NHL
Sports Interaction Staff
October 26, 2017

Winnipeg Jets vs. Pittsburgh Penguins NHL Odds, Prediction

After five days off, the Winnipeg Jets return to the ice Thursday night in Pittsburgh facing the two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Penguins. It’ll be the first of two straight games for the Jets (Friday in Columbus) and first of two games against the Penguins in four nights, as the two teams met again on October 30^th in Winnipeg.

Winnipeg Jets vs. Pittsburgh Penguins

Moneyline: Winnipeg +160 Pittsburgh -195
Date: Thursday, October 26, 7:00pmET
Location: PPG Paints Arena, Pittsburgh, PA

NHL Odds and Betting Analysis

The Penguins have owned the Winnipeg Jets since the franchise opened shop in 1999. In 59 career games head to head, the Penguins are 45-14, and 12 and 3 since the team moved to Winnipeg. In the last 10 games, the Penguins are 9 and 1, and are currently on a three game winning streak against the Jets, outscoring them 15 to 8 along the way.

Pittsburgh Penguins

The Penguins are coming off a 2-1 overtime win over the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday night. Phil Kessel’s third goal of the season was the deciding goal. Prior to that game, the team waived back-up goaltender Antti Niemi (picked up by Florida), and recalled goaltender Casey DeSmith from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League, but expect Matt Murray to start this game.

Murray is 10-0-1 in his last 11 starts at home (regular season and playoffs), which includes 3 shutouts. It will be his eighth start in ten games this season. Of note, in 32 career games against the Winnipeg Jets franchise, Sidney Crosby has 16 goals, and 25 assists. Last year in two games, Sid the Kid had 1 goal and 3 assists vs. Jets. Entering this game, the Pens have scored power-play goals in eight of their ten games.

Winnipeg Jets

The Jets enter this game 4-3 on the season after a 4-3 win against the Minnesota Wild on October 20^th. Head Coach Paul Maurice confirmed Connor Hellebuyck will start Thursday’s game in Pittsburgh. Hellebuyck has played well this season, with a perfect 4-0 record, he is the only Jets goaltender to record a win (Steve Mason 0-3). In the last 2 years, Hellebuyck has faced the Penguins three times, losing two of them (allowing nine goals), while shutting out the Pens 1-0 back in December of 2015. Forward Matt Hendricks is expected to make his Jets debut in this game after suffering a foot injury in the preseason.