Jets vs. Predators: Game 1 Prediction, NHL Playoff Odds
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David Bastl
The Preds won the President’s Trophy for most team points with 117, and the Jets were second at 114. The Sports Interaction NHL Futures board has the Predators listed as -143 favorites to win this series.
Jets vs Predators Stanley Cup Playoffs Betting Analysis
The Jets were 2-3 in five games against the Predators this season. In their most recent game, the Jets knocked off the Preds 5-4 in Winnipeg (March 25). Their record in Nashville as of late tells a different story, as the Jets are 1-4 in their last five games to Music City. During those last five games in Nashville, the over is 4-1 overall. Something to consider, the Jets are 6-0 in their last six Friday night games, including two Friday night wins in round one against the Wild, where they outscored them 9-1.
Winnipeg Jets
The Jets have been cooled since wrapping up their series in five games with the Minnesota Wild on Friday night. This has given the Jets some time to heal, as both Nikolaj Ehlers and Toby Enstrom have skated in the last couple of days. Ehlers missed game five against the Wild with an undisclosed injury, while Enstrom is out with a lower-body injury and has not played a game since March 23. Both are expected to see action in this series. Patrik Laine missed practice earlier this week, but is expected to play Friday night.
Goaltender Connor Hellebuyck enters this game coming off back-to-back shutouts in games four and five of the opening round series. In fact, he hasn’t allowed a goal since the Wild scored at the 18:23 (Marcus Foligno) mark of the second period in game three. Of note, defenceman Josh Morrissey will return to the line-up after serving a one game suspension. He has been a force on the blueline for the Jets, averaging just over 20 minutes per game in the first four games of the series.
Nashville Predators
The Predators had more trouble than was predicted in round one against the Colorado Avalanche. The Preds put that series on ice in game six in Denver, with a convincing 5-0 win. The Predators have been a balanced line-up, top to bottom the entire season. Captain Roman Josi led all Predators against the Jets with nine points (one goal, eight assists). Viktor Arvidsson had seven points, while Kevin Fiala and Kyle Turris had six points.
The series also boasts the two best goaltenders in the NHL, both Vezina Trophy candidates, and Pekka Rinne might be the favourite in that category. But, during the regular season, he had a very average 3.52 goals against, and a save percentage of .901 I four games against the Jets (3-1 record). Both of those categories are well below his regular numbers. Of note, defenceman Mattias Ekholm has been a pleasant surprise for the Predators this post season. Through six games he has one goal and five assists and leads a very offensively talented Preds defence in scoring.
