Nashville Predators vs. Winnipeg Jets Prediction, NHL Odds
The Jets are coming off a 3-1 loss to the visiting Calgary Flames on Wednesday night, but maintain control of the second wild card in the West. The Predators extended their current win streak to three games by knocking off the Hurricanes 3-0 on Thursday night, and now sit just one point back of the Jets in the wild card race.
Winners is three of their past four home contests, the Jets are listed as -178 home favourites on the Saturday NHL odds. The Predators sport +148 odds of establishing their first three-game win streak in for weeks, while the total sits at just 5.5.
Predators vs. Jets NHL Betting Odds
Saturday night’s matchup at Canada Life Centre marks the fourth and final regular season meeting between these divisional rivals. The Jets claimed victory in two of their first three dates with Nashville this season, with all three of those contests getting settled by just a single goal. Overall, the Jets have taken four of six from the Predators including wins in each of their past two clashes in Winnipeg. With these clubs scoring just 11 total goals, the UNDER paid out in each of their three previous meetings this season, and in six of their past eight matches in Winnipeg.
Nashville Predators
The Predators have managed to stay in the hunt for a postseason berth despite generating inconsistent results over the past month. The club has claimed victory in just six of their past 13 contests, and have been particularly inconsistent while going 2-3-0 over their past five road dates. Winnipeg has been outscored by a wide 7-1 margin while losing their past two away contests, and except for a decisive 7-3 win in Buffalo on March 21, they have scored more than two goals just once in their past eight road games. Indeed, it was the club’s role players that provided the offensive spark in Thursday’s win over Carolina. Mark Jankowski found his way onto the scoresheet for the first time since February with a goal and an assist. Spencer Stastney has also had an impact in his NHL debut, with the rookie defenceman picking up his first two career assists in Thursday’s win.
Winnipeg Jets
While the Predators have struggled to generate steady results, their struggles pale in comparison to the Jets’ woes during the second half of the season. Seemingly poised to take a run at the top of the Central Division standings after starting their campaign on a 29-14-1 run, the Jets have gone a dismal 14-18-2 since. However, the club has steadied their performance on home ice of late, winning three of their past four. And with their final two games of the regular season coming on the road in Minnesota and Colorado, the Jets will be eager to pad their point total on home ice. Connor Hellebuyck has played an enormous role in this team’s efforts to stay in playoff contention. The Jets goalie has surrendered just 2.18 goals per game over his past 11 outings, but with Winnipeg shooters potting just 2.27 goals per game, Hellebuyck has gone just 6-5-0 over that stretch. While the Jets were unable to solve Flames netminder Jacob Markstrom, who made 34 saves on Wednesday night, they scored 12 total goals in two wins to open their current five-game home stand. Nik Ehlers led the way in those two victories, scoring three goals and adding an assist, and has tallied five points over his past three outings.
NAS
WIN