Boston Bruins vs. Winnipeg Jets Prediction, NHL Odds
It’s been a tough season in Winnipeg as they sit four points back of the second wild card spot in the Western Conference, although the Jets got back in the win column on Tuesday with a 7-3 home victory against Vegas. Boston sits securely in the Eastern Conference’s first wild card, but they’re coming off a 4-2 loss in Minnesota on Wednesday.
The Bruins opened as -135 favourites to win on the NHL odds, with a total of 6.0.
Bruins vs. Jets NHL Betting Odds
Boston took the only other meeting between these teams this year, winning 3-2 at home on Jan. 22. Tuukka Rask made 22 stops in his last career NHL win before announcing his retirement on Feb. 9.
The Bruins have been a solid road team this season, winning seven of their last nine games away from TD Garden. They’ve been a terrible cover option as they’re 22-39 against the spread overall, although they’re 16-15 ATS on the road. This could be a low scoring game, with the total going Under in 10 of Boston’s last 14 trips to Winnipeg.
The Jets have looked better lately, picking up wins in four of their last five games. They’re a healthy 36-25 ATS overall, including 17-12 ATS at home. The total has gone Over in eight of Winnipeg’s last 10 games overall and four of their last five at home.
Boston Bruins
Boston came back from a 2-0 first period deficit on Wednesday, eventually tying the game heading into the third period, but they ultimately couldn’t pull out the win in Minnesota. Craig Smith and Brad Marchand scored for the Bruins, while Jeremy Swayman stopped 30 of 33 shots. Captain Patrice Bergeron was a surprise late scratch. Boston announced Bergeron would miss at least two games due to the risk of an infection from a previous arm injury. Bergeron has 45 points (17G, 28A) in 56 games this season. David Pastrnak leads the team in goals (33) and points (61).
The Bruins haven’t announced who will start in net between the 23-year-old Swayman and veteran Linus Ullmark yet, but Swayman has essentially locked up the No. 1 job since Rask officially retired. Swayman has a 17-8-3 record this season, with a 2.09 goals-against average (tied for third-best in NHL) and .925 save percentage (tied for fifth in NHL). The loss on Wednesday was Swayman’s first defeat in over a month, a stretch that saw him go 9-0-1 with a 1.57 GAA and .944 SV. For the season, Ullmark is 18-9-2 with a 2.74 GAA and .908 SV.
Winnipeg Jets
Winnipeg didn’t get a shot on goal until 12:26 of the first period on Tuesday and they were outshot 38-23 in the game, but they still found a way to hammer Vegas 7-3. Blake Wheeler, Kyle Connor, Nikolaj Ehlers, Logan Stanley, Mark Scheifele, Josh Morrissey and Adam Lowry all scored for the Jets. Connor Hellebuyck made 35 saves. Connor, who has scored in five straight games, is quietly having a career-year. He has already matched his carer-high in goals and he’s one point shy of matching his career-high in points as well. Connor’s 72 points is tied for ninth in NHL scoring and his 38 goals is fourth in the league. Wheeler also added an assist on Wednesday and now has seven points (2G, 5A) on his current five-game points streak.
Hellebuyck has started an NHL-high 51 games this season, so he’ll likely get the start again on Friday. Winnipeg’s No. 1 netminder has posted a 21-21-9 record, with a 2.99 GAA and .908 SV. Hellebuyck has allowed either three or four goals in each of his last seven starts, so it’s possible the Jets elect to rest him and start backup Eric Comrie. Comrie is 7-2-1 with a 2.34 GAA and .920 SV.
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