Welcome back to NHL Predictions. Each day, Last Word on Hockey takes a look at the games that are scheduled, then offers insight and analysis to help predict who will be victorious in head-to-head matchups. In this round of NHL Predictions, we are looking at the game between the Florida Panthers vs.Winnipeg Jets. Be sure to check out more NHL Predictions as the 2024-25 season continues.
NHL Predictions
Florida Panthers vs. Winnipeg Jets
Time: 8:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST)
TV: TSN3, SCRIPPS
This game will be the second half of a home-and-home series between these two clubs. The Florida Panthers (12-5-1) beat the Winnipeg Jets (15-3-0) by a score of 5-0 at home on Saturday night. In the final game of the season series, the Jets will be looking to get revenge now that the Panthers are on their turf. With both teams off to great starts, they could be on a collision course to meet again in the postseason. Only time will tell.
Panthers Looking to Sweep Home And Home
After losing two straight games at home to the New Jersey Devils the Florida Panthers took out all of their frustration on the Winnipeg Jets. The Panthers were led in that game by Sam Reinhart and Aleksander Barkov. Each player had three points to extend their respective point streaks. Reinhart is currently riding a ten-game point streak where he has eight goals and eight assists. For Barkov he is on an eight-game streak. He has recorded at least one assist in each of those games. Both players will be looking to continue those streaks in Winnipeg tonight.
One area to watch for with Reinhart and Barkov is on the penalty kill. Barkov scored a shorthanded goal against Winnipeg on Saturday and the Panthers as a team already have five shorties, which is only three less than their total for all of last season. The Jets still have the league’s best power play so this should be a fun battle to watch tonight. Also as the saying goes a team’s goalie has to be their best penalty killer. Sergei Bobrovsky was just that earning his first shutout of the season against the Jets. He will likely start again to try and continue his goalless run.
Winnipeg on a Two Game Slide
The Winnipeg Jets looked unbeatable to start the season. All of a sudden they travel through Florida and lose two games in a row against the Tampa Bay Lightning and their opponent tonight the Panthers. Even with the two losses, there is no need to panic in Winnipeg as they are still off to the best start in franchise history. They will need to rediscover their winning ways to avoid losing three in a row.
There are two areas to watch tonight for the Jets. The first one will be to see how Connor Hellebuyck bounces back. After allowing five goals against in his last game against Florida his goals-against average rose from 1.92 to 2.14. That is still a stellar statistic and if he does get the start, expect him to be much better in the rematch. The second area is the offence. It seems to have disappeared over the last couple of games. This lack of scoring has coincided with the Jets top six going into a mini-slump. Leading scorer Kyle Connor went pointless and was a -5 in the two losses in Florida. The Jets will look to him to lead the charge tonight.
NHL Predictions
Expect the second half of the home and home to be a lot closer. Now on home ice, the Jets should get the matchup they want against Reinhart and Barkov in hopes of slowing them down. Even then the Panthers have plenty of other options to carry the offence. The goalie battle will also be an important factor in this game. Hellebuyck will likely have a bounce-back game so Bobrovsky will need to be good once again. Finally, with former Jets coach Paul Maurice back in Winnipeg again there might be some extra motivation in the Panthers dressing room to get their coach a victory.
Prediction: Jets win 3-2 in overtime
Prop Bets of The Night
Coming off of two subpar games look for Kyle Connor to get back on the scoresheet. He is +150 as an anytime goal scorer on FanDuel Sportsbook. With much of the focus being on Reinhart and Barkov that should allow for Matthew Tkachuk to chip in. He hasn’t scored in four straight, a streak that isn’t likely to continue for much longer. He is +240 to score. The total goals is set at 5.5. With these two goaltenders matching up the under at +110 seems like a good bet.
Main Photo: Tim Fuller-Imagn Images
Please play responsibly, check for your local rules and age restrictions, some jurisdictions require ages 21+. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.
