Sunday NHL Odds, Picks, Prediction: Winnipeg Jets vs. Pittsburgh Penguins Betting Preview
Darcy Finley/NHLI via Getty Images. Pictured: Tristan Jarry.
- Pittsburgh welcomes a Winnipeg team to town Sunday that’s playing for the second day in a row.
- The Penguins, winners of four consecutive games, are -170 favorites to beat the Jets.
- Tony Sartori breaks down the game below and gives his top pick.
Jets vs. Penguins Odds
| Jets Odds | +150 |
| Penguins Odds | -170 |
| Over/Under | 6 |
| Time | 1 p.m. ET |
| TV | NHL Network |
| Odds via DraftKings. Get up-to-the-minute NHL Odds here. | |
The Jets travel to Pittsburgh on the second half of their back-to-back for a midday showdown. The Penguins have been on fire lately as they search for their fifth straight win.
Can the Penguins continue their stretch of dominant hockey, or will Winnipeg play spoiler?
Jets Could Lack Fuel On Back-to-Back
The Jets come into Pittsburgh after losing 3-2 to the Bruins in Boston Saturday afternoon. This game will be Winnipeg's third in four days, and we could see some tired legs from the skaters in this midday tilt.
The total goals scored have been six or less in three of their four back-to-backs this year. To make matters worse for the Jets offense, star forward Nikolaj Ehlers was just placed on long-term injured reserve. Ehlers is currently the team's third-leading goal-scorer.
In the net, Winnipeg should be going with Eric Comrie. Just a few days removed from COVID protocols, Comrie looks to step back into the rotation as Connor Hellebuyck took the crease yesterday in Boston.
Comrie has been an underrated backup this season, boasting a 0.914 SV%. Among starting goaltenders, Comrie would rank eighth in 5-on-5 goals saved above expected per 60 minutes (GSAx). In his six starts this season, Comrie has yet to allow more than three goals in a game.
Penguins Defense Continues Marked Improvement
Across the ice, we should expect to see Tristan Jarry patrolling the crease for the Penguins. Jarry has been elite this season, rocking a 0.928 SV% and ranking ninth among starting goaltenders in 5-on-5 goals saved above expected per 60 minutes (GSAx).
Pittsburgh traveled to Winnipeg back in November, winning 3-1. Jarry shut them down that night, stopping 30 of 31 shots faced.
The Penguins defense in front of Jarry has also been a big improvement this season. Pittsburgh ranks seventh in the league in 5-on-5 expected goals against per 60 minutes (xGA).
Their special teams should also be able to shut down the Jets in case of penalties, as the Penguins rank first in the NHL in PK%. While big names in this contest like Sid and Malkin may scare bettors away from the under, I think we are getting value due to an underestimation of how good the Penguins are at both ends of the ice.
Penguins vs. Jets Pick
The under has hit in three of the last four meetings between these teams. We are getting value in this number because of a backup starting for the Jets, but Comrie has been more than capable of holding this own this season.
It is no secret how good Jarry is at the other end of the rink as well. The Jets will have to find the energy on the second half of a road back-to-back and their third game in four days to get goals past one of the league's best.
Before the line came out I had this total at 5.5, so seeing the O/U at six seems like a great value play considering all of the variables.
Pick: Total Under 6 (-115) | Would play at 5.5 if plus money
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