Winnipeg Jets vs. St. Louis Blues Prediction, NHL Odds
These Western Conference and Central Division foes are neck and neck in the standings, and still hold on to slim playoff odds.
The two points up for grabs could determine the fate of each team’s respective seasons. We are here to get you ready for action with our expert Jets vs. Blues prediction.
Jets vs. Blues NHL Betting Odds
Winnipeg came into the year with high expectations, and their below-average play has given them a poor puck line record (37-40), matched with a poor money line record (34-43). They are road underdogs in this game, as they are -105 on the money line and -280 on the +1.5 puck line.
St. Louis has stayed quite competitive for a majority of the season, giving them a strong puck line record of 44-33. However, this flips when you look at the money line, with a 33-44 record on the year. They come into this one as a slight favourite on the money line (-115) and own a -1.5 puck line (+225).
In the game totals, these teams are not commonly involved in high-scoring, high-flying shootouts, as Winnipeg is 38-37-2 to the over, while overs 32-42-3 are in St. Louis’ games. The total is set at 5.5 goals with a lean towards the over (-120), leaving the under in plus-money territory (+100).
Leading the charge in goal-scoring odds is Kyle Connor (+140) and Mark Scheifele (+175), who has not scored since March 26th. Look for him to return to the goal column, adding to his strong 34-goal total. Dylan Holloway (+200) and Robert Thomas (+215) have the shortest odds for the Blues.
Winnipeg Jets
The Winnipeg Jets (35-31-12) have put together a nice run of late, as they are 4-1-0 in their last five games. However, they cannot take their foot off the gas, as they remain out of a playoff spot.
Gustav Nyquist, Morgan Barron and Colin Miller are all either banged up or out of the lineup for this contest, but Winnipeg has nice depth, led by star forward Mark Scheifele – who is having a career year with 97 points in 77 games.
Winnipeg needs to rely on their strong defensive potential and keep this a heavy game. They can outscore this Blues, and quieting the home crowd early can shift the energy in their favour. I expect a quick start from this team as they gun for their third straight win.
St. Louis Blues
The St. Louis Blues (33-32-12) have gone 6-2-2 over their last 10 games, but in a playoff race as tight as this one, it has amounted to insufficient results – similar to Winnipeg. The team is fully healthy, but a commitment to a retool was shown this season in trades of veterans Brayden Schenn and Justin Faulk at the deadline.
St. Louis has lost more than half of their games at home (19 of 37). A major concern in this game is their lack of goal scoring. They score the fourth-fewest amount of goals in the NHL (2.66 per game), paired with a fifth-worst power play (17.3%). They really haven’t been much better defensively, either.
The Blues have a difficult schedule coming up, so these points are all-important. Their upcoming opponents won’t matter much if they cannot manage to secure these two points.
NHL Prediction: Who Will Win Jets vs. Blues?
Winnipeg has won each of the last two meetings against St. Louis in two tight matchups. I expect a similar tight result, as each locker room fully believes a chance for playoff appearance still exists. St. Louis has not been impressive in many aspects of the game, and Winnipeg has shown strong flashes on both ends of the puck that could easily frustrate the Blues. This is especially true offensively, as the Blues will be facing elite goaltender Connor Hellebuyck. When all is said and done, I expect the Winnipeg Jets to win 4-2.
