 games with an injury. He was tested early and often but stood tall in net, stopping 39 of the 40 shots he faced. The Canucks sailed to a 4-1 win, securing them the Pacific Division title for the first time since 2013.
Defenceman Tyler Myers led the way offensively for Vancouver, opening the scoring with a shorthanded goal and adding an assist on the third goal to increase his team’s lead to 3-0. Myers has had a point in each of the past four games, pushing his season total to 29 points (5G, 24A). It’s Myers’ best point total since joining the Canucks in 2019.
After a bad stretch of games post All Star break, Vancouver looks like they coming back into form before the playoffs. They have now picked up a point in four straight games as they prepare for their first-round matchup versus a scary Nashville Predators team.
Winnipeg Jets
The Jets picked up their seventh win in a row on Tuesday in Seattle, securing second place in the Central Division and home-ice advantage for their first-round matchup versus the Colorado Avalanche.
Kyle Connor (34) scored his second goal of the period with just six seconds to go in the first to put the Jets up 2-1 headed to the second. Nikolaj Ehlers (25) scored just minutes into the second period, increasing Winnipeg’s lead to two, before the Kraken battled back with a pair of their own to even it up headed to the third.
A power play goal from Tyler Toffoli (33) midway through the third put the Jets back in the lead 4-3, allowing goalie Connor Hellebuyck to shut them down through the end of regulation, solidifying the victory.
Veteran forward Nino Neiderreiter made his return to the lineup Tuesday after missing five games with a lacerated leg. The Jets are now back to full health in their lineup as they prepare for their first-round matchup versus the 2022 Stanley Cup champions, the Colorado Avalanche.
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