Washington Capitals vs. Winnipeg Jets Prediction, NHL Odds
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Nik Kowalski
A four-game win streak has ascended the Capitals to the top of the league’s standings with 102 points. Winnipeg’s at 100 points after a disappointing 1-2 week. Winnipeg’s currently on a four-game home stand that begun with a 5-3 loss versus Buffalo on Sunday.
With one of these teams likely to win the Presidents’ Trophy, Tuesday has all the makings of a heavyweight bout. Both Washington and Winnipeg rank in the top three in goals for and goals against this season; the Capitals are first in scoring and the Jets are first in goals allowed. Then there are the storylines within these teams: Alexander Ovechkin remains within seven goals of Wayne Gretzky’s record, but he’ll be up against the league’s top goalie in Connor Hellebuyck.
Puck drop at Canada Life Centre gets going at 8 p.m. EDT, with Winnipeg a -140 moneyline favourite on home ice and the over-under at 5.5 on the NHL odds.
Capitals vs. Jets NHL Betting Odds
Over this four-game win streak the Capitals have allowed a total of seven goals. Logan Thompson’s started three of those four wins and is now 31-4-5 on the season, easily the best winning percentage in the NHL. On the other side, Connor Hellebuyck has an NHL-high 40 wins. Both goalies have made it hard to cash over tickets for their respective clubs. Four of Winnipeg’s last five home games have gone under the total, and the over has only hit 13 times in Washington’s 33 road games this season.
Ironically, the only other regular season meeting between Washington and Winnipeg this season was a 5-4 Jets victory on February 1. Defenceman Josh Morrissey scored twice for the Jets while Ovechkin potted a goal. Washington’s 7-2-1 head-to-head in their last 10 meetings with Winnipeg.
Washington Capitals
Lost in the Ovechkin goal chase storyline this season is the year Tom Wilson is having. Wilson is now up to a career-best 31 goals, four shy of Ovechkin for the team lead. Forwards Connor McMichael (25 goals) and Aliaksei Protas (29 goals) are also way past their career-highs in goals, and Dylan Strome (23 goals) is four shy of his career best. Strome’s 68 points lead the Capitals.
With a pair of assists in Washington’s 6-3 victory over Florida on Saturday, Ovechkin now has seven assists in his last six outings. History indicates the tide will change for Ovi on Tuesday — in 74 career games against Winnipeg, Ovechkin has 56 goals which is the most against any franchise he’s played (including the Atlanta Thrashers games).
Winnipeg Jets
The Jets were dealt a big injury blow yesterday when they announced forward Gabriel Vilardi with be out week-to-week with an upper-body injury. Villardi’s made up one-third of Winnipeg’s top line of himself, Kyle Connor, and Mark Scheifele – Winnipeg’s top three scorers. The trio’s gone a little cold too, with Connor having one point over his last three outings and Scheifele not scoring since March 6. Alex Iafallo is expected to take Villardi’s spot on the top line. Iaffalo has 11 goals and 13 assists in 24 games this season.
In net, Winnipeg needs a big night from Connor Hellebuyck. The Vezina favourite has had a subpar month, dropping to a .909 save percentage and 4-3-1 record. Last week, Hellebuyck allowed eight goals on 37 shots over two games.
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