In what’s been touted as the real Stanley Cup final, the Winnipeg Jets face the Nashville Predators in Game 3 after splitting the first two games in Nashville. The Jets must be ecstatic to have stolen a game in Tennessee and were an overtime goal away from being up two games to none. Winnipeg has won 16 of its last 19 overall, including 12 straight wins in its barn. The Jets opened as -130 favorites to take control of the series.
SHARK BITES
The total has gone OVER in eight of the Predators’ last nine games with a closing total of 5.5.
The Predators are 6-2 SU in their last eight games with one day off between games.
Winnipeg is 5-1 ATS in its last six games.
Home-ice advantage isn’t as apparent in the NHL playoffs but do not tell the Winnipeg Jets that. While their record has been noted, when you deep-dive into the numbers you realize why they’ve been so dominant in Manitoba. The Jets are outshooting their opponents by a whopping 14 shots per game in the playoffs at home and were the highest-scoring team in the league (3.8 goals per game) at their arena this season. Mark Scheifele is having his coming-out party in these playoffs and leads all players with eight goals through seven games. Defensively, they’re holding teams to 2.14 goals per game in the postseason but puckline bettors who plan to back the Jets should tread carefully as Winnipeg is 3-6 ATS in its last 9 games at home.
As for the Predators, they should be thankful they were able to escape with a victory in Game 2 after being outshot 50-36. Kevin Fiala was the hero in double overtime but the Preds will need to pick up the aggressive play as they were a top-five team on the power play this season but through two games against Winnipeg, they’re 1-for-7 on the man advantage. Winnipeg graded out as the third-best team in the league in goals allowed on 5-on-5 so unless the Predators can get some easy scores, it could be a long game for Nashville, which is 1-3 SU in its last four games in Winnipeg.
In the goaltending department, Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck has outplayed Pekka Rinne thus far in the playoffs with Hellebuyck compiling a 2.12 goals-against average and .928 save percentage. Rinne has been respectable with a 2.81 GAA but a .904 save percentage could bury the Preds if he doesn’t regain his all-world form. As a result, the OVER may be the most profitable in this tilt as the OVER has hit in five of the last seven games in this matchup with an average combined score of 8 goals per game.
Sportsbook Odds & Computer Pick
If you're backing the visiting Nashville Predators in this one, they were listed earlier today as underdogs of +114 at most sportsbooks, including Sportsbook. Those OVER/UNDER total betting saw the number open in the area of 5.5, depending on the book.
Handicapping models based on recent betting stats and prediction formulas pick a 3.8-2.1 win for the Jets. View the computer score prediction and who will win the pick on the moneyline for all upcoming NHL matchups here.
Winnipeg will face the 58-21-11 Predators. In totals betting, the Jets are 43-44-2 in OVER/UNDER betting so far this season while the Nashville Predators are 45-44-1. Stay Informed: follow us on Twitter for odds specials, betting line moves and Winnipeg vs Nashville injuries news.
The NHL Power Rankings at OddsShark show the No. 14-rated Predators taking on the No. 12-rated Jets in this contest.
Statistical Matchup
The game also pits Winnipeg's No. 2-ranked offense, averaging 3.38 goals per game, against a Predators defense that ranks No. 2 at 2.6 goals allowed. The Jets power play is averaging 23.45% while the Predators defense kills off 82.41% of their penalties.
Recent Outings Betting Recap
Betting Trends
Nashville is 1-6 ATS in its last 7 games
Nashville is 7-3 SU in its last 10 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Nashville's last 5 games
Nashville is 13-4 SU in its last 17 games on the road
Winnipeg is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games
Winnipeg is 16-3 SU in its last 19 games
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Winnipeg's last 9 games
