The Winnipeg Jets head to Colorado tonight for their 4th and final regular-season matchup against the Avs. Winnipeg has won 2 of the 3 prior games, but with both teams heating up and looking to gain ground in the Central Division standings, we think this clash at Ball Arena is going to be a fierce battle.
There are plenty of good bets to make, so let’s get into it.
Date/Time: Wednesday, January 22, 8:30 PM CST
Venue: Ball Arena, Colorado
Moneyline: Jets +110 | Avalanche -130
Point Spread: Jets +1.5 (-235) | Avalanche -1.5 (+195)
Total Points: Over 5.5 (-115) | Under 5.5 (-105)
The Avalanche are slight favorites at home which is no surprise to us as this is where they’ve been strong this season. Winnipeg comes in as an underdog, which isn’t surprising given their recent struggles despite them being one of the best teams in the NHL. Colorado has home-ice advantage and a bit of momentum in what should be a critical division battle.
The Jets and their 31-14-3 record are 1st in the Central Division but find themselves stumbling at a critical point in the season. Fortunately, they have some wiggle room, but that won’t last too long.
They’ve dropped two back-to-back games, including a 5-2 loss to the Utah team a couple nights ago and a 3-1 defeat against Calgary just before that. While their defense has easily been one of their strengths, ranking 4th in goals against with just 118, they’ve surrendered 8 goals in just 2 games.
Offensively, Winnipeg leans heavily on Mark Scheifele, who has 27 goals this season. Paired up with Josh Morrissey, who leads the team with 35 assists, this duo is nearly unstoppable. While their power play is the best in the NHL at 32.1%, they’ll need to figure out how to make the most against an Avalanche team that’s had an improved PK unit as of late.
One concern of ours is their recent schedule. Winnipeg’s last 4 games were against bubble teams, and losing to weaker teams doesn’t inspire confidence as they head into one of the toughest buildings in the league. Sure, they have what it takes, but can they figure it out for tonight?
The Avalanche and their 28-19-1 record are coming into this game off a tough 3-1 loss to Minnesota on Monday, but their form leading up to that game was nothing less than solid. Wins against playoff-caliber teams like Dallas (a decisive 6-3 win on January 18) and the Rangers (3-2 on January 14) have highlighted their ability to hang with the big boys.
Offensively, Colorado has an edge with superstars Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen leading the way. Rantanen, in particular, has been absolutely electric, scoring 25 goals and tallying 38 assists on the season. Their offense ranks 4th in the NHL with 159 goals this season, and their ability to generate consistent chances in the zone makes them a dangerous opponent.
While their defense ranks 22nd in goals against, the return of key players like Valeri Nichushkin could stabilize things enough to make them even more dangerous. On top of that, Mackenzie Blackwood in goal has been sharp lately, with an insane .928 save percentage, helping keep the Avalanche in games when their defense falls flat.
The Jets are playing their second-straight road game, and fatigue could easily play a role after their back-to-back losses. Sure, they may be hungry for a win, but this doesn’t look good for them. To make things worse for the Jets, Colorado’s dynamic playstyle thrives at Ball Arena, where they’ve proven to be a tough team to beat. This is Colorado’s 5th-straight game against a playoff-caliber opponent, which gives them an edge in preparation and intensity.
As for the last few games, the Jets’ recent losses came against weaker teams, which raises questions about their current form. Meanwhile, Colorado has been battling some of the league’s best teams and still getting the job done. This makes them battle-tested and ready for a high-stakes matchup against a sluggish team like the jets.
Despite all of this, defense might be the key to the game. The Jets’ defense has been solid this season but looked shaky in their last 2 outings, allowing a staggering 8 goals. With MacKinnon and Rantanen driving Colorado’s attack, Winnipeg will have a hard time keeping the puck out of the back of their net, especially if Connor Hellebuyck doesn’t have a superb performance.
Best Bet: Colorado on the moneyline (-130)
BettorsInsider Prediction: Colorado 4, Winnipeg 2
The Avalanche’s offense, home-ice advantage, and momentum make them the better pick in this game. Winnipeg has struggled as of late and will face a tough test in one of the league’s most intimidating arenas. We expect the Avs to even the season series at 2-2 and come out on top in this divisional showdown.