In a game between two squads on winning streaks, the Anaheim Ducks and the Winnipeg Jets meet at Bell MTS Place for a Western Conference tilt. The Sports Network will showcase the matchup, and the opening face-off is at 8 p.m. ET on Friday, March 23.
Anaheim Ducks at Winnipeg Jets Odds
Netting 10.7 units for moneyline bettors, Winnipeg is 44-29 straight up (SU) overall in the 2017-18 season. That winning percentage, ranked fifth in the league so far in the early season, is a welcome improvement compared to what the team managed during the 2016-17 season (40-42). Of the team’s 73 games this season, 36 have gone over the total, while 35 have gone under and just two have pushed. This season, the team is 27-9 SU at home.
The Jets have converted on 23.4 percent of their power play chances this year, a mark that places them in the top-5 among NHL teams. On the other hand, their penalty kill is rated fourth overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 83.1 percent of all penalties.
As a team, the Jets have been penalized 3.8 times per game overall this season, and 2.4 per game over their last five matchups at home. The team has had to kill penalties for just 6.7 minutes per game over their last 10 matchups, in total.
Averaging 28.3 saves per game with a .925 save percentage, Connor Hellebuyck (37-23-9) has been the best goalkeeper for the Jets this season. If Winnipeg decides to rest him, however, the team might turn to Steve Mason (4-8-8 record, .906 save percentage, 3.18 goals against average).
The Jets will continue looking for offensive production out of Blake Wheeler and Patrik Laine. Wheeler (81 points) has produced 19 goals and 62 assists and has recorded two or more points on 22 different occasions this year. Laine has 43 goals and 25 assists to his name and has notched a point in 49 games.
On the other side of the rink, Anaheim is 38-36 straight up (SU) and has lost 0.3 units for moneyline bettors thus far. A total of 44 of its contests have gone under the total, while 29 have gone over and just one has pushed. The Ducks are 16-21 SU as the visiting team this season.
The Ducks have converted on just 17.3 percent of their power play chances this year, a mark that places them in the bottom-10 overall among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked fourth overall and it’s successfully killed off 83.1 percent of all penalties.
Anaheim’s players have been penalized 4.3 times per game in total this season, and 3.0 per game over their last five on the road. The team has had to kill penalties 8.9 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
John Gibson (29.1 saves per game) has been the primary option in the net for Anaheim. Gibson owns a 30-25-7 record, and has registered a .927 save percentage and 2.41 goals against average this year.
Leading the offensive counter for the visiting Ducks will be Rickard Rakell (31 goals, 32 assists) and Ryan Getzlaf (11 goals, 45 assists).
Anaheim Ducks at Winnipeg Jets Betting Predictions
Free Pick: SU Winner – Jets, O/U – Under
Notes
Betting Trends
Four of Winnipeg’s last ten outings have been decided by two or more goals. The team is 3-1 overall in those games.
Anaheim has allowed 2.7 goals per game overall this season, but has given up only 1.0 per match up over the team’s four-game winning streak.
Power plays and penalty kills could play a key role tonight. The Ducks are 8-13 in games where they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 19-19 when they’re in the box for fewer than 10 penalty minutes, total. The Jets are 21-10 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than the opposition and 30-18 when they’re in the box for less than 10 minutes.
Anaheim is 4-7 in games decided by a shootout this season while Winnipeg is 2-2 in shootouts.
The total has gone under in three of Winnipeg’s last five games.
Winnipeg has scored 4.0 goals per game and allowed just 1.7 in its past three games (the team’s a perfect 4-0 SU during that span).
Winnipeg skaters have averaged 14.4 giveaways over its last five home games, a rise over its season average of 10.3 giveaways per game (ranked 22nd in the NHL).
Anaheim is ranked 20th this season with 10.1 giveaways per game. That figure’s trended higher recently, as the team’s averaged 11.1 giveaways over its last 10 games and 11.6 giveaways over its last five.
Anaheim skaters have dished out the sixth-most hits in the league (24.0 per game), but the team’s averaged just 21.0 hits over their last five away games.
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