We’re headed to Western Canada on Thursday night as the Winnipeg Jets prepare to host the Vancouver Canucks, with both teams looking to get back in the win column.  The Jets are on a five-game skid, including a 5-3 home loss against Florida on Tuesday.  Vancouver also lost at home on Tuesday, falling 3-2 in overtime against Edmonton for their third straight L.

Winnipeg is a -172 favourite to win on the NHL odds, with a total of 5.5.

Canucks vs. Jets NHL Betting Odds

These teams have already met twice in Vancouver this season.  The Canucks took both games, winning 3-2 in regulation on Nov. 19 and 4-3 in a shootout on Dec. 10.  About 72 per cent of Sports Interaction bettors are on the Jets for this game, while 82 per cent of action is taking the Over.  The total has gone Under in eight of the last nine games played between the Jets and Canucks in Winnipeg.

The new calendar year hasn’t done much to change Vancouver’s fortunes, as they’ve dropped six of nine games this month.  They’re 23-19 against the spread for the season, including 13-10 ATS on the road.  The total has gone Under in five of the Canucks’ last six games.

Riding a five-game losing streak, the Jets have managed just three wins in nine games this month.  They’re 22-17 ATS overall, with covers in 10 of 18 home games.  The total has gone Over in Winnipeg’s last seven home games and 12 of their last 17 overall.

Vancouver Canucks

The Canucks managed to salvage a single point against Edmonton, but they looked far from dominant in the game.  Vancouver blew a 2-0 lead they held until the third period, eventually being outshot 50-27 in the game.  Elias Pettersson and Tyler Motte had the goals for the Canucks.  J.T. Miller, who leads the team with 40 points (12G, 28A) in 40 games, picked up Vancouver’s lone assist on the night.  Captain Bo Horvat, who has a team-high 13 goals, missed his fourth straight game in COVID protocols and likely won’t return to the lineup until Saturday at the earliest.

Spencer Martin, making just his second career NHL start, looked strong against Edmonton, finishing with 47 saves.  Vancouver was forced to start Martin because No. 1 goalie Thatcher Demko and backup Jaroslav Halak were both in COVID protocols.  Demko will not play in Winnipeg, but Halak has rejoined the team and will suit up along with Martin.  It’s unclear who the starter will be, but if Halak is back in game-shape he will likely get the nod.  Halak has a 1-4-2 record this season, with a 2.59 goals-against average and .915 save percentage.  Martin has stopped 80 of 84 shots in his two NHL starts.

Winnipeg Jets

Winnipeg’s return to Canada Life Centre for their first home game since Dec. 19 ended in a fifth straight loss as the Jets continue to fall further out of the playoff picture.  Paul Stastny, Kyle Connor and Piere-Luc Dubois had the goals for Winnipeg, while rookie Cole Perfetti recorded the first two assists of his NHL career.  Connor leads the team in both goals (23) and points (42).  Connor Hellebuyck made 27 saves in his 12th straight start on Tuesday.  Defenceman Josh Morrissey was placed in COVID protocols just prior to the game.  That’s a big blow to this roster as Morrissey was averaging 25 minutes of ice time over his last five games.

It’s tough to say how long Winnipeg plans to ride Hellebuyck, who has started 33 of 39 games this season.  Hellebuyck has a 14-13-6 record, with 2.87 GAA and .911 SV.  He’s 11-3 in his career against Vancouver, with a 1.51 GAA, .949 SV and four shutouts.  Backup Eric Comrie is 3-2-1 this year, with a 2.53 GAA and .914 SV.  He started and lost both previous games against Vancouver this year.

NHL Prediction: Who Will Win Canucks vs. Jets?

• Regular Season

Canucks Team Leaders

VAN

Points	J.T. Miller 99
+ / -	Conor Garland 18
Shots	J.T. Miller 206
Penalty Mins	Tyler Myers 66
Wins	Thatcher Demko 33
GAA	Spencer Martin 1.74

WIN

Points	Kyle Connor 93
+ / -	Nikolaj Ehlers 18
Shots	Kyle Connor 317
Penalty Mins	Pierre-Luc Dubois 106
Wins	Connor Hellebuyck 29
GAA	Eric Comrie 2.58

• Regular Season

Jets Team Leaders

VAN

Points	J.T. Miller 99
+ / -	Conor Garland 18
Shots	J.T. Miller 206
Penalty Mins	Tyler Myers 66
Wins	Thatcher Demko 33
GAA	Spencer Martin 1.74

WIN

Points	Kyle Connor 93
+ / -	Nikolaj Ehlers 18
Shots	Kyle Connor 317
Penalty Mins	Pierre-Luc Dubois 106
Wins	Connor Hellebuyck 29
GAA	Eric Comrie 2.58

Injuries

Vancouver

William Lockwood (RW)

Ques Fri Upper Body - 27 / 04 / 22

Travis Dermott (D)

Prob Thurs Illness - 27 / 04 / 22

Jaroslav Halak (G)

out for season Hand - 20 / 04 / 22

Bo Horvat (C)

Early May Lower Body - 15 / 04 / 22

Tanner Pearson (LW)

Out Fri Upper Body - 08 / 04 / 22

Brock Boeser (RW)

Prob Mon Arm - 05 / 04 / 22

Quinn Hughes (D)

Prob Sat Illness - 05 / 04 / 22

Tucker Poolman (D)

out for season Migraine - 03 / 04 / 22

Bo Horvat (C)

Prob Sun Illness - 31 / 03 / 22

Matthew Highmore (C)

Prob Mon Upper Body - 26 / 03 / 22

Winnipeg

Nate Schmidt (D)

