Extra Rest Could Help Winnipeg
The Minnesota Wild aim to extend their season-high points streak to 11 games when they visit the hungry Winnipeg Jets in a key Central Division tussle on Wednesday night.
The Wild have allowed an impressive 11 total goals during their 8-0-2 stretch after keeping the Calgary Flames off the scoreboard for 65 minutes before settling for a 1-0 shootout loss on Tuesday. Minnesota has not given up a goal in 170 minutes, and 57 seconds.
The Jets surrendered a goal with 10 seconds left in regulation that tied it and lost 3-2 in overtime to the struggling San Jose Sharks on Monday but will have an extra day’s rest in their own beds.
The Jets registered an inspiring 7-5 triumph against Edmonton on Saturday to snap a five-game losing streak but dropped to 2-6-2 over 10 contests with Monday’s defeat.
Wild on Fire
Minnesota celebrated a victory on Tuesday when Jared Spurgeon knocked home a rebound in overtime, but the play was ruled offside after a video review.
The point still moved the Wild within two of the division-leading Dallas Stars (81) and three ahead of the Colorado Avalanche (76) for second. The Jets are another point behind and four in front of Calgary for the second wild card in the West.
Kirill Kaprizov boasts five goals in five games for Minnesota and leads the offense with 73 points. Defenseman John Klingberg is a +3 in two games since being acquired from Anaheim at the trade deadline.
Minnesota is just 25-39 ATS, according to NHL lines, while the under is 39-23 in Wild games this season – 8-0-0 in the past eight.
Winnipeg Holding On
The Winnipeg Jets still have a relatively comfortable lead for a playoff spot with 18 games left, but more losses like Monday will put them in jeopardy.
Forward Nino Niederreiter scored his first goal since being acquired before the trade deadline on Monday and has three points in four games with the Jets. Kyle Connor recorded an assist in the loss to the Sharks and leads the team with 69 points.
Defenseman Josh Morrissey is second on the team with 67 points and boasts eight in the past four contests for Winnipeg.
Former Vezina winner Connor Hellebuyck (27-19-2) was rested Monday and should be ready to rebound, but must get more help after surrendering 19 goals in his last four outings.
The under is 42-17-5 overall in the Las Vegas NHL odds when the Jets play and 6-0-2 in the last eight against Central opponents.
Wild vs Jets Game Injuries
Wild vs Jets Head-to-Head
The Wild have dominated the first two meetings this season, outscoring Winnipeg 10-2 overall as Filip Gustavsson earned both wins in net.
Gustavsson extended his personal points streak to nine games (6-0-3) with 26 saves on Tuesday, which should mean veteran Marc-Andre Fleury goes between the pipes Wednesday. Fleury is 22-10-0 all-time versus the Jets and would be looking to reach the 20-win plateau for the 15th season.
Forward Matt Boldy has led the way with four points in the first two games for Minnesota, which is 5-2-0 in the last seven meetings overall but owns just three wins in the last 12 at Winnipeg.
The NHL betting lines went under in seven of the last nine meetings at Winnipeg and the home team has won 21 of the past 28 matchups.
According to the NHL odds, both Minnesota and Winnipeg at +1000 (tied for fifth) to win the Western Conference.
Wild vs Jets Game Information
- Game: Wild (36-21-7) vs Jets (36-25-3)
- Day/Time: Wednesday, March 8th, 7:30 p.m. ET
- Location: Canada Life Centre, Winnipeg, Manitoba
- Wild vs Jets Live stream: NHL.TV
Wild vs Jets Betting Lines
Wild vs Jets Picks and Prediction
Minnesota is playing some of the best hockey in the NHL on both sides of the ice, but the Wild are winless in their last four-second games of back-to-backs (0-3-1).
The Jets have to be very motivated and angry after letting an important point slip away Monday while Hellebuyck will have revenge on his mind after two tough outings against Minnesota this season, dropping his career record against the Wild to 9-9-2.
It’s an essential two points for Winnipeg, which plays eight of its next 10 on the road where it is just 15-15-1. We expect the Jets to get a big two points against a Minnesota team that has to be mentally fatigued after a tiring stretch of close games.
If you are online gambling, expect Winnipeg to get a win and two solid defenses to keep the score down.
The Wild are listed at +120 in our Las Vegas odds. This means that if you wager $100 on Minnesota, you have a chance to win $120. The Jets are -140, offering a chance to win $71 on a $100 wager.
The implied probability attached to the betting lines gives the Wild a 45.45% chance to win, with Winnipeg at 58.33%.
Wild vs Jets Trends
Wild vs Jets Edge
Wild vs Jets Results
Wild vs Jets Game Summary
