Monday's NHL Betting Picks: Jets Need Big Changes

Puck Luck Dec. 16, 2013

Winnipeg Jets at Columbus Blue Jackets (-120, 5)

If the Winnipeg Jets want to be a playoff team in the West, there will have to be major changes to this roster and possibly the front office. The Jets just aren’t tight enough. They’re a fun team to watch because they attack the net and throw a ton of shots on goal, but they’re all over the place in the neutral zone and inside their own blue line. They don’t clear rebounds. They miss defensive assignments all over the place and take bad penalties. That’s not a recipe for success against this Blue Jackets club. If nothing else, Columbus comes to work ready to go every night with strong play from Brandon Dubinsky and Ryan Johansen. The Blue Jackets are still banged up but it looks as though Marian Gaborik and James Wisniewski could return soon. In the meantime, give this Columbus team a look. The Jackets will make life very difficult for the Jets.

Pick: Columbus Blue Jackets

Dallas Stars at Colorado Avalanche (-150, 5.5)

When Jamie Benn scored a power play goal in the second period of Dallas’ win over Winnipeg, he pulled an imaginary monkey off his back. After that, he and Tyler Seguin were all over the place. They had two goals apiece in Winnipeg and are good bets to light the lamp again tonight. When these two players are rolling, the Stars are awfully tough to beat. Meanwhile, the Avalanche have cooled a bit since their hot start. Colorado has dropped three of its last four and has scored four goals just once in the last 10 games. The Avalanche haven’t scored a power play goal in 10 games either, a drought of 26 opportunities.

Pick: Dallas Stars