New York Islanders vs. Winnipeg Jets Prediction, NHL Odds
A new week kicks off in the NHL with a busy 10-game slate that includes an intra-conference matchup between the New York Islanders and Winnipeg Jets. This is the second and final meeting of the season, after a 5-2 Jets win in October.
Islanders vs. Jets NHL Betting Odds
On the NHL puck line, New York is 25-20 this season, and they have the +1.5 line in this game at -220. As for Winnipeg, they are 21-23 ATS on the year, and their line of -1.5 is at +180. As for the game totals, New York is 20-24-1 to the Over, while Winnipeg is 26-18.
New York comes in as the road underdogs with a +115 money line, which could present great value. While Winnipeg, who is -135 on the money line, is on home ice, after winning two straight games, I am still not convinced they are back to form. Plus, New York is 11-7-3 on the road and an even better 11-6-1 against Western Conference teams this season.
In the goal-scoring markets, Mark Scheifele (+125) and Kyle Connor (+130) lead the way for the Jets, while Mathew Barzal (+210) and Anders Lee (+260) lead for the Islanders. Scheifele found the back of the net when these teams met in October, but he posted a -3 on Sunday in a 4-3 win against the New Jersey Devils; I expect him to come out flying tonight.
New York Islanders
The New York Islanders (25-15-5) continue an awe-inspiring season. They are currently second in the Metropolitan Division and are well within range of the division lead over the Carolina Hurricanes. They have been a surprisingly exciting team to watch, going 3-0-1 in their last four games, which includes a 9-0 victory over the Devils!
This is New York’s third of a seven-game road trip, but they have not played since Saturday, so they’re fully rested. Missing from their forward group are Bo Horvat and Kyle Palmieri, but I still like their roster better in this matchup, as they’ve had many unsung heroes step up this season (Emil Heineman, Simon Holmstrom, etc.), which cannot be said in Winnipeg.
Winnipeg Jets
The Winnipeg Jets (17-22-5) have finally broken a miserable 11-game losing streak (0-7-4), and not only have they broken it, but they’ve started a winning streak. Winnipeg has won two straight games in regulation, taking down the Los Angeles Kings and New Jersey Devils, teams that are no pushovers, but have shown recent inconsistency.
They may have a home ice advantage in this game, but they are welcoming a tough challenge. New York is on a roll and is a team beaming with confidence. This is a young and dynamic opponent that Winnipeg will need to pick it up a notch further. Winnipeg’s d-core is banged up, as they are without Haydn Fleury and Colin Miller, who were both placed on injured reserve. Morgan Barron is also day-to-day, which will not help in these efforts.
NHL Prediction: Who Will Win Islanders vs. Jets?
New York has shown far more consistency this season, and they are an attractive plus-money play on the road. I believe a young and energetic Islanders team with high morale will dictate the pace of play, placing the Jets back in the loss column. I see the Islanders taking this one 4-2.
