Red Wings vs. Jets Odds
| Red Wings Odds | +128 |
| Jets Odds | -154 |
| Over / Under | 6.5 -104 / -118 |
With just three NHL games on Wednesday, the Detroit Red Wings and Winnipeg Jets will kick things off with a matchup at the Canada Life Centre.
On top of having the home-ice advantage, the Jets are the hotter side right now as they have generated points in seven of their last eight games. On the other hand, the Red Wings are looking to get back on track after managing just one win in their last seven games.
This will be the second meeting of the year for the two cross-conference foes. The Jets took an easy 4-1 decision at Little Caesars Arena back on Oct. 26 in the first matchup.
Find out why you should expect another relatively low-scoring affair in my Red Wings vs Jets NHL preview and prediction below.
Detroit Red Wings
If there's one word to describe the Red Wings this season, it's “streaky.” Through 31 games, Derek Lalonde's club has already had three stretches of at least three consecutive wins — including a five-game streak early in the season.
However, if you include overtime losses, they also have three three-game losing streaks so far in Motown. Two of them have happened in the last seven games, sandwiched around a lone win over the St. Louis Blues on Dec. 12.
It’s strange that Detroit’s recent struggles have coincided with Patrick Kane's arrival on the team — though it would be a stretch to suggest that he is the root issue. The 35-year-old has generated four points in seven games, with three of those points coming on the power play, and he is averaging 19:25 a game in a third-line role.
Since Kane's arrival, the Red Wings have had to manage several key personnel losses. They have dealt with Dylan Larkin's devastating injury, David Perron's subsequent suspension and, more recently, injuries to both Ville Husso and Alex Lyon, who are classified as week-to-week.
Larkin returned from his head injury in Monday's 4-3 loss to the Anaheim Ducks, which was great news. While Perron is appealing his suspension, Wednesday will mark the sixth game since he was suspended, and it's unlikely that anything will be amended before puck drop in Winnipeg.
For the year, Detroit has averaged 3.55 goals scored and 3.19 goals against. During the last seven games, the offense has dwindled to 2.71 goals per game, and the goals against have swelled to 4.00.
If there's a sliver of good news, it's that the three most recent losses have all been by just one goal. Additionally, the overall numbers for their last remaining healthy goaltender, James Reimer, are pretty decent. He has a .907 save percentage and 0.3 Goals Saved Above Expected at 5-on-5.
Detroit is going into a stretch of three games in four nights before the holiday break, but Thursday is a day off, so expect Reimer to get the nod against the Jets.
Winnipeg Jets
The Jets have not been without their fair share of challenges — most recently, a knee injury that will keep leading goal-scorer Kyle Connor on the sidelines for at least six weeks. While the Jets have also gone through two three-game losing streaks this season, they're currently on a 6-1-1 heater that has helped them keep pace with the Stars and Avalanche atop the Central Division.
Winnipeg's success always starts in net. Connor Hellebuyck is having another great year, with a .916 save percentage and 12.4 Goals Saved Above Expected at 5-on-5, just a hair behind NHL leader Thatcher Demko. Monday's 3-2 overtime loss to Montreal marked the first time in 11 appearances that Hellebuyck allowed more than three goals in a game, and Laurent Brossoit has contributed solid backup performances when called upon.
Winnipeg has also stepped up the offense in recent games — even without the sharpshooting Connor. However, special teams have gone cold. The power play has connected just once in 18 attempts over the last seven games, and the Jets have given up at least one goal while shorthanded in each of their last five games.
Red Wings vs. Jets
Betting Pick & Prediction
The Jets have had much more success than the Red Wings lately, and the oddsmakers agree. Winnipeg opened at -155 on the moneyline for Wednesday's game, giving the team implied odds of winning of just over 60%.
That price seems about right.
Last week, the Jets dished out a couple of multi-goal beatdowns against their important Western rivals from Colorado and Los Angeles, but most of their games have been more tightly contested.
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While some observers think that scoring can spike as players get distracted with the holiday break drawing closer, this doesn't look like that sort of game. In addition to Hellebuyck being razor sharp, the Jets are also missing their best scorer, and that has slowed their power play. Reimer has proven himself capable of holding down the fort in net for Detroit.
For the best value on this game, buck the trend and back Under 6.5.
Pick: Under 6.5 (-115 at PointsBet | Play to -130)
