NHL Hockey Betting: Ottawa Senators at Winnipeg Jets
This game isn’t one of the legendary Canadiens-Maple Leafs battles or even a late 1980’s matchup between the Oilers and Flames. In a miserable year for Canadian hockey this is one of the best available ‘national rivalry’ game available as the Ottawa Senators–who have the best record among Canadian teams at the moment–take on the Winnipeg Jets. The Jets are trying to scrap out of the cesspool of Canadian teams at the bottom of the Western Conference and are 4-4-2 in their last ten games. They’re 1 point back of the Calgary Flames and 6 points behind the 10th place Arizona Coyotes. Ottawa is 3-5-2 in their last ten games and that has been the denouement on their already long shot playoff hopes.
To be fair, neither of these teams belongs anywhere near the playoffs. Ottawa is one point better than the Montreal Canadiens in the Eastern Conference standings but they sure don’t meet the statistical profile of a playoff team. They’re not bad offensively and are the #7 goals per game team in the league. They’re an embarrassment in the other major statistical categories–particularly their #28 ranking in goals against per game as they’re one of only three NHL teams giving up 3 or more goals per game. Their special teams are also awful, ranking #28 on the power play and #29 on the penalty kill.
Winnipeg might be even worse from a statistical standpoint as they don’t even have a top ten offense as a slight vindication. The Jets are #23 in goals per game, #25 in goals against per game, #26 on the penalty kill and dead last on the power play connecting on only 14.3% of their man advantage chances. Neither team has anything in the way of ‘recent form’–including OT losses the Jets and Sens both have 4 wins in 12 games.
Ottawa’s offense makes them the marginally better team in our view and the head to head matchup has been all Senators. Ottawa has won 4 of the last 5 head to head matchups including the last two in Winnipeg. Ottawa won the only game played between the teams this season, taking a 3-2 verdict at home on November 5. Ottawa the marginally better choice between these two bad options.
BET OTTAWA SENATORS +115 OVER WINNIPEG JETS
