Jets open as underdogs in second-round series vs. Predators

Nashville Predators' Ryan Johansen (92) fires a shot on Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (37) between Josh Morrissey (44) and Brandon Tanev (13) during third period NHL hockey action in Winnipeg, Sunday, November 27, 2016. (Trevor Hagan/CP)

The Winnipeg Jets will be gunning for a third straight shutout victory when they open their second-round playoff series with the Nashville Predators on Friday as +134 road underdogs on the NHL odds at sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com.

The Jets have enjoyed a week off since eliminating the Minnesota Wild with a 5-0 Game 5 win as -220 home favourites last Friday, which marked the club’s 15th victory in 17 outings ahead of Friday night’s Jets versus Predators betting matchup at Bridgestone Arena.

Winnipeg’s decisive Game 5 victory came on the heels of a 2-0 win as -115 road chalk three nights earlier, and extended its current shutout streak to over 141 minutes. Overall, the Jets have held opponents to two or fewer goals in six of their past seven outings, and on 11 occasions during their torrid 15-2-0 run.

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However, the Jets have been streaky on the road at times this season, and have posted wins in just four of their last nine contests away from Bell MTS Centre, and enter their clash with the Predators trailing on the NHL playoff series prices as narrow +120 underdogs.

The Predators open the series as -148 Game 1 favourites after disposing of the pesky Colorado Avalanche in six games. Nashville also closed out their first-round matchup with a shutout, blanking the Avalanche 5-0 as a -180 road wager in Game 6 on Sunday, and have emerged as narrow +440 favourites on the Stanley Cup odds.

Nashville finished the regular season with an NHL-best 117 points, three ahead of the Jets, but has struggled with inconsistency at times in recent weeks, recording just nine wins in its past 16 outings.

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The Predators have avoided consecutive losses while posting wins in 11 of their last 15 games at Bridgestone Arena, but have picked up the win in just three of five all-time playoff series openers on home ice.

Neither team has dominated in recent head-to-head matchups. The Predators took three of five from the Jets during the regular season, including a 3-1 victory in Nashville as -200 chalk on March 13. However, the clubs have each posted four victories over their past eight meetings, with the home team claiming the win on six occasions.

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