NHL Odds, Preview, Prediction: Jets vs Penguins (Tuesday, February 6)
(Photo by Jonathan Kozub/NHLI via Getty Images) Pictured: Mark Scheifele.
Jets vs. Penguins Odds
| Jets Odds | -108 |
| Penguins Odds | -111 |
| Over / Under | 5.5 -115o / -105u |
Here's everything you need to know about Jets vs. Penguins on Tuesday, Feb. 6 — our expert NHL prediction and pick.
Tuesday's tilt marks the first of two meetings this week, and this season, between the Winnipeg Jets and Pittsburgh Penguins. For both clubs, it'll be their first outing since Jan. 27. With the NHL All-Star break in the rearview mirror, every point is of the utmost importance, especially for these two teams as they jockey for playoff positioning.
Let's dig into the NHL odds and make a Jets vs. Penguins prediction and pick.
It was a fruitful All-Star break for the Jets. Not only is top forward Mark Scheifele set to return from a lower-body injury that sidelined him for six games, but Winnipeg also began loading up for what should be a deep playoff run, acquiring center Sean Monahan from the Montreal Canadiens for a first-round pick.
The reinforcements come at the perfect time, as the Jets hit a bit of a skid heading into the hiatus. After rattling off eight consecutive wins, Winnipeg lost four of six games before the break. On the season, though, the Jets still own the NHL’s third-best points percentage, unexpectedly morphing into one of the league’s juggernauts.
Winnipeg’s calling card is its defensive play, led by goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, who ranks second in the NHL in GAA and GSAx and is the current favorite for the Vezina Trophy.
As a team, the Jets allow a league-low 2.3 goals per game, and their .925 save percentage is No. 1 in the NHL. Before conceding four goals to the Boston Bruins on Jan. 22, Winnipeg had gone a ridiculous 34 consecutive games without allowing more than three goals.
Offensively, the Jets will look for a second-half scoring uptick with the addition of Monahan. Their current offensive metrics are middling, as they sit 15th in the league with 3.15 goals per game. The Jets' 2.63 xGF/60 at 5-on-5 ranks 11th, but they are 20th in HDCF/60. Winnipeg's power play hasn't helped either, as it ranks 24th.
Luckily, the Jets are finally healthy up front, and coach Rick Bowness seems to be pushing all the right buttons this year. Thus, perhaps we can expect some offensive improvement down the stretch.
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The Penguins are admittedly a difficult team to crack. Despite a disappointing 22-17-7 record at the All-Star break, this revamped Pittsburgh squad is well within striking distance for third place in the Metropolitan Division, just five points behind the Philadelphia Flyers with four games in hand.
Unsurprisingly, Pittsburgh’s core is still getting it done. Its five leading scorers are Sidney Crosby, Jake Guentzel, Evgeni Malkin, Erik Karlsson and Kris Letang. Crosby, in particular, is enjoying a vintage season, scoring 27 goals through 46 games.
The Penguins’ underlying 5-on-5 offensive numbers are still excellent: third in the NHL in xGF/60 and seventh in xGF%. And they have even gotten strong goaltending from Tristan Jarry, who owns a .913 SV% and is ninth in the NHL with 14.93 GSAx.
But the wins just haven’t been there the way they've been in years past. That’s because Pittsburgh has been held back by what was supposed to be perhaps its greatest strength: the power play.
On paper, the Penguins have what should be arguably the NHL's most lethal man-advantage unit. But somehow, Pittsburgh's power play is the league’s second worst, clicking at just 13.1%. Those struggles are among the most inexplicable developments of this NHL season.
The Penguins' 5-on-5 defense could certainly use some improvement, too. Their 2.61 xGA/60 is tied for the 19th-best mark in the league.
If the results don’t improve quickly, Pittsburgh will be faced with some difficult decisions, such as what to do with Guentzel's expiring contract. Don't be surprised if the Penguins blow this thing up in a few weeks.
Jets vs. Penguins
Betting Pick & Prediction
I was all over the Jets moneyline at +102 when these odds opened, but now at -104, I'll pivot to the 60-minute moneyline for some added value.
Winnipeg is the better team and it should have some extra juice with Scheifele returning and Monahan making his debut. The Jets have the defense and goaltending to slow down Pittsburgh's offense, and they have enough offensive firepower to get some pucks past Jarry. Winnipeg has also been excellent on the road this year with a 14-5-3 record.
I'm taking the Jets to win this one in regulation.
Pick: Jets 60 Min Moneyline (+145 at FanDuel | Play to +130)
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