The Winnipeg Jets take on the Montreal Canadiens for the eighth time this season on Saturday night in the second game of a two-game series. The Jets have won five of seven meetings this season including a 4-2 victory on Thursday night.
- Date/Time: April 10, 7:00 p.m. ET
- Stadium: Bell Centre
- TV Coverage: TVA
- Sportsbook Odds: Canadiens -120 | O/U 5.5 (Line History)
- Jets vs Canadiens Matchup Report
Sportsbook Odds Analysis
The game opened with the Canadiens favorites at -120 and the line has since moved into to -120 to -130 range. The total opened at 5.5 and has stayed at that number with the OVER favored in the -110 to -122 range depending on the sportsbook.
Winnipeg News & Notes
The Winnipeg Jets are all but locked into a playoff spot in the North Division and are 6-3-1 in their last ten games. The team has one of the more potent offenses in the league and has a star-studded top-six forward group. However, the team’s underlying numbers are extremely poor despite their solid record.
The Jets rank dead last in the league in expected goals for percentage (xGF%) and expected goals against. Winnipeg has also allowed the most high danger scoring chances in the league this season and rank last in high danger chances for percentage (HDCF%). They certainly don’t have a problem scoring as they have scored the twelfth most goals at even strength this season, but the team’s defensive play is an issue.
Goaltending is an obvious reason for the team’s success this season considering how many chances they give up. Reigning Vezina Trophy Sportsbook Connor Hellebuyck has a .920 save percentage this season to go along with a 19-10-3 record.
Montreal News & Notes
The Montreal Canadiens had a ten-day break due to COVID-19 protocol restrictions and are 3-3 since the break. And though fans may find the team’s play uninspiring of late, the Habs have been one of the better teams in the league this season in terms of underlying possession metrics. No team has given up fewer even strength goals this season than Montreal’s 55 and only the Avalanche have a lower expected goals against. The Habs also rank second in the league in xGF% and third in HDCF% at even strength.
A couple key injuries suffered over the last few games has threatened to derail that success, however, as starting goalie Carey Price and heart-and-soul winger Brendan Gallagher are both missing from the lineup. Gallagher is out for the rest of the regular season while Price has missed the last two games and is out for this game.
Jake Allen will start in Price’s place against the Jets. Allen is 5-5-4 this season with a .919 save percentage.
Betting Pick: Canadiens -130
The Habs were the better team despite losing on Thursday as they heavily outshot the Jets. All the underlying numbers also point to the Habs playing better hockey at even strength while the Jets rely on their goalie too much. We think the Habs get a few passed him in this one.
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Buy Sports Picks Now- Winnipeg are 6-3 SU in their last 9 games.
- The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Montreal's last 6 games.
- The total has gone OVER in 5 of Montreal's last 5 games against Winnipeg.
