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The Winnipeg Jets (21-9-0) host the Vegas Golden Knights (18-7-3) in Thursday NHL action. Puck drop from the Canada Life Centre is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s NHL odds around the Golden Knights vs. Jets odds and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
Season series: Vegas leads 1-0
The Golden Knights toppled the Jets 4-3 Nov. 29 in a battle of these Western Conference powerhouses in Las Vegas. C Ivan Barbashev and C Brett Howden, who scored the game-winner with 4:05 to go, each scored twice. Vegas covered as the slightest home underdog (-108) and Over (6.5) hit.
The Golden Knights start this 3-game trip with a 3-game win streak and have triumphed in 4 of their past 5 games and 7 of their last 9. The most recent victory came during a 3-2 home win in a heavyweight fight with the Dallas Stars Friday. The Golden Knights cashed as +125 underdogs and the Under (6) hit.
Winnipeg, meanwhile, has won 3 of its past 4 games. The latest victory was an 8-1 thrashing of the visiting Boston Bruins Tuesday. The Jets covered as -135 favorites and the Over (5.5) hit thanks to 5 third-period tallies from Winnipeg. C Mark Scheifele finished with 2 goals and an assist in the win.
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Golden Knights at Jets odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list of NHL odds. Lines last updated at 1:19 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Golden Knights +115 (bet $100 to win $115) | Jets -135 (bet $135 to win $100)
- Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Golden Knights +1.5 (-225) | Jets -1.5 (+180)
- Over/Under (O/U): 6 (O: -110 | U: -110)
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Golden Knights at Jets projected goalies
Adin Hill (12-4-2, 2.63 GAA, .905 SV%, 2 SO) vs. Connor Hellebuyck (18-5-0, 2.09 GAA, .927 SV%, 3 SO)
Both netminders are unconfirmed as of this publishing, but Hill is more certain because of the 5-day breather the Golden Knights have enjoyed.
Vegas’ stopper is on fire with a 1.73 GAA across his past 8 games (6-1-1), having not allowed more than 3 goals in any of those outings, which happened just once in the stretch. The other 7 games were just 2 goals or less, including a 1-0 home shutout of Edmonton Dec. 3.
Hellebuyck has jump-started a possible Vezina Trophy repeat with his early domination. The Jets ‘tender leads the NHL with 18 wins, is tied for first in shutouts (3), is second in GAA and tied for second in SV% (Montreal’s Sam Montembeault also has 3 shutouts, Minnesota’s Filip Gustavsson has the top GAA at 2.08 with a .927 SV%, while Toronto’s Anthony Stolarz owns the best SV% at .928).
The Michigan native has not allowed more than 3 goals in any of his past 9 games.
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Golden Knights at Jets picks and predictions
Prediction
Jets 3, Golden Knights 2
Moneyline
Vegas (+115) has been given enough clout in this market to present Winnipeg (-135) as a slight bargain along the ML. Betting this up to -175 would be justified.
FanDuel Sportsbook lists it as a slightly better value at -134.
BET JETS (-134).
Puck line/Against the spread
Picking between Hellebuyck and Hill proves tough, and this one should wind up as a down-to-the-wire battle.
Given these two teams’ ability to turn up ice rapidly, maybe the home team will sneak an empty-netter past the visitors in the waning minutes. The thin margin likely to decide this game puts the Knights’ spread on the table.
However, that -225 juice should hardly interest bettors. It doesn’t properly reflect the volatility of this game’s result.
PASS.
Over/Under
Scheifele and LW Kyle Connor are tied for 8th with 16 goals apiece, giving the Jets a potent 1-2 combo of scoring. Barbashev and C Jack Eichel have done plenty to lead the VGK attack as well.
However, this bet runs with the hot goaltending winning out along the total. Hellebuyck has helped Winnipeg go 13-16-1 on the Over/Under, which warrants stronger consideration than Vegas’ 16-11-1 O/U record.
Bettors should consider hopping over to FanDuel Sportsbook where they’ll find a favorable hook and an immensely better vig tailored to potentially cash in more strongly on this score prediction.
BET UNDER 6 (-110) at BetMGM or UNDER 5.5 (+110) at FanDuel.
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