Avalanche Favored in Huge Division Clash With Jets
Jets vs Avalanche Betting Leans on the Hosts, Colorado
The Winnipeg Jets and Colorado Avalanche should get used to each other because they will likely meet in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. The winner of Saturday’s game will hold a home-ice advantage. The Jets vs Avalanche betting odds favor the host, Colorado to win its NHL-leading 31st home game of the season.
Winnipeg has won their first two meetings this season, outscoring Colorado 10-4 in these games. The Jets have won five of the last seven meetings with the Avalanche. And it will look to sustain its success as high-scoring winger Mikko Rantanen is questionable to play for Colorado.
Look at today’s NHL predictions. Colorado is priced at -145 to win Saturday’s Central Division showdown with Winnipeg at +125 to sweep the regular season series.
Colorado is favored at home against Winnipeg for the ninth consecutive game with the Avalanche winning five of the previous eight matchups as the home favorite against Winnipeg.
It is tied for third at +800 in the odds of winning the Stanley Cup with Winnipeg coming in 11th at +1600.
Read on for more about one of the heavier Saturday games per playoff implications.
Jets vs Avalanche 
Records: Winnipeg Jets (49-24-6), Avalanche (49-24-6)
Day/Time:
Location: Ball Arena, Denver, CO
Streaming: Altitude, ESPN+
Jets Soaring At the Right Time
The Jets are playing some pretty solid hockey these days even if it is unlikely to catch the first-place Dallas Stars. Winnipeg’s five-game winning streak is tied for its second longest of the season and it has moved into a tie for second in the division with Colorado.
It was quite the turnaround as Winnipeg ended March with six straight losses. But in its most recent game, Winnipeg got 24 saves from Connor Hellebuyck to prevent the Stars from clinching the Central Division title with a 3-0 win.
Only the Pittsburgh Penguins are averaging more goals per game in April than the Jets. Gabriel Vilardi leads the way with four goals while Kyle Connor, Mark Schiefele, and Nikolaj Ehlers each have scored twice. Keep that in mind when looking at the Jets vs Avalanche betting odds.
Six of Winnipeg’s last nine hockey games against Western Conference teams have gone over the total as a result.
Nate Continues to Be Great for the Avalanche
Nathan MacKinnon has had a season for the ages with the Avalanche. He already has a franchise record of 137 points. In Colorado’s most recent game, he scored three goals to join Joe Sakic, Milan Hedjuk, and current teammate Mikko Rantanen as the only Avalanche players with at least 51 goals in a season. He also had an assist to give him 86 and that matches the franchise record set by Peter Forsberg during the 1995-96 season. The Canadian is aiming for the NHL records this season.
The Hart Trophy favorite has been delivering on hockey player prop picks all season long especially at home where he has three straight multi-point efforts.
MacKinnon has a hand in all four goals that Colorado has scored against Winnipeg this season with a goal and three assists. Keep that in mind when looking at the Jets vs Avalanche betting odds.
The total has gone over in five of Colorado’s last six games.
Last Meeting
In a bit of questionable scheduling, the division rivals met twice in less than two weeks in December and haven’t played since.
Gabriel Vilardi scored twice as Winnipeg jumped out to a 5-1 lead on the way to the 6-2 victory even though the Avalanche outshot the Jets 32-25.
The game went over the six-goal total on a goal by Colorado defenseman Jack Johnson midway through the third period.
Jets vs Avalanche Betting Preview
With the same record and just three games left to play, this feels like a playoff game. Winnipeg and Colorado could be locked into meeting in the first round at some point this weekend.
Forward Nino Niederreiter is out for Winnipeg while forwards Rantanen and Miles Wood are iffy for the Avalanche.
Colorado is 44-21-5 as a favorite this season while Winnipeg is 9-13-3 as the underdog. Remember this when looking at NHL games to bet on today. The Avalanche are also 23-16 against the puck line (ATS) at home while Winnipeg is covering in 21 of its first 40 road games.
Just 15 of the Jets’ road contests have gone over the total. However, that could change with the total set at six goals for this matchup.
Seven of Winnipeg’s last 10 games played in April went over the total while Colorado’s last six games against Western Conference teams went over the total.
The Jets look to become the second hockey team from the Western Conference to win 25 road games this season. Winnipeg has won eight of its last 12 games on the road.
Colorado has won nine of its last 12 home games against Winnipeg and it is hard to pick against the Avalanche in this matchup.
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