The Pittsburgh Penguins try to keep rolling as they welcome the Winnipeg Jets to PPG Paints Arena on Sunday afternoon. The Jets have dropped three in a row and oddsmakers expect them to lose again, with NHL betting lines opening with the red-hot Pens as -190 home favorites.
Here are our best free Jets vs. Penguins NHL picks and predictions for Sunday, January 23, with the puck dropping at 1 p.m. ET.
Jets vs Penguins odds
Odds via the Covers Line, an average comprised of odds from multiple sportsbooks.
The Penguins opened as high as -213 and as low as -175 for this contest while the Over/Under opened at 5.5. When these teams previously clashed in November the Pens won 3-1 as +105 underdogs on the road.
Use the live odds widget above to track any future line movements right until puck drop and be sure to check out the full NHL odds before betting to ensure you get the best number.
Jets vs Penguins predictions
Predictions made on 1/23/2022 at 7:00 a.m. ET.
Click on each prediction to jump to the full analysis.
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Jets vs Penguins game info
• Location: PPG Paints Arena, Pittsburgh, PA
• Date: Sunday, January 23, 2022
• Puck drop: 1:00 p.m. ET
• TV: NHL Network
Jets vs Penguins betting preview
Key injuries
Jets: Eric Comrie G (Questionable), Nik Ehlers LW (Out).
Penguins: Jason Zucker LW (Out), Drew O'Connor LW (Out), Louis Domingue G (Out).
Find our latest NHL injury reports.
Jets vs Penguins head-to-head record
Jets: 1-4, 10 goals for.
Penguins: 4-1, 19 goals for.
Betting trend to know
The Jets are 5-27 in the last 32 meetings in Pittsburgh. Find more NHL betting trends for Jets vs. Penguins.
Jets vs Penguins picks and predictions
Our predictions are compiled from the analysis of the spread and total and are indications of where we are leaning for this game.
Our best bet is the play that we like the most for this game, which we would actually put some of our bankroll behind.
Puck line analysis
The Jets lost 3-2 to the Bruins yesterday and have lost three games in a row since heading to the Eastern Conference for a road trip. They are now tied for 20th in the NHL with a point percentage of .541 while ranking 16th in goal for percentage in 5-on-5 hockey (50.36%).
The Penguins are coming off a 5-2 victory over the Blue Jackets on Friday and have gone a sizzling 15-2 in their last 17 games. That torrid streak has catapulted them up to eighth in the league standings with a point percentage of .688 and their 56.36 GF% in 5v5 play ranks fifth.
The Penguins had some offensive issues earlier in the season with multiple key forwards on the IR but now they're healthy and rolling. Pittsburgh is averaging 4.18 goals per game over their last 17 games which should mean fireworks against a Winnipeg team that ranks 26th in the league in high danger chances allowed per 60 minutes in 5v5.
On the other end of the ice, the Penguins have gotten terrific play from goalie Tristan Jarry. It'll be interesting to see if they rest Jarry on Sunday since they tried to give him the night off on Friday before a rusty Casey DeSmith leaked two goals in the first period. Jarry shut the door the rest of the way and now has a sizzling 2.10 GAA with a .928 save percentage in 32 games.
With the Pens boasting the advantage up front and in nets while also enjoying home-ice advantage against a road-weary Jets squad, back them on the puck line.
Prediction: Penguins -1.5 (+130)
Over/Under analysis
The Pens have plenty of firepower and have now scored at least five goals in three straight contests. Evgeni Malkin is hitting his stride after a lengthy absence to start the year and their powerplay which was struggling at the start of the season is beginning to click. That could mean trouble for a Winnipeg side that has the second-worst penalty kill unit in the league.
The Jets haven't been filling up the net but they boast a talented top-six group of forwards and welcomed captain Blake Wheeler back to the lineup yesterday after more than a month on the IR. Winnipeg ranks eighth in the league with an expected goals per 60 minutes of 3.15 so they're certainly generated plenty of chances even if they're not always capitalizing on them.
With the Over cashing in five of Winnipeg's last seven games on the road, we're leaning in that direction on Sunday.
Prediction: Over 5.5 (-130)
Best bet
We mentioned Jarry but the Jets have a pretty damn good goalie of their own in Connor Hellebuyck. Unfortunately, the 2020 Vezina Trophy winner isn't getting much help in front of him and that's resulted in plenty of goals for the Jets opposition.
Hellebuyck has a 3.10 GAA in 14 games since the start of December and has allowed at least four goals in seven of those contests. Now he'll either be facing a surging Penguins team on the tail end of a back-to-back or the Jets will give him a much-needed rest.
If that's the case, the inexperienced Eric Comrie will make his first appearance since Dec. 10 and things will be even easier for Sidney Crosby & Co. Take the Over 3.5 on Pittsburgh's team total.
Pick: Penguins team total Over 3.5 (-105)
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