The Montreal Canadiens and Winnipeg Jets play Game 1 of their Stanley Cup Playoffs second-round series Wednesday. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET at Bell MTS Place. Below, we analyze the Canadiens-Jets odds and lines, with NHL picks and predictions.
The Canadiens capped off a comeback from a 3-1 series deficit to win Game 7 Monday night at the Toronto Maple Leafs. After averaging just 1.0 goal per game in the first four of their first-round series, the Habs averaged 3.3 goals per game in the final three.
The Jets pulled off the surprising sweep of the Edmonton Oilers, and they haven’t taken the ice since their Game 4 overtime win May 24. Will rust be a factor?
Canadiens at Jets: Odds, spread and lines
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 3:15 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Canadiens +120 (bet $100 to win $120) | Jets -145 (bet $145 to win $100)
- Against the spread/ATS: Canadiens +1.5 (-225) | Jets -1.5 (+180)
- Over/Under: 5.5 (O: +120 | U: -145)
Canadiens at Jets: Projected starting goalies
Carey Price (12-7-5, 2.64 GAA, .901 SV%, 1 SO) vs. Connor Hellebuyck (24-17-3, 2.58 GAA, .916 SV%, 4 SO). Stats are regular season only.
Price came up huge in the Leafs series, going 4-3 with a 2.24 GAA and .932 SV%. After falling into a 3-1 series hole, due mostly to a lack of offensive support, he allowed just three goals in the final two games. He also held the powerful duo of Mitch Marner and Auston Matthews to just one goal.
Price went 4-2-1 with a 3.01 GAA and .903 SV% in four starts vs. the Jets during the 2021 regular season.
Hellebuyck has won six straight starts, including the first-round sweep of the Oilers. That includes a 1-0 overtime shutout in Game 2. He went 4-0 with a 1.60 GAA and .950 SV% in the sweep of Edmonton.
Hellebuyck was 6-3-0 with a 2.67 GAA, .916 SV% and one shutout in nine regular-season starts vs. Montreal in 2021.
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Canadiens at Jets: Odds, lines, predictions and picks
Prediction
Jets 3, Canadiens 1
Money line (ML)
The JETS (-145) have had plenty of time to rest their bumps and bruises, having last played May 24. We saw in the Vegas Golden Knights-Colorado Avalanche series that rust isn’t a big issue as the Avs had a week off and rolled in Game 1. Winnipeg should have similar success in the opener against a Canadiens team that just came off an emotional roller coaster two days ago in Game 7.
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Against the spread (ATS)
The JETS -1.5 (+180) are worth a small-unit play in this series opener. Yes, Winnipeg won its past three games, all in overtime. However, in Game 1 last series, the Jets rolled to a 4-1 rout of the Oilers. Look for a similar quick start for the well-rested home side.
Over/Under (O/U)
UNDER 5.5 (-145) is the way to go in Game 1 as these two teams feel each other out. Price and Hellebuyck are top-notch and they enter this series with a lot of confidence.
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