Ques Wed Undisclosed - 23 / 04 / 22

Zach Sanford (LW)

Ques Wed Undisclosed - 23 / 04 / 22

Connor Hellebuyck (G)

Ques Sun Illness - 19 / 04 / 22

Mark Scheifele (C)

out for season Upper Body - 10 / 04 / 22

Logan Stanley (D)

Ques Sat Undisclosed - 08 / 04 / 22

Blake Wheeler (RW)

Prob Fri Upper Body - 08 / 04 / 22

Jansen Harkins (C)

Prob Fri Concussion - 02 / 04 / 22

Adam Brooks (C)

Ques Fri Undisclosed - 02 / 04 / 22

Nate Schmidt (D)

Out indefinitely Illness - 30 / 03 / 22

Logan Stanley (D)

Prob Wed Undisclosed - 27 / 03 / 22

Injuries

Vancouver

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
William Lockwood (RW)	Ques Fri	Upper Body - 27 / 04 / 22	1-2	2-1	+ -
Lockwood has been absent from the last two contests due to an upper-body injury, leaving his availability for Friday's tilt with the Oilers clouded.
Travis Dermott (D)	Prob Thurs	Illness - 27 / 04 / 22	1-2	2-1	+ -
Dermott was held out of the last game with an illness, but it is projected that he will participate in Thursday's clash with the Kings.
Jaroslav Halak (G)	out for season	Hand - 20 / 04 / 22	2-4	5-1	+ -
Halak is idle with a hand injury, and it is unliekly that he will return for the remainder of the 2021-22 season.
Bo Horvat (C)	Early May	Lower Body - 15 / 04 / 22	4-4	7-1	+ -
Horvat is idle due to a lower-body injury, and it is projected that he will be sidelined until the early part of May.
Tanner Pearson (LW)	Out Fri	Upper Body - 08 / 04 / 22	7-4	8-1-2	+ -
Pearson has been out of the lineup with an upper-body injury, and he will not play against the Oilers on Friday.
Brock Boeser (RW)	Prob Mon	Arm - 05 / 04 / 22	8-4	8-2-2	+ -
Boeser has missed the previous three games with an arm injury, but it is anticipated that he will suit up against the Stars on Monday.
Quinn Hughes (D)	Prob Sat	Illness - 05 / 04 / 22	8-4	8-2-2	+ -
Hughes has sat out the last two games due to an illness, but it is likely that he will suit up for Saturday's matchup against the Sharks.
Tucker Poolman (D)	out for season	Migraine - 03 / 04 / 22	9-4	9-2-2	+ -
Poolman is expected to miss the remainder of the 2021-22 season due to migraines stemming from a previous head injury, and he has been shifted to the long-term injured reserve list.
Bo Horvat (C)	Prob Sun	Illness - 31 / 03 / 22	9-5	9-3-2	+ -
Hovart exited the last contest due to a non-COVID-19 illness, but it is expected that he will suit up against the Golden Knights on Sunday.
Matthew Highmore (C)	Prob Mon	Upper Body - 26 / 03 / 22	11-5	9-5-2	+ -
Highmore has been out of commission due to an upper-body injury, but it is projected that he will return to the lineup for Monday's tilt against the Stars.

Winnipeg

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Nate Schmidt (D)	Ques Wed	Undisclosed - 23 / 04 / 22	3-1	0-4	+ -
Schmidt sat out the last game managing an undisclosed injury, and it remains to be seen if he will be available for Wednesday's tilt against the Flyers.
Zach Sanford (LW)	Ques Wed	Undisclosed - 23 / 04 / 22	3-1	0-4	+ -
Sanford sat out the previous contest with an undisclosed injury, and it is unknown if he will partake in Wednesday's game against the Flyers.
Connor Hellebuyck (G)	Ques Sun	Illness - 19 / 04 / 22	3-3	1-5	+ -
Hellebuyck has sat out the last two contests with a non-COVID illness, and it is unclear if he will play against the Avalanche on Sunday.
Mark Scheifele (C)	out for season	Upper Body - 10 / 04 / 22	5-5	3-6-1	+ -
Scheifele is idle due to an upper-body issue, and it is unlikely that he will return to the lineup for the remainder of the 2021-22 season.
Logan Stanley (D)	Ques Sat	Undisclosed - 08 / 04 / 22	5-6	3-7-1	+ -
Stanley has sat out the last four games due to a minor aliment, and it remains to be seen if he will suit up against the lightning on Saturday.
Blake Wheeler (RW)	Prob Fri	Upper Body - 08 / 04 / 22	5-6	3-7-1	+ -
Wheeler has sat out the last three contests with an upper-body injury, but it is projected that he will be available for Friday's tilt against the Panthers.
Jansen Harkins (C)	Prob Fri	Concussion - 02 / 04 / 22	5-8	4-8-1	+ -
Harkins has been absent from the last four contests going through the concussion protocol, but it is projected that he will dress for Friday's clash with the Panthers.
Adam Brooks (C)	Ques Fri	Undisclosed - 02 / 04 / 22	5-8	4-8-1	+ -
Brooks has sat out the previous two games with an unknown issue, and it is unclear if he will play against the Avalanche on Friday.
Nate Schmidt (D)	Out indefinitely	Illness - 30 / 03 / 22	5-10	4-10-1	+ -
Schmidt has been assigned to the league's COVID-19 protocol, and it is unknown when he will return to the lineup.
Logan Stanley (D)	Prob Wed	Undisclosed - 27 / 03 / 22	5-11	5-10-1	+ -
Stanley sat out the last game with an unspecified issue, but it is likely that he will be active for Wednesday's clash with the Sabres.