NHL betting preview (Dec. 18): Jets vs. Ducks odds
Join Daily Faceoff’s Andy MacNeil as he handicaps Wednesday’s matchup between the Winnipeg Jets and Anaheim Ducks.
Jets vs. Ducks Odds
- Winnipeg Jets Moneyline: -175
- Anaheim Ducks Moneyline: +145
- Puck Line: Jets -1.5 (+140), Ducks +1.5 (-165)
- Game Total: 6 (Over -110, Under -110)
Game odds via Sports Interaction.
Handicapping the Jets (23-10 SU, 17-16 ATS, 14-17-2 O/U)
Winnipeg lost seven of 10 games after a blistering 15-1 start to the season, but the Jets appear to be getting back on track with five wins in their last seven games. On Tuesday, Winnipeg earned its most recent victory, coming from behind to defeat the Sharks 4-3 in San Jose. The win extended starting goaltender Connor Hellebuyck’s unbeaten streak to six games, but the reigning Vezina Trophy winner will get the night off on Wednesday, leaving Eric Comrie to start in Anaheim.
Per Evolving Hockey, Hellebuyck (+25.07) ranks first in goals saved above expected, while Comrie (-1.57) ranks 49th, making it a significant downgrade. The Jets are effectively choosing between the league’s best goaltender and one who has been below average, with Comrie having lost his last three starts. That said, Winnipeg is the third-best offensive team in the league, while the Ducks rank as the second-worst, and the Jets have won eight straight meetings against Anaheim and nine of the past 10 overall.
Additionally, while the Ducks have received solid goaltending from Lukas Dostal and, more recently, John Gibson, they still rank 17th in goals against. Winnipeg, meanwhile, ranks fourth in goals against per 60 minutes, largely due to Hellebuyck’s strong play. Comrie, however, has allowed three or more goals in six of his seven appearances. The Jets are also missing key players in forward Nikolaj Ehlers and defender Dylan Samberg. There’s a chance Ehlers could return on Wednesday, but the emergence of Nikita Chibrikov has given Winnipeg the luxury of patience.
Handicapping the Ducks (11-18 SU, 20-9 ATS, 8-18-3 O/U)
Anaheim recently snapped a five-game skid with a 4-3 overtime win in Columbus on Saturday, the final game of its four-game road trip. The Ducks have had three days to rest since then, which they’ll need, as they’re set to play four games in the next six days, with tough competition ahead. After Wednesday’s game against the Jets, the Ducks will host the Avalanche before traveling to Utah and Vegas, wrapping up before the three-day holiday break.
In other words, things don’t look great for the last-place team in the Pacific Division. Aside from a three-game win streak a month ago, the Ducks haven’t won consecutive games all season and have scored more than two goals in just three of their last 11 games. In fact, they’ve scored three or more goals in only 11 of 29 games this season, which contributes to their ranking of 31st in goals per 60 minutes.
Dostal and, to a lesser extent, Gibson have been solid, but it hasn’t been enough to secure two points with such a lackluster offense. Still, it’s been enough for the Ducks to post a strong 20-9 record against the puck line. Exactly half of Anaheim’s 18 losses have been one-goal defeats, but they are just 2-3 straight-up in home games where their opponent played the previous day or night.
In terms of injuries, the Ducks are without forward Trevor Zegras, who is expected to miss six weeks after undergoing surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee.
Best Bets for Jets vs. Ducks
- Kyle Connor Over 1.5 Points (+155)
- Kyle Connor Anytime Goal (+110)
Winnipeg’s leading scorer, Kyle Connor, has tallied two or more points in four of his last six games and has been a key factor in the team’s dominance in this matchup. Connor has recorded 12 goals and seven assists in 17 career games against Anaheim. As a result, he’s a solid pick to score for the Jets, and while he has 11 multi-point games this season, his current form makes him a decent bet to record at least two points. However, with this game being on the road and the second half of a back-to-back, I’m a little less confident than usual. Therefore, I’m splitting my stake between these two player props instead of placing two full-size player prop bets.