Last Updated on April 15, 2018 6:26 pm by dpatrick
Jets vs. Wild Prediction
The Minnesota Wild fell into a 2-0 deficit on the road in their first round series with the Winnipeg Jets. Now back at home where it dominated all season, can Minnesota bounce back with a victory to make in a competitive series?
Game Snapshot
21 Winnipeg Jets vs. 22 Minnesota Wild
Sunday, April 15, 2018
Xcel Energy Center at 7PM ET
TV: USA
Public Betting Information
According to oddsmakers at YouWager, the moneyline is a pick’em as both teams are listed at -110. The over-under is set at 5.5 goals. As of Sunday afternoon, 55 percent of public bets are siding with host Minnesota. Check out our NHL Public Betting Page for the latest information.
Wild strong on home ice
Winnipeg has had a very good season at home with a 34-7-2 record including the two playoff wins, so winning the first two games of this series came as no surprise. Now with Minnesota at home, it can bank on the fact it also has had a dominant season on its home ice. The Wild are 276-7-1 in home games this season, so the window to get back in this series is there. The Wild will need to find more offensive production after losing Game 2 by a 4-1 final, which followed a 3-2 loss in Game 1 Zach Parise has two of the three Minnesota goals, so finding more help from teammates is a must.
Jets’ Hellebuyck looks to build on home success
Connor Hellebuyck, Winnipeg’s 24-year-old starting goaltender, had an outstanding regular season as he finished with a 44-11-9 record plus a 2.36 goals-against average and .924 save percentage. While he began the season much stronger at home on the road, those numbers evened out over time and he actually has a better save percentage in road games this season. While he wasn’t tested a lot in the first two games, he saved a combined 34 of 37 shots to help the Jets to the two victories. Goaltenders are the biggest key in the postseason and if the young Hellebuyck can hold up, the Jets are capable of winning any series.
NHL Betting Trends
Winnipeg
The home team is 4-0 in the last four meetings. The under is 4-0 in the last four Jets games against the Western Conference. Winnipeg is 8-0 in its last eight games versus a team with a winning record.
Minnesota
The Wild are 0-4 in their last four games versus a team with a winning percentage of .600 or better. Minnesota is 1-6 in the last seven meetings. The over is 5-1 in the last six meetings in Minnesota.
Prediction:
I’m going to side with home dominance and Devan Dubnyk here. The Wild are too talented of a team to go down 3-0 in a series. Maybe that will happen, but all my gut says is to take Minnesota here.
NHL DAILY PREDICTION: MINNESOTA WILD -110