Jets vs. Golden Knights Odds
| Jets Odds | +140 |
| Golden Knights Odds | -165 |
| Over / Under | 6 -110 / -110 |
Is it possible for a team to win the Stanley Cup and get better the next season? Well, Vegas has opened its championship defense with a 9-0-1 run. Winnipeg has already tried to stop Vegas once and failed, losing 5-3 at home on October 19. The Golden Knights will host the Jets on Thursday, so let's dive in a make a Jets vs. Golden Knights prediction.
Winnipeg Jets
What would a Jets win look like? Well, it would probably center around a strong performance from goaltender Connor Hellebuyck. The 30-year-old was the backbone of the team last year as he finished with a 37-25-2 record, a 2.49 GAA and a .920 save percentage in 64 contests. However, he's been inconsistent this season. He allowed 13 goals on 83 shots (.843 save percentage) over his opening three games, then save 91 of 96 shots (.948 save percentage) to lead the Jets to a three-game winning streak from Oct. 21-26. Most recently, Hellebuyck turned aside 23 of 26 shots in a 3-2 overtime loss to the Rangers.
Hellebuyck wasn't in net for Winnipeg's previous contest against Vegas, so if you're wondering why things could be different this time, he's the most obvious answer. Sure, he hasn't been reliable this year, but he has the potential to be one of the league's top goaltenders by the time the dust settles on the 2023-24 campaign.
But what is this ends up being one of his bad nights? The Jets will probably lose, but they would still have a slim path to victory. Winnipeg doesn't have a star studded cast of forwards — none of its players are among the top 50 in the scoring race — but it does have a deep one. Nine different forwards have provided at least two goals through nine contests. That's helped put the Jets into a four-way tie for 13th in scoring with an average of 3.22 goals per game.
Vegas Golden Knights
Is that deep attack enough to break through the Golden Knights? Adin Hill has been outstanding with a 2.11 GAA and a .923 save percentage in six contests. Logan Thompson has been just as good, posting a 2.20 GAA and a .930 save percentage in four games.
They've been enough to mask what's been a problem in Vegas — the defense. In terms of expected goals allowed, the Golden Knights went into Wednesday's action ranked 31st with 22.36, per Moneypuck. That's a bit of a warning sign because if Hill and Thompson cool off, the Golden Knights could be in some trouble. But for now, times are good.
And it's not just the goaltending that's dominant. William Karlsson is playing some of his best hockey since 2017-18, scoring three goals and 11 points through 10 contests. Jack Eichel has been nearly as good with three goals and 10 points in the same span. Additionally, they typically play on different lines, giving the Golden Knights a balanced attack.
To make matters better: Vegas has a third line that's just as effective. Mark Stone and Chandler Stephenson have combined to provide four markers and 15 points. The Jets have impressive offensive depth, but Vegas can easily match them and negate that potential advantage.
Jets vs. Golden Knights
Betting Pick & Prediction
After a 9-0-1 start, it's no surprise that Vegas is seen as a heavy favorite to beat Winnipeg at home. A bet on the Jets means counting on Hellebuyck to have a stellar night, which happens, but feels like a roll of the dice given his recent play.
Instead, with the over/under being at just 5.5 goals, I'm going to recommend the over. These teams feature strong goaltending, but their offenses are also substantial. That should make this a decently high-scoring game, similar to what we saw in the previous meeting.
Pick: Over 5.5 Goals |
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