NHL Odds, Expert Pick & Prediction: Jets vs. Avalanche (October 19)
David Berding/Getty Images. Pictured: Colorado Avalanche player Mikko Rantanen
- Winnipeg heads to Colorado as a heavy underdog on Wednesday night.
- The Jets have the talent this year but have struggled a bit early in the season.
- Below, Jonny Lazarus explains why the defending-champ Avalanche could spark another high-scoring game.
Jets vs. Avalanche Odds
| Jets Odds | +180 |
| Avalanche Odds | -225 |
| Over/Under | 6.5 (-115 / -105) |
| Time | 8 p.m. ET |
| TV | SN1 |
The Winnipeg Jets head into Colorado as pretty significant underdogs against the defending Stanley Cup Champions. The Jets didn't have a great showing in their previous game in Dallas, and the Avalanche have picked up right where they left off last season.
Both teams have pretty dangerous players upfront, and I'd say this is a subpar goaltending battle. The Avalanche offense has been very productive in its first three games, and I think we might see another game with a ton of goals.
Winnipeg Jets Due for Offense?
The Winnipeg Jets are going to be a very interesting team to follow this season. They have a ton of talented forwards, including Kyle Connor, Blake Wheeler, Mark Scheifele and Nikolaj Ehlers.
However, this team just hasn't been able to put it together yet. Scheifele has gotten off to a very hot start this season, scoring three goals in the team's first three games, and they will need him to keep it going tonight against a very difficult opponent.
Connor Hellebuyck had a flaky season last year but has looked very solid in the blue paint in his first two starts. Hellebuyck is 1-1 thus far, but he is skating to a .929 SV% and a 2.50 GAA, but he hasn't faced a team as offensively gifted as the Avalanche yet.
The under has hit in the Winnipeg Jets' first two games, so I would say that they are due for an offensive outburst, and the players know that they will need to score some extra goals in order to compete with the Avalanche.
Colorado Avalanche
The Avalanche haven't really missed a beat to start the season as they try to chase back-to-back Stanley Cup Championships.
In their first three games, the Avs have scored a combined 14 goals. Colorado is generating a ton of scoring chances and is currently skating to a 54.98% expected goals rating and a 2.96 goals for above expected.
The big guns are getting it done thus far for the Avs as Nathan MacKinnon is leading the way with two goals and five assists in the first three games.
As a team, the Avs currently rank third in the league, averaging 4.67 goals per game, and their power play unit has been nearly unstoppable, scoring at a 50% rating on the season.
Colorado doesn't have the best goaltending tandem in the league, Alexandar Georgiev will most likely be the starter tonight. Georgiev is off to a decent, not great, start. He has a .911 SV% and a 2.51 GAA, and he isn't very consistent, so this could be a night where he allows multiple goals.
Jets vs. Avalanche Pick
In recent meetings between these two teams, the over has hit four out of five times when the game has been played in Colorado.
All three of the Avs games have gone over this season, and with the way their offense is playing, I don't see them slowing down. I don't have a ton of faith in Georgiev, so I can see the Jets' star players having a strong game, as well.
Neither of these teams really plays a defense-first style of game. so I think this one could be wide-open, up-and-down fast-break kind of hockey.
I have a ton of faith in the Avalanche offense to perform, and I truly think the Jets can put a couple home on Georgiev.
Pick: Over 6.5 (-115 at BetMGM)
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