Welcome back to another day of NHL Predictions. Each day, Last Word on Hockey takes a look at the games that are happening and gives our predictions for each one, breaking down head-to-head and other factors that may play in. We also have a featured game of the day, which is considered must-watch TV. Today’s featured game is the Winnipeg Jets vs Anaheim Ducks. Be sure to check out more NHL predictions in the coming days. Be sure to check out our other game on NHL Predictions for today.
NHL Predictions
Winnipeg Jets vs Anaheim Ducks
Head-to-Head: Jets 1-0 Ducks
TV: Bally Sports West; TSN3; ESPN+
The Jets Story
Winnipeg comes into the game with four straight victories. Laurent Brossoit is the expected starter, but always check social media before locking in a fantasy starter. Defence has been the name of the game for Rick Bowness‘ men. Winnipeg has only given up two goals or less during this most-recent winning run. The Jets have been masters of one and two goal games as well. Winnipeg got a 2-1 win over the San Jose Sharks last night.
Mark Scheifele has carried the load while Kyle Connor has been injured. Winnipeg’s first-ever draft pick has 12 goals and 25 assists so far this season. The Jets are second-best at goals allowed with 90 so far this campaign. Oddly enough, the team’s penalty kill is in the bottom-half of the league. A win here would help Winnipeg leapfrog the Colorado Avalanche for first in the Central Division.
The Ducks Story
Anaheim is heading in the other direction with three straight losses. However, Lukas Dostal made 55 saves against the Toronto Maple Leafs to keep his team alive and get a point. However, John Gibson is the expected starter for the Ducks squad. This team has fallen off a cliff since a surprising start to the season. Offence has been a major red flag the last few games. Anaheim has scored two goals or less in the last three games. This includes a shutout loss to the Arizona Coyotes.
Frank Vatrano has been a bright spot so far this campaign with 18 goals this season. Ryan Strome leads the way in assists with 18, but this team is going to need help from other sources if it wants to get back to the form they had at the beginning of the season. The Ducks are 29th in goals for and only have 93 at this juncture in the season. However, they’re playing much better than what they were last campaign.
Prediction
Winnipeg’s defensive structure has been great for most of the season even when Bowness took a leave for a short time. The Jets are good at limiting mistakes and have give even a backup like Brossoit a chance to stymie a sagging offence. Winnipeg is actually 12th in goals for and are decent at 5-on-5 situations. The Jets should continue their Pacific coast trip with another victory.
Prediction: Jets win 4-2.
Prop Bets of the Night
We’ve got a prop bet of the night for both teams. Gabriel Vilardi has been one of the players that’s been surging while Connor has been hurt. The former Los Angeles Kings player notched a power-play marker for the game-winner on Thursday night. We like Vilardi going over on 0.5 points tonight for the Jets.
For the Ducks, both Dostal and Gibson haven been facing a lot of vulcanized rubber being shot their way. Winnipeg is going to throw some volume at whichever netminder gets the start tonight. We’ll go with getting the over on 30-plus saves for the evening for the Ducks.
Main photo by: Kiyoshi Mio – USA TODAY Sports
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