Bell MTS Place plays host to a Western Conference showdown as the Vancouver Canucks pay a visit to Manitoba to face the Winnipeg Jets. The first puck will drop at 8 p.m. ET on Thursday, October 18, and fans at home will be able to watch it live on Sportsnet Vancouver.
Vancouver Canucks vs. Winnipeg Jets Odds
Winnipeg (-215) is currently the favorite over Vancouver (+180) and the oddsmakers have set the Over/Under (O/U) at 7 goals (-110 for the over, -110 for the under).
Vancouver is 4-2 straight up (SU) and has earned 5.5 units for moneyline bettors this season. That SU win percentage, the second-best in the Pacific Division so far in this young season, represents a welcome improvement compared to how the team performed during the 2017-18 season (31-51). Three of its matches has gone over the total, while another three have gone under and none have pushed. This 2018-19 Canucks team is 3-2 SU on the road.
The Canucks have converted on 26.3 percent of their power play chances so far. That’s a good improvement from last year, when they were ranked eighth in the NHL by converting on 21.5 percent of their extra-man chances. Their penalty kill has also gotten stronger, as they’ve gone from successfully defending 78.6 percent of all opponent power plays (ranked 21st overall last year) to 88.5 percent this year.
For the team as a whole, the Nucks have been called for penalties 4.8 times per game this season, a number that’s jumped some from last year’s 3.7 penalties per game. After serving an average of 8.7 penalty minutes per game a season ago the team has been forced to stave off opponent power plays for 10.2 minutes per outing this year.
Averaging 30.3 saves per game with a .883 save percentage, Jacob Markstrom (1-2) has been the primary option in goal for Vancouver this year. If it chooses to give him a rest, however, Vancouver may turn to Anders Nilsson (3-0 record, .943 save percentage, 1.67 goals against average).
Elias Pettersson and Sven Baertschi will both lead the offensive attack for the visiting Canucks. Pettersson (eight points) has tallied five goals and three assists this season; Baertschi has two goals and three assists to his credit through the early stages of the regular season.
On the other side of the ice, Winnipeg is 3-3 straight up (SU) and has lost 1.2 units for moneyline bettors this year. Three of its contests have gone under the total, while one has gone over and two have pushed. It’s 2-1 SU as the home team this season.
The Jets have killed off an impressive 79.2 percent of all penalties, compared to 81.0 percent in 2017-18 (when they were ranked 11th overall). They’ve converted on 26.7 percent of their power plays this year after scoring on 23.4 percent (ranked sixth in league) last season.
Winnipeg players have been penalized 5.2 times per game this season, a number that’s climbed noticeably from the 3.8 penalties per game given up last year. After serving an average of 8.6 penalty minutes per game a year ago, the team has been forced to stave off opponent power plays for a taxing 16.2 minutes per outing this season.
Connor Hellebuyck (28.8 saves per game) has been the top option in goal for the Jets. Hellebuyck has two wins, three losses, and one OT loss to his credit and has registered a fairly-weak .906 save percentage and 2.99 goals against average this year.
Josh Morrissey (zero goal, five assists) and Kyle Connor (four goals, one assists) will lead the attack for the Jets.
Vancouver Canucks vs. Winnipeg Jets Betting Picks
NHL Pick: SU Winner – Jets, O/U – Over
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Notes
Betting Notes
The total has gone under in three of Winnipeg’s last five outings.
Vancouver has managed 25.8 shot attempts per game over its last five road games while Winnipeg has been attempting 32.7 shots per game over its last five home outings.
Vancouver skaters recorded 21.3 hits per game last season, while the Jets logged 23.3 hits per matchup.
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