Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Winnipeg Jets Prediction, Preview, and Odds
The Pittsburgh Penguins (23-17-5-2, 25-16 PL, 13-26-2 O/U) take on the Winnipeg Jets (30-14-4-1, 26-17 PL, 13-25-5 O/U) in an inter-conference showdown on Saturday evening. The Penguins just beat the Jets on Monday and play in Minnesota on Friday. The Jets were hit with a road loss by the Flyers on Thursday night. The Penguins recorded a 3-0 home win against the Jets on Tuesday.
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Penguins Eye Playoff Spot
The Pittsburgh Penguins are battling for a playoff spot in a challenging Eastern Conference. The squad has work to do, standing five points out of a wildcard spot but has one game in hand on the squads above them. Pittsburgh has won two in a row entering Friday night, beating the Canadiens by a 3-2 score before the break and issued a dominating 3-0 home win against the Jets on Tuesday night.
Sidney Crosby is consistently producing, earning at least one point in eight consecutive games. The veteran captain remains one of the better players in the NHL, amassing 51 points. He had one assist against the Jets earlier this week. Evgeni Malkin has been kept in check, scoring just one goal in his last nine games. The 37-year-old center is having a mediocre season, posting 40 points. Erik Karlsson continues to log big minutes, averaging 24 minutes of ice per game. The veteran defenseman has four points in his last five clashes and 35 points on the year.
Back from break and scoring goals! �� pic.twitter.com/KAR6eJ9kTD
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) February 7, 2024
The Penguins had Tristen Jarry in the net in the win against the Jets on Tuesday. The 28-year-old goalie is having an outstanding season, recording a 2.45 GAA, a sharp .916 save % along with a 14-14-4 record. Backup Alex Nedeljkovic has a 2.60 GAA and a .918 save % to go with an 8-3-3 record.
Pittsburgh is scoring an average of 3.0 goals per game, ranking them 20th. They are allowing an average of only 2.6 goals good for fifth.
Jets Attempt to End Slump
The Winnipeg Jets are home after two straight road bouts. The squad has cooled down and is in a scoring slump, resulting in five consecutive losses.They were dealt a 3-0 road loss against the Penguins on Tuesday and lost by a 4-1 score to the Flyers on Thursday night. The Jets were in first in the division at one point last month but have dipped to third, just three points out of the top spot.
Mark Scheifele has just one point in his last three bouts. The 30-year-old center has only scored two goals in his last ten games and now has 42 points on the year. He was held pointless against the Penguins earlier this week. Josh Morrisey is steady on the blue line. The 28-year-old defenseman earned an assist in the defeat on Thursday and has collected 35 points on a + 20 rating on the year. Gabriel Vilardi has been quiet, posting just one point in his last five games. The 24-year-old center is in his first season with the Jets and has issued 20 points in 28 games.
— Winnipeg Jets (@NHLJets) February 8, 2024
The Jets have gone of the best goalies in the league in Connor Hellebuyck. The netminder was in the net in the recent loss to the Penguins. He is sporting a 2.22 GAA and. .923 save % accompanied by a 23-10-3 record. Backup Laurent Brossoit has a 2.22 GAA, a .920 save % and a 7-4-2 record. Winnipeg is averaging 3.1 goals per game, marking them 16th. They are conceding an average of 2.3 goals which leads the NHL.
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Full-Game Side Bet
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The Pittsburgh Penguins are not a reliable squad to back when on the road. They have lost three consecutive road games entering Friday night. The Winnipeg Jets are a solid 16-7-2 on home ice. I expect the Jets to be a desperate team after losing five games in a row.
Furthermore, the Penguins have not been scoring many goals recently. They have registered three or fewer goals in nine of their last ten games. They only have four wins in that span entering Friday. The Jets are the superior defensive team, and Connor Hellebuyck has been incredible. The Jets are conceding the fewest goals per game in the NHL.
Prediction: Winnipeg Jets -150
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I expect a barrage of scoring. The Penguins are playing their second game in as many nights and that will play a key factor after playing in Minnesota on Friday. Pittsburgh managed to score three goals against Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck last Tuesday.
In addition, Winnipeg is due to breakout in the offensive end. I expect the scoring slump to end in this game. They have no key injuries. The Penguins will get tired as the game progresses after playing last night. They have squandered 11 goals in their last three road games.
Prediction: Over 5.5
Adam has been a sports fanatic his entire life, closely following hockey, baseball, basketball, and football. He enjoys analyzing various stats, as well as studying Sabermetrics and analytics to take his picks to a whole new level. Adam has a passion for writing about various sports as well as personal finance and being an expert sports bettor. Prior to bringing his talents here to Winners and Whiners, Adam graduated with a diploma in business marketing and business finance. You would do yourself a huge favor by following Adam on a daily basis.
