The Minnesota Wild hit the road tonight following a historic win yesterday after putting up 10 goals vs. the Vancouver Canucks. The playoff-chasing Wild will face the Winnipeg Jets tonight who also played yesterday, but to differing results after allowing five unanswered goals in a 6-3 road loss to Calgary.
Even though the Wild put up a 10-pack, they still allowed seven goals, and the Winnipeg offense is starting to break a cold spell. Gabe Vilardi's Overs are also at an all-season high, and it might be time to get back on the top-line winger's NHL player props.
I break down the NHL odds and offer my free NHL picks for the Wild vs. Jets on Tuesday, February 20.
Wild vs Jets odds
Wild vs Jets predictions
The Minnesota Wild offense was on display yesterday afternoon, but let’s not look past the seven goals allowed while both goalies saw action.
Now they have a cross-border trip and will have to decide which of the porous goalies they’re going to start tonight vs. a Winnipeg Jets team that is about to light it up. Marc-Andre Fleury is projected to go today — and he likely will — but the usage yesterday is a little concerning in terms of confidence in net for the Wild.
The Jets have the third-best point percentage since the beginning of January, but a lot of that has been on the backs of its goaltending. Over the last 30 days, the offense has a 4.9% shooting percentage which ranks dead last, and 1.3 points lower than Chicago which sits in 31st place.
The Winnipeg offense had three first-period goals yesterday with newcomer Sean Monahan getting all three of them. The goals dried up after that, but a matchup with the Wild and their 3.50 GAA since January 1 (20 games) should help with the eventual turnaround of an offense that has too much talent to have a sub-5% shooting percentage.
Gabe Vilardi might be the most important piece of this offense. He was the one that carried the scoring while Kyle Connor was out and now he is finding some chemistry with the top line which includes Mark Scheifele.
Yesterday, Vilardi had two helpers, four shots, and a team-high seven shot attempts. He has five points and eight shots over his last two games and his props have been discounted during the Jets’ offensive slump.
Considering his line will be getting the top offensive-zone matchups thanks to the last change, both Vilardi’s Over 2.5 shots (+145) and Over 0.5 points (-105) are in play tonight. Just a month ago, his Over shots was -150 and to get a point was around the same price. If I had to choose one, I’d go with the +145 on his shots.
The Wild’s offense could also keep Winnipeg shooting while the goaltending from tonight’s visitors is not something I’d call intimidating.
My best bet: Gabe Vilardi Over 2.5 SOG (+145 at SIA) and Over 0.5 points (-105 at SIA)
Wild vs Jets same-game parlay
Over 5.5
First period Over 1.5
Not taking a wild swing here as I don't love adding anytime scorers to my SGPs, but I'm backing early goals tonight. Both teams were in action last night so the legs will be fresh and each club will be seeing a backup in net.
Winnipeg is a much stingier team later in games and just yesterday it had a four-goal first period. Both teams have solid top-six groups and the Jets' offense is projected to get better while their defensive metrics at 5-on-5 indicate more goals allowed. Minnesota has hit the 1P Over in 60% of its games this season. I also like both teams to score in the first period at +165.
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Wild vs Jets moneyline and Over/Under analysis
Winnipeg opened as a -160 home favorite and has gotten a little shorter as of this morning. The total opened at 6.0 and is teetering on the Under. There is a chance that this hits 5.5 but I’d assume, after yesterday’s 10-7 game for the Wild, that the Over will get hit hard at 5.5.
The Jets went with Connor Hellebuyck yesterday and he allowed more than three goals for the first time in 31 starts. That means the Jets, who sit comfortably in third in the Central, will turn to Laurent Brossoit tonight.
The backup last played on February 8 where he allowed four goals to the Flyers in a 4-1 loss, but the No, 2 had given up exactly one goal in three straight starts before that. He was 5-1-1 with a 1.43 GAA and a .954 SV% in his previous seven starts. His numbers are almost identical to Hellebuyck’s but a regression could be in the cards for the career backup with a 2.72 GAA.
The Jets should have the edge in net with Marc-Andre Fleury projected to start today. However, both goalies saw action yesterday so the goalie blueprint could change today. Fleury made six saves on eight shots in relief yesterday but has made just two starts over the last 30 days.
Winnipeg won both games of a home-and-home at the end of December this year, but Kirill Kaprizov missed one of those games. The top line of Kaprizov, Matt Boldy, and Joel Eriksson Ek have put up 35 total points over the last six games in February.
The Jets’ -155 ML price is indicating about a -135/-130 ML on neutral ice. The Wild are 5-0-1 in February and I wouldn’t be surprised if they took some money today.
The best angle for betting the best number is looking for the Over 5.5 which is popping up this morning. The Jets’ offense is ready to blow up and the Wild’s confidence is about as high as it’s been all year. I’d buy the Over at +100 or better if that total doesn’t move from 5.5.
Wild vs Jets betting trend to know
The Wild have hit the third period game total Over in 16 of their last 21 games (+7.45 Units / 20% ROI). Find more NHL betting trends for Wild vs. Jets.
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Wild vs Jets game info
| Location: | Canada Life Centre, Winnipeg, MB |
| Date: | Tuesday, February 20, 2024 |
| Puck drop: | 8:00 p.m. ET |
| TV: | BSN, BSWI |
Wild vs Jets latest injuries
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