Minnesota Wild vs Winnipeg Jets Prediction, Preview and Odds - 12/21/2024

Game Time: 7:00 pm ET, Saturday, December 21, 2024

Venue:  Canada Life Centre, Winnipeg, MB

Where to Watch:  ESPN+

DraftKings:  Moneyline:  Wild +140, Jets -166; Over/Under:  5.5 goals

Bet365:  Moneyline:  Wild +140, Jets -165; Over/Under:  5.5 goals

BetMGM:  Moneyline:  Wild +140, Jets -165; Over/Under:  5.5 goals

Minnesota Wild:  20-8-4 (2nd place, Central Division)

Winnipeg Jets:  23-10-1 (1st place, Central Division)

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Minnesota Wild:  6-4-0 last 10

Winnipeg Jets:  5-4-1 last 10

The Wild are entering this game with 44 points, a 20-8-4 record overall, and they are 12-2-3 in their road games this season where they will be in this game. They are entering this game off a loss against the Florida Panthers in their last game, losing that one at home 6-1, but this is also the 2nd game of a back-to-back for them with their game against the Utah Hockey Club still to be played on Friday night. In their game against the Panthers, Marco Rossi scored 1 goal for them in that one. Matt Boldy and Kirill Kaprizov each led the team in assists with 1 while Matt Boldy, Marco Rossi, Jonas Brodin, and Ryan Hartman each led the team in shots on net in that game with 3. Marc-André Fleury was the starting goalie in that game and he allowed 6 goals on 33 shots with 27 saves and a .818 save percentage. Their offense has scored 99 goals this season averaging 3.1 goals per game and their defense has allowed their opponents to score 86 goals against them allowing 2.7 goals per game.

The Jets are entering this game with 47 points, a 23-10-1 record overall, and they are 11-3-1 in their home games this season where they will be in this game. They are entering this game off a loss against the Anaheim Ducks in their last game, losing that one on the road 3-2. Mark Scheifele and Gabriel Vilardi each scored 1 goal for them in that one. Kyle Connor led the team in assists with 2 while Kyle Connor, Mark Scheifele, and Mason Appleton each led the team in shots on net in that game with 3. Eric Comrie was the starting goalie in that game and he allowed 3 goals on 31 shots with 28 saves and a .903 sv percentage. Their offense has scored 123 goals this season averaging 3.6 goals per game and their defense has allowed their opponents to score 87 goals against them allowing 2.6 goals per game.

The current betting odds have the Jets listed as a favorite in this game according to Draftkings Sportsbook. The Jets have looked really good in their games this season with their 23-10-1 record overall which leads their division in the West with one of the best records in the entire NHL. They have looked great on their home ice too with their 11-3-1 home record. Meanwhile, the Wild have also looked really good in their games this season with their 20-8-4 record overall which has them in 2nd place of their division in the West with one of the best records in the entire NHL. They have looked great in their road games too, going 12-2-3 in those, but they are coming off a loss to the Panthers in their last one and they haven't looked great lately. They were hot when their defense was playing well, but now they have been giving up more goals and the Jets have been putting pucks in the net all year. The Wild have also had some scoring issues lately and they aren't in a great situation here since they have to play on a back-to-back and travel to Winnipeg after their game on Friday night. The Jets just lost to the Ducks, but they have looked a lot better than the Wild over the last week and they will be looking to bounce back on their home ice here, being the more rested team too. The best way to place a bet here is on the Jets to win this game. 

Wild Jets Prediction:  Our NHL Pick for Saturday, December 21, 2024 (7:00 pm ET start time) is Jets 4 Wild 2.

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Minnesota Wild: 23-42 (-11.6 units) on the moneyline as an underdog. 39-50 (-13.2 units) on the moneyline revenging a loss versus opponent as a favorite. 4-11 (-6.6 units) on the moneyline revenging a home blowout loss vs opponent of 3 goals or more. 29-19 UNDER versus very good teams - outscoring their opponents by 0.5+ goals/game. 32-24 UNDER revenging a same season loss vs opponent.

Winnipeg Jets: 123-85 (+21.7 units) on the moneyline in all games. 91-43 (+23.8 units) on the moneyline as a favorite. 65-37 (+15.6 units) on the moneyline in home games. 69-53 (+14.4 units) on the moneyline against explosive offensive teams - scoring 3+ goals/game. 25-17 UNDER off a road loss. 23-12 UNDER in December games.

Minnesota Wild:  F. Gustavsson (G) Day To Day - Lower-body. Y. Trenin (C) Out - Upper Body. B. Faber (D) Day To Day - Throat. J. Lauko (C) Out - Lower-body. J. Middleton (D) Out - Upper Body. J. Eriksson Ek (C) Out - Lower-body. T. Grosenick (G) Out For Season - Knee.

Winnipeg Jets:  D. Gustafsson (C) Out - Concussion. D. Samberg (D) Out - Foot.

“There’s always concern. For him to still be evaluated, there’s obviously a concern for him. First and foremost, that he is okay because I don’t have that knowledge now.” - John Hynes on the injury to Brock Faber.

“We hadn’t done anything for two periods. Comrie stood on his head, like he’s done this last three or four starts for us. And just not a very good effort.” - Scott Arniel after his team’s loss against the Ducks in their game on Wednesday.

LW Kirill Kaprizov

C Marco Rossi

RW Mats Zuccarello

LD Jonas Brodin

RD Brock Faber

G Marc-Andre Fleury

LW Kyle Connor

C Mark Scheifele

RW Gabriel Vilardi

LD Josh Morrissey

RD Dylan Demelo

G Connor Hellebuyck

Points: K. Kaprizov (48)

Goals: K. Kaprizov (22)

Assists: K. Kaprizov (26)

GAA: F. Gustavsson (2.24)

Points: K. Connor (42)

Goals: K. Connor (19)

Assists: J. Morrissey (27)

GAA: C. Hellebuyck (2.15)

Coaches:

Minnesota Wild: John Hynes (2nd season)

Winnipeg Jets: Scott Arniel (1st season)