Winnipeg Jets vs. Florida Panthers Prediction, NHL Odds
Time is quickly running out for the Winnipeg Jets as they sit eight points out of the Western Conference’s second wild card spot with eight games remaining in the regular season. Things aren’t about to get any easier as Winnipeg kicks off a four-game Eastern Conference road trip against the Florida Panthers on Friday. Florida sits eight points clear of Toronto for top spot in the Atlantic Division and they’re in a fight with the Colorado Avalanche for the President’s Trophy.
The Panthers are -271 favourites to win on the NHL odds, with a high total of 7.0 goals.
Jets vs. Panthers NHL Betting Odds
Florida won the only other meeting between these teams this season, downing the Jets 5-3 in Winnipeg on Jan. 25. Mason Marchment had two goals and an assist for the Panthers, while Cole Perfetti had two helpers for the Jets. It was the fourth consecutive time the road team has won in this head-to-head series.
The Jets have won five of their last six games outside of Winnipeg and they’ll need that success to continue as all four games of their road trip are against East playoff teams, in the Panthers, Lightning, Rangers and Hurricanes. They’ve been a solid cover option this year, going 40-34 against the spread overall and 21-16 ATS on the road. The total has gone Over in six of Winnipeg’s last seven games as an underdog.
Florida’s dominating season continues as they ride an eight-game win streak into Friday. They’re 38-35 ATS, including 20-17 ATS at home. The Panthers are the highest scoring team in the league, but it’s worth noting the total has actually gone Under in six of their last seven games against Western Conference teams.
Winnipeg Jets
Winnipeg is quickly becoming a spoiler team rather than a legitimate threat to grab a postseason spot. They were originally supposed to play Seattle at home on Wednesday, but the game was postponed because of bad weather, so the Jets have been off since a 4-2 win in Montreal on Monday. Morgan Barron, Paul Stastny, Evgeny Svechnikov and Adam Lowry had the goals, while Connor Hellebuyck made 23 saves. Kyle Connor picked up one assist and now leads Winnipeg with 85 points (42G, 43A). It was Hellebuyck’s second game in as many nights after leading the Jets to a 4-3 win in Ottawa on Sunday.
Winnipeg has rode Hellebuyck hard all year as he has started an NHL-high 62 games. Friday is the first of a back-to-back with the Jets heading to Tampa Bay on Saturday and it’s entirely possible Hellebuyck once again plays both games. The 28-year-old is 27-25-10 this season, with a 2.93 goals-against average and .911 save percentage. Hellebuyck is the only goalie in the NHL to face over 2,000 shots this season. Backup Eric Comrie is 8-3-1, with a 2.68 GAA and .912 SV. Comrie hasn’t played since allowing six goals on 37 shots in a 7-3 loss in Toronto on March 31.
Florida Panthers
Florida absolutely peppered Anaheim with shots on Tuesday, outshooting the Ducks 55-24 in a 3-2 overtime home win. Anthony Duclair scored twice in regulation, while Jonathan Huberdeau scored the OT winner. Sergei Bobrovsky made 22 saves. The Panthers have been lethal at FLA Live Arena this year and boast the best home record in the Eastern Conference. They also have the best goal differential in the NHL at plus-89. Duclair reached the 30-goal plateau for the first time in his career on Tuesday. Huberdeau has been having a quietly impressive year and sits second in NHL scoring with 105 points (28G, 77A).
There’s been no announcement on who will start in net on Friday between Bobrovsky and Spencer Knight. Bobrovsky is 35-6-3 this season, with a 2.70 GAA and .911 SV. The former Vezina winner has won nine straight starts since the beginning of March, but his 2.96 GAA and .894 SV over his last 11 appearances points to Florida’s offence as being more of a factor in that success. Knight is 17-8-3 with a 2.83 GAA and .906 SV. The younger netminder has won four straight starts and six of his last seven, posting a 2.18 GAA and .915 SV during that stretch.
WIN
FLA