The Winnipeg Jets will be looking to reclaim top spot in the Central Division standings when they close out their regular-season schedule in Arizona on Saturday as -125 favourites on the NHL odds at sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com.
Winnipeg’s recent struggles continued with a 3-2 overtime loss in Colorado on Thursday that dumped the club to 2-5-1 in its past eight games ahead of Saturday night’s matchup at Gila River Arena.
Thursday’s loss to the Avalanche as a +100 bet, combined with Nashville’s 3-2 victory in Vancouver, also bounced the Jets from their perch atop the division standings, leaving them deadlocked with the St. Louis Blues, one point back of the Predators, going into Saturday’s season finale.
Goal production has been a real problem for the Jets during their current slide. Winnipeg has averaged just 2.38 goals scored over its past eight outings, tallying two or fewer on five occasions during that stretch. The club has also struggled on the road, losing three of four, and 14 of 23 since New Year’s Day, according to the OddsShark NHL Database.
However, Winnipeg has enjoyed steady success against the Coyotes, who saw their playoff hopes snuffed out by Colorado’s win on Thursday night. The Jets have averaged four goals per game while taking five of six from the Coyotes, but dropped a 4-1 decision as -130 chalk in their last trip to the desert on February 24.
Elsewhere on the Saturday NHL odds, the Jets will be looking for a helping hand from the Vancouver Canucks, who visit St. Louis on Saturday afternoon as +215 underdogs. Thursday’s loss to the Predators ended a three-game win streak, but Vancouver dominated the Blues in a pair of meetings this season, including a 6-1 victory in St. Louis as a +135 underdog on December 9.
The Blues are pegged as -260 favourites on Saturday after routing the Philadelphia Flyers 7-3 on Thursday as -210 home chalk to extend their current home winning streak to six games. Mired in last place in the Western Conference on January 1, St. Louis has since been one of the hottest teams in the NHL, going 29-10-5 in its past 44 contests to join the favourites on the Stanley Cup odds as a +1200 wager.
Also Saturday, after being bounced from the playoff picture with Columbus’ 3-2 win in New York on Friday, the Montreal Canadiens close out their season against the Toronto Maple Leafs as -110 home favourites. As well, the Ottawa Senators host the Blue Jackets as +180 underdogs, while the Calgary Flames host the Edmonton Oilers as -170 favourites.
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