{"id":463052,"date":"2025-02-26T08:23:33","date_gmt":"2025-02-26T13:23:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/?p=463052"},"modified":"2025-02-26T15:53:51","modified_gmt":"2025-02-26T20:53:51","slug":"nhl-predictions-winnipeg-jets-ottawa-senators-february-26","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2025\/02\/26\/nhl-predictions-winnipeg-jets-ottawa-senators-february-26\/","title":{"rendered":"In a Battle of Vezina-Worthy Goaltenders the Jets and Sens Square Off"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Welcome back to another hard hitting edition of <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2025\/02\/19\/team-canada-sidney-crosby-4-nations-face-off-connor-mcdavid\/\" target=\"_self\">NHL Predictions<\/a> as the <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2025\/02\/22\/ottawa-senators-montreal-canadiens-nhl-predictions-february-22nd\/\" target=\"_self\">Ottawa Senators<\/a> host the red hot <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2025\/02\/22\/winnipeg-jets-sign-veteran-forward-to-extension\/\" target=\"_self\">Winnipeg Jets<\/a>. The Jets come into this one following a 2-1 overtime victory against the <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2025\/02\/24\/san-jose-sharks-goaltending-prospect-leaves-game-due-to-injury\/\" target=\"_self\">San Jose Sharks<\/a>, are riding a ten-game winning streak. We might add, a franchise-record winning streak. The <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2025\/02\/08\/the-ottawa-senat\u2026ll-these-rumours\/\" target=\"_self\">Ottawa Senators are just looking to navigate<\/a> the murky waters of the injury infirmary balanced against the trade deadline and debating giving up the future in favour of the present.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"p3\"><span class=\"s5\">NHL Predictions <\/span><span class=\"s5\">Winnipeg Jets at <\/span><span class=\"s5\">Ottawa Senators <\/span><span class=\"s5\">from the Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, Ontario<\/span><\/h3>\n<p class=\"p3\"><strong><span class=\"s5\">Start Time: 7:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST)<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"p3\"><strong><span class=\"s5\">TV Coverage: Sportsnet, RDS, ESPN+<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>This game features a matchup of elite goaltenders, as the expected starters are listed as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/h\/helleco01.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-02-25_hr\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Connor Hellebuyck (35-7-2)<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/u\/ullmali01.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-02-25_hr\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Linus Ullmark (12-10-2)<\/a>. In fact, each were members of the respective national team at the <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2025\/02\/12\/all-eyes-team-canada-goalies-2025-4-nations-face-off\/\" target=\"_self\">4 Nations tourney<\/a>, Team USA and Team Sweden. The Sens look to rebound after a depleted lineup was handed a 5-2 loss at the hands of Montreal on Saturday. Meanwhile, at the other end of the rink, Winnipeg is hoping a trip to the nation&#8217;s capital isn&#8217;t what spoils their incredible winning streak. The Jets won the first meeting of the two teams late in 2024, 4-2.<\/p>\n<h3>The Sens Do Have Some Good News<\/h3>\n<p>The Sens will be in tough, as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/n\/norrijo01.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-02-25_hr\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Joshua Norris was thought to be <\/a>back in the lineup tonight, isn\u2019t. However, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/p\/pintosh01.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-02-25_hr\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Shane Pinto<\/a> practiced in a non-contact jersey yesterday and it is unclear when <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/t\/tkachbr01.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-02-25_hr\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Brady Tkachuk<\/a> will return. But both of them did skate within the Sens four lines in practice on Tuesday. So, there is reason for all-around optimism. But, let&#8217;s place our disclaimer here to please check for the very latest roster news and notes before locking in your fantasy lineups.<\/p>\n<p>For the Senators overall, they really need to get on track. They need a strong showing as the Eastern Conference playoff picture couldn&#8217;t get any tighter. Coming in at 5-5-0 in their last ten, and with the trade deadline fast approaching, it is now or never if this team wants its first playoff appearance since 2017. Yes, the Jets are no easy matchup, but the Sens might be able to handle that side of things well.<\/p>\n<p>The Jets lead the league in goals-against per game at 2.38, but the Sens are in the top-ten at 2.81. One stat the Sens actually top the Jets in, is shutouts. Ottawa has eight on the year, compared to Winnipeg&#8217;s seven. So, if Ottawa sticks to their guns, where they are at home, they should be fine.