To start the week, a Central division showdown features a tasty matchup between the NHL-leading Winnipeg Jets and the Minnesota Wild. Welcome to NHL Predictions here at Last Word on Hockey, where each day we preview and predict the upcoming slate of NHL games around the league! Be sure to check out all of our predictions throughout the 2024-25 season and follow along your favourite teams.
NHL Predictions
Minnesota Wild vs Winnipeg Jets
Head-to-Head: Wild 0-1 Jets
Time: 8 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST)
TV: TSN3, FDSNNO, FDSNWI; ESPN+
This game will see two of the best of the Western Conference meet. Winnipeg got the better of Minnesota earlier in the year, skating away with a 2-1 overtime victory in Winnipeg on October 13th. On that night, it was a tight-checking, close game. There is every expectation that the second meeting will be much of same. With the teams separated by just four points in the Central Division this is an important game for both early in the season.
Winnipeg Looking for Bounce Back Effort
Winnipeg is hoping to rebound from a brutal loss in Nashville on Saturday where they were outplayed by a scuffling Predators team. They mustered just 24-shots on goal and scored only once in a 4-1 defeat, uncharacteristic for their prolific offense. Captain Adam Lowry said his team was, “shooting ourselves in the foot” in the third period which saw Nashville take the lead and pull away for victory. Winnipeg will need an improved game from Mark Scheifele who was minus-3 in Nashville. That was his third time in the last five games being a minus-2 or worse. As the offensive driver of the forward group, Scheifele will need to be sharper. As well, expect to see Connor Hellebuyck back in net. Eric Comrie played solidly in Nashville, but the reigning Vezina Trophy winner will have to be a heavy contributor in Minnesota to aide in a bounce back performance.
Wild Will Miss Kaprizov Again
News that their star player avoided a serious injury is music to the ears of Minnesota and their fans. Though, it appears Kirill Kaprizov will miss this contest versus the Jets after missing their previous game versus Calgary (4-3 SOL). He was injured after colliding with Oilers forward Drake Caggiula in their game versus Edmonton on Nov. 21. In Kaprizov’s absence, Marcus Johansson was promoted to the top line and responded with a goal against Calgary.
Head coach John Hynes leaned heavily on his top line in that game with all three forwards (Boldy, Eriksson Ek, Johansson) playing over 22-minutes. In order to make up for the loss of Kaprizov, Minnesota will have to do the same against Winnipeg. They will also need contributions from their entire forward group to compete with the depth of the Jets who like to play all four lines. Kaprizov has had a magical start to the season as he sits second in the league in scoring (34pts), just one behind Nathan MacKinnon.
NHL Predictions – Minnesota vs Winnipeg
Expect this contest to be just as tight as their first meeting was in Winnipeg. There is an added emphasis to get back into the win column with both teams coming off of losses. Minnesota and Winnipeg want to play a fast, physical brand of hockey. That should lead to a tight game on the ice and the scoreboard. In a evenly matched divisional game like this, I would look for specialty teams to make the difference. Winnipeg still boasts the top powerplay in the NHL (33.9%) while Minnesota finds themselves all the way down at 28th in the league in penalty killing (73.9%). Minnesota is overmatched on special teams and without their star player. I believe it is a tall task for them to find a way to win. Especially against the top team in the NHL.
Prediction: Jets win 3-2.
Prop Bet of the Night
Winnipeg will lean on their stars to get a road win in Minnesota on Monday. Coming off a forgettable performance in Nashville, look for Scheifele to find the back of net. The FanDuel Sportsbook line has him at +195 as an anytime goal scorer. He scored in the last matchup against Minnesota and will be a good bet to do the same.
Main photo by: Nick Wosika-Imagn Images
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