Jets vs. Wild: Game 4 Prediction, NHL Playoff Odds
The Wild set a franchise post-season record with four goals in the second period of their dominant 6-2 victory over the Jets Sunday evening. More importantly, they are officially back in this series, looking to tie it up at two games each before it moves back to Winnipeg for Game 5.
Jets vs. Wild Stanley Cup Playoffs Betting Analysis
Dating back to January of 2018, the Wild and Jets have played four games, with the two teams splitting the series. The home team in this head-to-head match-up is 5-0 in the last five, which should come as no surprise considering both of these teams possess two of the best home ice records in the league. The Jets are 1-4 in the five meetings in Minnesota. The Jets could be in for a bounce back game as they are 4-0 in their last four games when their opponent scores five goals or more against them in the previous game. The Wild are also 0-5 in their last five games following a victory.
Oddsmakers opened with this NHL matchup set as a pick ’em.
Winnipeg Jets
This team just didn’t seem to have the same energy shown in Winnipeg. Perhaps it was the flight they had to take on the morning of Sunday night’s game. Although the Jets opened the scoring, they managed seven shots on goal in the first and only one in the first 12 minutes of play.
If the loss wasn’t bad enough news for Jets fans, the likelihood of defenceman Tyler Myers playing in Game 4 isn’t good. The big defenceman was pushed awkwardly into the boards by Marcus Folingo and left the game with a lower-body injury. He didn’t skate on Tuesday morning, and Head Coach Paul Maurice did not comment on it after practice. If Myers can’t answer the call, the Jets have some options in Tucker Poolman and perhaps Toby Enstrom who is close to returning from injury. Despite giving up six goals on 22 shots and getting pulled for Steve Mason, Connor Hellebuyck will start Game 4 of this series.
Minnesota Wild
A completely different version of the Minnesota Wild showed up for Game 3, cooling the Jets as they played their best game of the series Sunday night. The Wild were outshot for the third straight game, but doubled their offensive output in games one and two combined.
Zach Parise continues to hold a hot hand, scoring in three straight games against the Jets. All-Star Eric Staal scored 42 goals during the regular season, added his first of this post-season, and that contribution is something the Wild will need moving forward. Defenceman Nick Seeler had his best game as an NHL professional on Sunday night. During the regular season Seeler played in just 22 games, but was pressed into action because of the injury to star defenceman Ryan Suter. In Game 3 he logged 18:40 of ice time and added two assists.