<\/p>\n<h3>Jets Travel to the Nation&#8217;s Capital<\/h3>\n<p><span class=\"s2\">The Winnipeg Jets franchise is coming off a milestone night as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/s\/scheima01.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-02-25_hr\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Mark Scheifele<\/a> became the <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.sportsnet.ca\/nhl\/article\/jets-win-10th-straight-scheifele-becomes-franchise-goals-leader\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">franchise leader in goals at 329<\/a>, surpassing the great Russian <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/k\/kovalil01.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-02-25_hr\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Ilya Kovalchuk<\/a>. Now, visiting the Senators will prove to be a challenge of whether or not they can maintain their winning streak. Ottawa is a responsible team, and a little bit of goal scoring makes them a worthy foe. Luckily, that is exactly where Winnipeg tends to shine.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>We all know about the dominance of <em>Helly,<\/em> but just how else to the Jets get it done. Head coach <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/a\/arniesc01.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-02-25_hr\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Scott Arniel<\/a> has done a fabulous job of taking a weakness and making it a strength. The Jets are the league&#8217;s top power play unit at 32.5%. (The Sens are 11th at 23.5%). Moreover, their goal scoring as a collective unit hasn&#8217;t been a problem with 3.57 goals-per-game. Scheifele and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/c\/connoky01.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-02-25_hr\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Kyle Connor<\/a> already have hit the 30-goal mark, but <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/v\/vilarga01.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-02-25_hr\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Gabriel Vilardi<\/a> isn&#8217;t far behind with 26.<\/p>\n<p>Despite missing the championship game for Team Canada, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/m\/morrijo04.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-02-25_hr\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Josh Morrissey<\/a> was back at it for Winnipeg. He played nearly 30 minutes against the Sharks. The Jets are ready to go, so Ottawa better be too.<\/p>\n<h3>NHL Predictions: Jets and Senators<\/h3>\n<p>With the Sens at home and deeply entrenched in a playoff race, they need this one. Look for Ullmark to be a difference maker and help the Sens prevail in this tightly-contested affair.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p3\"><em><span class=\"s4\">Prediction: Ottawa wins in regulation, 3-1 (add an empty netter).<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"p3\"><span class=\"s2\">Main Photo: Marc DesRosiers-USA TODAY Sports<\/span><\/p>\n<p>If you like to play a parlay on this one, check this out. If you think Ottawa will win, you are already at about +110. If we call Norris and Vilardi our anytime goal scorers, now we are looking at +2200. Take it from us, if you want to add a little excitement to the action, that will do for you.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p3\"><strong><span class=\"s6\">Please play responsibly, check for your local rules and age restrictions, some jurisdictions require ages 21+. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Main Photo Credit: Marc DesRosiers-USA TODAY Sports<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Welcome back to another hard hitting edition of NHL Predictions as the Ottawa Senators host the red hot Winnipeg Jets. The Jets come into this one following a 2-1 overtime victory against the San Jose Sharks, are riding a ten-game winning streak. We might add, a franchise-record winning streak. The Ottawa Senators are just looking [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4222,"featured_media":437976,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[8,4547,4548,4524,33],"tags":[2921,1605,6109,6110],"class_list":["post-463052","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-senators","category-hockey","category-nhl","category-nhl-predictions","category-jets","tag-josh-morrissey","tag-josh-norris","tag-ottawa-senators-predictions","tag-winnipeg-jets-predictions"],"modified_by":"Levi Pike, Editor","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/463052","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4222"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=463052"}],"version-history":[{"count":17,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/463052\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":463193,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/463052\/revisions\/463193"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/437976"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=463052"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=463052"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=463052"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}