Hockey fans are well aware that Canada is the birthplace of the sport that they love, but they also know that there have been some lean years for teams north of the border in terms of playoff success. That may well be about to change this season, though, as there are currently 5 Canadian teams sitting in playoff spots right now, with the Calgary Flames right up there as one of the favorites to hoist the Stanley Cup this season. There is still an awful lot of hockey to be played, though, so things can definitely change in a couple of months.
The Montreal Canadiens are one of the teams fighting to stay alive in the playoff race, and they will host another Canadian team, the Winnipeg Jets, on Thursday night in what has all the makings of an entertaining game. The Jets will be looking to maintain their spot atop the Central Division, while also hoping that the trend of the road team winning this match-up continues. The Jets are favored by a goal and a half, with the goal total set at 6.
Jets vs Canadiens NHL Week 19 Spread & Expert Pick
🎥 Kyle Connor reflects on his time spent in the AHL after being named AHL Graduate of the Month and playing in Montreal tonight. #WPGvsMTL pic.twitter.com/CRlI1cNCPN
— Winnipeg Jets (@NHLJets) 7 de febrero de 2019
- When: Thursday, February 7 at 7:30 PM EST
- Where: Bell Centre, Montreal
- TV: NHL Center Ice
- Live Stream: NHL.tv
- NHL Odds: Winnipeg Jets -120 (Total 6)
Why bet on the Winnipeg Jets?
The Winnipeg Jets are one of the teams that probably don’t need to worry about whether they are going to make the playoffs, as their current 71-point total is among the best in the league. More importantly, it is enough to have them 3 points up on the Nashville Predators in the Central Division, not to mention 11 points up on the next closest challenger.
It would need to be a monumental second-half collapse for this team to fall out of a playoff spot. The Jets are certainly not showing signs of slowing down, going 7-2-1 in their last 10 games. They have been steady, if unspectacular, on the road, putting together a 14-10 record. They have won in each of their last 2 visits to Montreal.
Team Stats
Offense- Goals: 3.53
- Shots: 31.66
- PP/PK Percentage: 26.79
Defense
- Goals: 2.81
- Shots: 32.74
- PP/PK Percentage: 19.25
Why bet on the Montreal Canadiens?
The Montreal Canadiens are sitting on a total of 66 points for the season, which has them down in the #4 spot in the Atlantic Division, as well as in the first Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference. That is a position that they could climb out of with a win in this one, as they could potentially jump over the Bruins and get within a point of the Maple Leafs in the Divisional race.
No-one is catching the Lightning in that division, so it’s currently about getting one of the top 3 spots that would mean home-ice advantage in the opening round of the playoffs. The Canadiens have won 2 in a row and are 7-2-1 in their last 10 games. They have been somewhat solid in their own building, posting a 16-10-3 record on home ice this season.
Team Stats
Offense- Goals: 3.04
- Shots: 32.98
- PP/PK Percentage: 12.87
Defense
- Goals: 2.89
- Shots: 31.17
- PP/PK Percentage: 21.26
Jets vs Canadiens NHL Week 19 Betting Trends
- Winnipeg is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games
- Winnipeg is 10-5 SU in its last 15 games on the road
- The total has gone OVER in 6 of Winnipeg’s last 7 games when playing Montreal
- Montreal is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games at home
- Montreal is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games at home
- The total has gone UNDER in 8 of Montreal’s last 11 games at home
Expert Pick & Final Score Prediction for Jets vs Canadiens
In a rather strange little trend, it has been the road team that has come out on top in the last 4 meetings between these two. Each of the last 2 meetings went into OT, with 9 goals scored in each of those games. I think we are getting goals and a road win again here.
Score: Winnipeg Jets 5 – Montreal Canadiens 3
