The Minnesota Wild and the Winnipeg Jets couldn’t be trending in more opposite directions right now.
The Wild come into this game having won four out of their last five games, while the Jets have lost six out of their last seven overall.
Minnesota has recorded back-to-back shutouts, if you discount the shootout "goal" allowed to Calgary in a 1-0 defeat on Tuesday, so this is going to be an uphill battle for Winnipeg.
Find out my best bet in our free NHL picks and predictions for Wild vs. Jets on Wednesday, March 8.
Wild vs Jets best odds
Wild vs Jets picks and predictions
This game has a ton of meaning in terms of playoff implications, as both the Wild and the Jets are trying to catch the Dallas Stars for first place in the Central Division. Unfortunately for Winnipeg, they appear to be behind the eight ball in this spot.
The Wild have actually dominated the first two meetings between these teams this season, outscoring the Jets by a combined tally of 10-2. Filip Gustavsson was in net for both of those affairs. Marc-Andre Fleury figures to get the nod in this spot instead, with Gustavsson having worked just last night, but Minnesota has been getting incredible goaltending as of late from both of their netminders.
Matt Boldy has the Wild team lead in points vs. the Jets this year with four, followed closely by Kirill Kaprizov and Mats Zuccarello at three points apiece.
Minnesota will be playing the second leg of a back-to-back, but that isn’t a concern with how well this team is playing, especially on defense. They've allowed only four true goals over their last five games.
The Jets have been incredibly inconsistent over their last 10 games, going 2-6-2 in that span. Goaltender Connor Hellebuyck has been horrendous in his last three starts, skating to a 5.12 GAA and a .854 SV%. This is certainly his worst stretch of hockey this season.
Despite a heartbreaking loss to the Calgary Flames in a shootout last night, I think the Wild can continue to ride their momentum and take advantage of a Jets team that is on the struggle bus.
My best bet: Wild moneyline (+105 at BetMGM)
Looking to do some NHL betting? Here are two of the best bonuses* available:
A) New users at FanDuel can get a no-sweat first bet of up to $1,000! Sign Up Now
B) New users at DraftKings can bet $5 and get $200 in bonus bets! Sign Up Now
*Eligible USA locations only. Also, check out our full list of best sportsbook promotions for 2023.
21+. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER
Wild vs Jets moneyline analysis
The Wild have really started to come into their own after having a very inconsistent beginning to the season. But the narrative around this game isn’t about how strong they have been, it’s more about how poorly the Jets are playing. They haven’t shown many signs of getting out of this funk either.
The Jets have allowed 14 goals in their last three games, which is very uncharacteristic of them, since they have been a Top 10 defensive team all season.
Winnipeg's offensive production has dried up, with leading scorer Mark Scheifele finding the back of the net only twice in his last seven games, and Kyle Connor and Pierre-Luc Dubois each going goal-less in their last three overall.
Minnesota probably should have won their game last night, as they had an overtime goal waved off for being offside.
Marc-Andre Fleury will be the likely starter, and he has been at the top of his game lately, winning his last two starts and skating to a .935 SV% in that span.
Fleury should be able to get his team back in the win column.
Wild vs Jets Over/Under analysis
The Wild have been as good as they’re ever going to be when it comes to playing defense in their recent stretch of games, allowing just four goals in their last five overall. But to the point, the goal scoring hasn’t necessarily been there either, so they are going to need to get their act together offensively. Nine goals in a five-game span doesn't normally result in a lot of wins in today's NHL.
Times are certainly tough for Winnipeg at the moment, and not only at even strength, but also on the man advantage. They have only converted on two of their last eighteen attempts on the power play, and face a Minnesota penalty kill that's eighth in the league while only allowing one power play goal in their last 10 contests.
The Wild and Jets are more in the middle of the pack when it comes to scoring goals (26th and 18th, respectively), so I don’t expect such a high-scoring affair in this one. I’ll side with the Under, even at a low line of 5.5.
Wild vs Jets betting trend to know
The Jets are 1-6 SU in their last seven games. Find more NHL betting trends for Wild vs Jets.
Wild vs Jets game info
| Location: | Canada Life Centre, Winnipeg, MB |
| Date: | Wednesday, March 8, 2023 |
| Puck drop: | 7:30 p.m. ET |
| TV: | Bally North, Sportsnet |
