Winnipeg Jets vs. Toronto Maple Leafs Prediction, NHL Odds
The Winnipeg Jets bounced back from an embarrassing 7-1 defeat in Montreal on Saturday with a 4-3 win over the Leafs on Tuesday, in the first of a three-game set in Toronto. Only trailing Edmonton by one point in the standings, a win against Toronto on Thursday would move the Jets into second place in the North Division.
The Leafs are a -195 favourite to win on the NHL odds with a total of 6.5.
Jets vs. Maple Leafs Betting Analysis
Winnipeg seems to love scoring in Toronto. The Jets have hit the Over in 13 of their last 18 games at Scotiabank Arena and four of their last five games overall. Winnipeg has been great at covering the spread this season. The Jets are 20-5 against the spread overall, covering 11 times at home and nine times on the road.
Whenever these teams get together, high scoring games are usually the outcome. Toronto has hit the Over in 14 of its last 18 games overall against Winnipeg. They’ve struggled a little more to put points up lately however, as the Leafs have actually been an Under team in six of their last eight games overall. Toronto is 11-16 ATS, covering six times at home and five times on the road.
Winnipeg Jets
Tuesday’s win was a bounce-back game for the entire Winnipeg team, but especially for goalie Connor Hellebuyck. After allowing four goals on 19 shots and getting pulled against Montreal on Saturday, Hellebuyck recovered on Tuesday, making 36 saves in the win. Andrew Copp, Mason Appleton, Kyle Connor and Josh Morrissey had the goals for Winnipeg. Connor’s goal was his 12th of the season, breaking a tie with Mark Scheifele and Nikolaj Ehlers for the team lead. Morrissey’s goal was his first of the season and his first in over a calendar year, although that span isn’t as bad as it seems as he broke a 28-game goalless drought. Neal Pionk and Ehlers also had big games as playmakers. Ehlers had two assists, while Pionk had three helpers of his own. Hellebuyck will likely get the start again on Thursday.
Toronto Maple Leafs
Toronto was able to break one slump on Tuesday, but not another, in their loss to the Jets. Auston Matthews buried two goals to end a five-game drought, but the Leafs have now lost three straight games for the first time this season. The goals were Matthews’ first points in three games since returning from an aggravated wrist injury he has been dealing with for most of the season. With 20 goals on the year, the Toronto superstar leads the NHL’s Rocket Richard Trophy race. Zach Hyman picked up his eighth goal of the season on Tuesday and continues to be a valuable two-way player, who can shut down other team’s top lines and chip in offensively as well. Frederik Andersen made 19 saves in the win. Keep an eye on which goalie starts between Andersen, Jack Campbell and Michael Hutchinson. Andersen and Campbell don’t appear to be fully healthy, but with an important three-game series like this, coach Sheldon Keefe will need to decide if rest for his No. 1 and No. 2 goalies is more important than creating more separation from Winnipeg in the standings.
WIN
TOR