An all-Canadian clash highlights the NHL schedule on Thursday night as the Winnipeg Jets host the Vancouver Canucks as -220 favourites on the NHL odds at sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com.
Winnipeg has struggled with consistency over the first two weeks of the regular season, alternating between wins and losses, capped by Tuesday’s 5-4 overtime loss to Edmonton as heavy -200 home chalk. That dropped its record to 3-2-1 going into Thursday night’s matchup at Bell MTS Place.
The Jets squandered their best offensive effort since opening night in Tuesday’s loss to the Oilers, taking a commanding 4-1 lead to the locker room at the end of the second period but wilting against a third-period comeback led by Connor McDavid, who scored his second goal of the game and assisted on two others to set the stage for Darnell Nurse’s game-winner in the extra frame.
After finishing last season ranked second in the NHL in goals scored, the Jets have potted just 10 total goals in five outings since their 5-1 opening night win in St. Louis. However, the Jets’ uneven start has yet to impact them on the Stanley Cup odds, where they remain among the favourites at +950.
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The Canucks will be without rookie Elias Pettersson as they aim to close out a six-game road trip with a fourth straight victory while pegged as +175 underdogs. Vancouver shocked Pittsburgh with a 3-2 overtime win as a +205 wager on Tuesday, and has surrendered just five total goals in its three recent victories, fueling a 3-0 run for the UNDER in totals betting.
However, Vancouver has struggled against the Jets, falling to defeat in nine of 10 meetings, including six straight losses in Winnipeg, according to the OddsShark NHL Database.
Elsewhere on the NHL Thursday night odds, the Toronto Maple Leafs look to extend their lead atop the Atlantic Division as they host the Penguins as -145 chalk, while the Oilers vie for a third straight win as they welcome Boston to town for their home opener as +110 underdogs.
The Oilers look to make it three in a row in home openers, but face a Bruins squad pegged as -140 favourites after limiting opponents to just six total goals in four straight wins.
The Maple Leafs continued to fire on all cylinders in Monday’s 4-1 win over Los Angeles as -175 home favourites. Toronto has averaged over 4.7 goals per game during a 6-1-0 start, and has outgunned the Penguins by a 12-6 margin in three straight home wins. Pittsburgh has stumbled to a 2-1-2 start, with each of their losses coming against Canadian opponents.
