New York Rangers vs. Winnipeg Jets Prediction, NHL Odds
The Rangers and Jets enter Thursday’s tilt in decent form. New York sits at the bottom of the Eastern Conference, and there is likely a portion of the fanbase that would not mind if the team did not collect two points.
While the Jets have dug themselves a hole this year, they are still alive and can make the playoffs. This game is more important for Winnipeg, and they will bring a strong effort tonight.
Rangers vs. Jets NHL Betting Odds
The Jets are the favourites on the NHL odds, carrying -160 odds on the moneyline and +150 on the -1.5 puckline. The Rangers are +135 outright, and the game total is set at 5.5 goals. The game total odds are nearly a coin flip as the Over has -115 odds and the Under sits at -105.
Both teams are 4-1-2 since the Olympic break and have won three out of their last four games. The Rangers enter this game with consecutive wins, and the Jets just had a three-game winning streak snapped. Very little separates these teams right now, so it should be a good game between two teams outside the playoff picture.
New York Rangers
The Rangers are in a spot that not many people in the hockey world envy. They are not bound for the playoffs, but they did not sell much at the trade deadline. Although they are at the bottom of the Eastern Conference, New York is still just the fifth-worst team in hockey. They would not mind bumping up a few draft spots, but are ironically playing too well.
Among NHL ranks, the Rangers are 26th in goals scored per game and 19th in goals allowed per game. They have bucked those weaknesses in the last couple of weeks. New York has scored at least four goals in four out of their last five games, and has allowed two or fewer goals in four out of their last seven. If the Rangers hold to form, they will give the Jets a tough game.
Winnipeg Jets
The Jets have gone through two stretches this season of seven losses in at least 10 games. That is in addition to an 11-game losing streak. Despite some ugly stretches, the Jets are just a game under .500 and five points outside a playoff spot with four teams to jump and 19 games to play.
The situation the Jets have given themselves is not ideal, but it is not insurmountable. Winnipeg has the pieces to make a late run and disrupt the playoff picture. With Connor Hellebuyck in the net, Mark Scheifele and Kyle Connor each with well over a point per game, Josh Morrissey anchoring the defence, and experienced depth, the Jets should ramp up the urgency and stay relevant.
NHL Prediction: Who Will Win Rangers vs. Jets?
In a game between a couple of teams in good form, the Jets have a couple of advantages. The primary advantage is home ice. New York is 1-6-0 in their last seven road games, and Winnipeg has won three out of its last four played at home. Additionally, the Jets have won five of the last six meetings between these squads.
Other advantages the Jets possess are top-end talent, depth, and incentive. The Rangers do not have any players producing at a point per game pace; they have young and unproven depth, and more incentive to lose than win. The urgency should be all on the Jets’ side, which only furthers their home-ice and roster advantages. This has the makings of a narrow 4-3 Jets win.
NYR
WIN