Avalanche vs. Jets Game 5 Prediction: Stanley Cup Playoffs Odds
This series has been nonstop offence with the Avalanche’s 5-1 Game 4 win on Sunday afternoon serving as the lowest scoring contest. Now trailing 3-1, Winnipeg will return home for Game 5 as they look to slow down the Avs’ big guns up front.
Colorado opened as a slim -120 favourite to win on the NHL odds, with the total set at 6.5.
Avalanche vs. Jets NHL Betting Odds
The Avalanche may be one win away from winning the series, but let’s not forget how dominant the Jets have been this season. Winnipeg won all three regular season meetings, including a 7-0 blowout win in Denver on April 13, and they outscored Colorado 17-4 in those games. Prior to Game 2, the Jets averaged 6.0 goals per game in their last four against Colorado.
Clearly in the drivers seat, it’s no surprise to see the Avalanche sitting as heavy -1200 favourites on the NHL futures board, while Winnipeg is a +750 underdog. The favoured exact series result is a Colorado win in six games at +220. The Avs and Jets are both sitting at +750 to win in seven games.
Colorado Avalanche
Valeri Nichushkin led the way for the Avalanche in Game 4, scoring his first career NHL hat trick. Nichushkin has been outstanding in the series, scoring in every game for a total of six goals. Secondary scoring has been crucial for Colorado with Artturi Lehokonen also scoring in every game of the series. Cale Makar, who rounded out the scoring in Game 4, leads the series with eight points (2G, 6A).
Alexandar Georgiev made 26 saves on Sunday for a third straight win after getting torched for seven goals in the series opener. Georgiev has posted a stellar .938 save percentage in Colorado’s three series victories. Another key to the team’s success has been their red-hot power play. The Avalanche have scored multiple power play goals in three of four games and they are clicking at a 40.0 per cent rate (6-for-15).
Winnipeg Jets
Nate Schmidt scored the lone Winnipeg goal on Sunday, while special teams was once again the Achilles heel for the Jets. The team failed to kill off two of four penalties and they went scoreless on four power play opportunities. Winnipeg has scored on just two of 11 (18.2 per cent) power play opportunities in the series and their penalty kill is hovering at a subpar 60 per cent. Offence in general has been an issue as no Jets player has more than two goals. Mark Scheifele leads the team with five points (2G, 3A).
Vezina Trophy-favourite Connor Hellebuyck continues to struggle in net, allowing four goals on 30 shots before being replaced by Laurent Brossoit for the third period in Game 4. Hellebuyck has given up 19 goals in the series, posting a bloated 5.22 goals-against average and an .870 save percentage. While we know Hellebuyck will start Game 5, both Brenden Dillon and Vladislav Namestnikov remain questionable. Dillon missed Game 4 after suffering a hand laceration and Namestnikov was hit in the face with a puck and suffered a fractured cheekbone.
COL
WIN