Ducks vs. Jets Prediction, NHL Odds, Prediction: Perfetti Sniping On Winnipeg Top Line
The undefeated Winnipeg Jets hold the top seed in the Central Division coming into Friday night’s matchup as they host the Anaheim Ducks.
A three-game win streak has suppressed the sorrows of Jets fans after a drama-filled offseason. The Ducks’ offseason was also filled with headlines, featuring mega contracts to their young studs. Anaheim has only hit the ice three times so far this season, pulling out two wins and a loss. The NHL odds have the Jets as the -120 favourites at home, with the OVER/UNDER set at an even 6 goals. The puck drops at 8:00 pm EST at Canada Life Centre.
Ducks vs. Jets NHL Betting Odds
Anaheim served the Jets a clean 3-0 sweep last season, and Friday will open this season’s three-game set. Last year, this matchup hit the OVER only once, and the Ducks covered the spread in all three meetings.
The Ducks snuck out a pair of one-goal wins to open the season, before dropping their most recent game in Edmonton on Wednesday. They have scored nine goals this season, working out to three per night, helping them play the OVER 2-1. A surprise playoff appearance last season made the Ducks one of the best bets to cover the spread; they started this season 2-1.
Winnipeg has scored exactly three goals in each of their four outings so far. All four contests have been one-goal games, hitting the OVER just once and covering the spread in two of four games. Despite their superstar netminder Connor Hellebuyck sitting out until he’s traded, the goaltending has been solid, allowing just 2.5 goals per game.
Anaheim Ducks
After opening the season with two wins, Anaheim took a 5-2 loss to the Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday night. The Ducks opened the game with two goals in the first, before allowing five straight in the second period in the loss. Beckett Sennecke was the lone scorer for them in the game, notching both his goals on the man advantage. Sennecke started his sophomore season with three goals, which leads the team.
After signing a record-breaking contract extension in the offseason, Leo Carlsson has been incredibly productive, throwing up seven points in just three games. The 21-year-old is on pace for 196 points so far this season with a goal and six assists.
It will be a tough route back to the postseason for the Ducks this season, especially if they do not get as much production from the bottom half of the lineup. The NHL Futures Board has their season points at 95.5; they hit 92 last season.
Winnipeg Jets
The season could not have started faster for Winnipeg, as they could finally shift their focus to the ice. They put their off-ice distractions aside and have been playing some great hockey because of it. After an overtime loss to open the campaign, they have extended their win streak to three games after taking down the Colorado Avalanche 3-2 on Wednesday. A pair of goals from Kyle Connor and one from Cole Perfetti (his third) were enough to get the job done offensively, while Stuart Skinner stood tall in net, stopping 32 of 34. Perfetti now has six points already after posting just 32 in 68 games last year.
The worst part of the night for the Jets was defenceman Josh Morrissey going down with an upper-body injury in the first period. His status for Friday is still up in the air.
Kyle Connor is currently second in the league in goals, sitting at five goals through four games. He currently sits as the 10th favourite for the Rocket Richard Trophy, paying out +1800. The two-time 40-goal scorer could be a dark horse candidate to bring home the award for the first time.
ANA
WIN