Winnipeg Jets

Picks

The Jets are on the second half of a back-to-back and will be going with waived netminder Clay Stevenson. The Penguins can score and have started the season with 13 goals in two games. Couple that with the Jets’ power play scoring three goals on Sunday and the Pens going 4-for-8 on the man advantage through two games, and there should be two-way scoring Monday night. I'm playing this to 55%. There are a lot of point combos to look at in this game, too. Evgeni Malkin and Egor Chinakhov are a PP2 point combo I like, while Cole Perfetti and the Jets’ top line are more than likely going to find the scoresheet. Nick Robertson is 2.65x for a point and is playing on the top line with Sidney Crosby and Rickard Rakell. Both teams are profitable to the Over, and this is the game to target for goals on the four-game Monday slate.

Crosby enters tonight tied with Joe Thornton for seventh on the NHL’s all-time assists list with 1,109, and he’s recorded a helper in both games this season. Pittsburgh’s offense is humming with 13 goals through two games, and now gets a Winnipeg team playing its second game in as many nights and third in four days. At -110, I’ll back Crosby to make some history.

Yegor Chinakhov has scored in 18 of 45 regular-season games (40%) since January 1, yet is priced at just 30% to score against a Hellebuyck-less Jets squad. Winnipeg turns to Clay Stevenson in net, who has just five games of NHL experience.

Chinakhov scored in the Pens' season opener against Philadelphia and had a goal overturned against Montreal. His time on ice is up nearly two minutes from last season, and he's scored at a higher rate than any Penguin since being acquired from Columbus.

The Penguins offense has been of the high-octane variety through two games, scoring 13 times. The Jets don't have Connor Hellebuyck between the pipes, as he remains suspended for demanding a trade, leaving Winnipeg vulnerable on the back end. Getting plus money on the Over is the way to go.