The Winnipeg Jets (45-32-3) travel to meet the Minnesota Wild (46-24-10) Tuesday. Puck drop from XCel Energy Center is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET (ESPN+). Below, we analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Jets vs. Wild odds, and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
The Jets are in the driver’s seat for the final Wild Card spot in the Western Conference. Winnipeg has 93 points with 2 regular-season games remaining, and it is 2 points clear of the Calgary Flames, and 3 points clear of the Nashville Predators.
Winnipeg has helped itself out lately, winning 4 of the last 5 games, including a key 2-0 victory over the Predators on Saturday.
The Wild have managed 102 points, sitting 2 points behind the Colorado Avalanche and Dallas Stars for 1st place in the Central Division. Minnesota picked up a 4-2 victory on March 8 in the most recent meeting in Winnipeg.
[gambcom-standard rankid=”3011″ ]
[gambcom-standard rankid=”3012″ ]
Jets at Wild odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 7:47 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Jets +105 (bet $100 to win $105) | Wild -125 (bet $125 to win $100)
- Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Jets +1.5 (-250) | Wild -1.5 (+200)
- Over/Under (O/U): 5.5 (O: -120 | U: +100)
Stream the NHL all season on ESPN+, with your team’s out-of-market games, exclusive games, originals and more. Get ESPN+ now!
Jets at Wild projected goalies
Connor Hellebuyck (35-25-2, 2.53 GAA, .919 SV%, 4 SO) vs. Marc-Andre Fleury (24-15-4, 2.84 GAA, .909 SV%, 2 SO)
Hellebuyck allowed 2 goals on 21 shots in a 6-2 victory Monday against the San Jose Sharks. With a back-to-back situation, normally it would be unusual for a team to start a goalie 2 nights in a row. However, the Jets are fighting for a playoff spot, and they have to go with their best.
Fleury coughed up 4 goals on 31 shots in a 4-1 loss Thursday at Pittsburgh against his original NHL team, and he is 0-2-0 with a 3.57 GAA and .904 SV% in 2 starts in April.
Play our free daily Pick’em Challenge and win! Play now!
Jets at Wild picks and predictions
Prediction
Wild 3, Jets 2
Moneyline
The WILD (-125) are in the mix for a division title, and Minnesota has dominated this series lately.
The Jets (+105) are just 2-6 in the last 8 meetings, while going 0-4 in the last 4 visits to the Twin Cities. The home team has cashed in 6 of the last 8 meetings, too.
The Jets just played Monday, and they’re 5-1 in the last 6 games on no rest. However, the Wild have won 13 of the last 17 inside the Western Conference, and it will get the all-important 2 points to keep their division title hopes alive.
Puck line/Against the spread
The Jets +1.5 (-250) will cost you 2 1/2 times your potential return, and that’s way too expensive if you want some insurance.
The Jets have struggled in recent years against the Wild, and there is no reason to play Winnipeg plus the goal and a half on the road.
AVOID.
Over/Under
The UNDER 5.5 (+100) is the lean despite the series trends.
The Over is 5-2 in the last 7 meetings, while going 4-1-1 in the last 6 meetings in the Twin Cities.
However, the Under is 22-5 in the last 27 road games for the Jets, while going 4-1 in the last 5 against winning teams. The Under is also 10-1-2 in the last 13 games inside the Central Division, while going 9-2-1 in the last 12 games on no rest.
For the Wild, the Under is 18-6-2 in the last 26 home games, too.
[gambcom-standard rankid=”5″ ]
For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.
Follow Kevin J. Erickson on Twitter. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and like us on Facebook.
[lawrence-newsletter]
[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1369]