Chicago Blackhawks vs. Winnipeg Jets Prediction, NHL Odds
We have afternoon NHL action on Saturday and the third matinee on the slate features the Chicago Blackhawks visiting the Winnipeg Jets. Winnipeg is a -225 favourite on the NHL odds.
Blackhawks vs. Jets NHL Betting Odds
Saturday is the first of four meetings between the teams with the Hawks first visiting Winnipeg on Nov. 27. Last year, the Jets won two of three. Kyle Connor (2G, 4A) led Winnipeg with six points, while defenceman Nate Schmidt had three assists and was plus-3. Connor Hellebuyck was 1-1-0 with a 3.03 goals-against average and .898 save percentage.
Chicago star Patrick Kane had a goal and three assists but was minus-2. The Hawks’ two main goalies last year were Marc-Andre Fleury and Kevin Lankinen, but they are no longer with the club.
Back to Kane: Don’t be surprised if the Hawks trade the former Hart Trophy winner and future Hall of Famer. They are in a major rebuild and Kane would bring back plenty even hitting free agency after this season. He does have a no-movement clause, however, so he can dictate where he might be dealt.
The favourite is 4-1 in the past five meetings.
Chicago Blackhawks
The Hawks have overachieved thus far with their 5-4-2 record and upset the visiting Los Angeles Kings 2-1 in overtime on Thursday to snap a four-game skid. Jonathan Toews converted Jake McCabe’s pass into an open-net goal in overtime. Toews, who scored his 69th career game-winning goal, is having a nice bounce-back season with seven goals – but he might be traded just like Kane, who leads the team with 10 points.
Arvid Soderblom stopped 32 shots for his first career NHL win. He will start again if Alex Stalock isn’t cleared from a concussion. Two of the team’s better players, forward Tyler Johnson and defenceman Seth Jones, are on injured reserve. The Hawks are 17-35 in their past 52 after a win.
Winnipeg Jets
The Jets avoided a big home upset on Thursday with a 3-2 overtime win over Montreal – Winnipeg’s third straight OT game. Connor scored 1:45 into overtime, only his second goal this year after 47 last season.
“There are times you want the right guy to get the puck at the right time, in the right spot, and it was coming to him a lot (Thursday),” said head coach Rick Bowness. “That’s perseverance. Just stay with it.”
Pierre-Luc Dubois had a goal and an assist and Blake Wheeler also scored (Wheeler’s 299th career goal). Hellebuyck stopped 20 shots. Winger Morgan Barron will miss 4-5 weeks after undergoing wrist surgery. He has a goal and three assists. The Jets are 7-1 in their past eight vs. teams with a losing record.
CHI
WIN