Jets vs. Avalanche Game 3 Prediction: Stanley Cup Playoffs Odds
Game 1 of this series wasn’t the best showing for either team as defensive breakdowns led to a 7-6 Winnipeg victory. The Jets and Avs both played a more structured Game 2 on Tuesday, with Colorado’s offence coming out on top in a 5-2 win.
This is a tough series to handicap given the unpredictable play of both starting goaltenders, but oddsmakers have opened the Avalanche as -165 favourites to win on home ice, with the total set at 6.5 on the NHL odds.
Jets vs. Avalanche NHL Betting Odds
Tuesday’s victory was the first time Colorado beat the Jets all season, snapping a four-game losing streak against Winnipeg. The Jets averaged 6.0 goals per game in the four previous head-to-heads, but were held to two goals on 30 shots in Game 2. It was the fourth straight game between the teams to hit the Over.
The Jets and Avs have flip-flopped as series favourites after each game. Heading into Game 3, Colorado is a -160 favourite on the series odds, while Winnipeg is +135. The favoured exact series result is an Avalanche win in six games at +275, while the biggest long shot is a Jets win in five games at +850.
Winnipeg Jets
It was a disappointing result for the Jets on Tuesday after holding two different leads in the game. Mark Scheifele and David Gustafsson were the goal scorers, with both teams going 0-for-3 on the power play. The second period made all the difference as Winnipeg was outscored 4-1 in the frame. Vezina Trophy favourite Connor Hellebuyck stopped 27 of 31 shots faced, with his goals-against average through the first two games of the series sitting at a bloated 5.04 while his save percentage is .870.
Hellebuyck returning to form is key for Winnipeg. He was the clear-cut best goalie in the NHL during the regular season, posting a 2.39 GAA and .921 save percentage in 60 starts, but he’s allowed 10 total goals on 77 shots over the first two games of the playoffs. This comes one year after Winnipeg won Game 1 of their first round series against Vegas, only to lose the next four games, with Hellebuyck recording a dismal .861 SV in the series.
Colorado Avalanche
Colorado looked much better defensively in Game 2, while the majority of shots they allowed were low danger opportunities. Artturi Lehkonen finished with a goal and an assist, Cale Makar had two helpers and Valeri Nichushkin, Zach Parise, Josh Manson and Miles Wood each found the back of the net. Alexandar Georgiev was the most improved player on the ice, turning aside 28 of 30 shots faced.
Georgiev holding his own in net is huge for the Avs. Prior to Game 2, the Russian netminder had a brutal .841 save percentage across his last nine starts. Ironically, Georgiev likely wouldn’t have started Game 2 if rookie backup Justus Annunen hadn’t been dealing with an illness. Annunen, who missed the first two games of the series, is expected to dress for Game 3, but Georgiev will start. Defenceman Samuel Girard, who has missed the last four games with a concussion, could also make his return to the lineup on Friday.
WIN
COL