Vancouver Canucks vs Winnipeg Jets Betting Picks

Winnipeg is in strong UNDER territory on the total. The UNDER is 10-3-1 in the Jets' last 14 games. Winnipeg has yielded two or fewer goals in four of its last five games. During this time frame, the Jets are holding their opponents to an average of two goals a game. U.S. Olympic hero Connor Hellebuyck is likely to get the start in net. Hellebuyck started the season slowly, but has rounded into his elite form. He has a 2.73 goals-against average and a .901 save percentage in 40 games this season. The Jets play with a lot of defensive confidence when Hellebuyck is in goal. Vancouver lost, 3-2, to the Jets in its first game back from the Olympics on Feb. 25. Vancouver has the worst defense in the NHL. The Canucks' offense, though, isn't much better, ranking second-to-last in scoring. Vancouver had only managed two or fewer goals in nine of 10 games before defeating the Blackhawks, 6-3, in Chicago last night. The Canucks did that against Chicago backup goalie Arvid Soderblom. Take the UNDER.

Winnipeg has beaten the Canucks nine of the past 10 meetings and 11 of 15 road games, including a 5-3 win on Nov. 11, the only meeting this season. Vancouver has lost 17 of 19 and 12 of 14 at home, as it is looking at a rebuilding project. The Jets plan on letting Olympics superstar Connor Hellebuyck get some rest following his stellar performance in Milan, and Eric Comrie will get the start. Comrie has won his past three starts with a 1.00 goals-against average and a .960 save percentage. Nikita Tolopilo is probable for Vancouver, and he is 3-3-1 with a 3.04 GAA, and he is looking at a heavy workload tonight. The Canucks are just 13-31-5 as underdogs, and they are last in the NHL, allowing 3.68 goals per game. Take the Jets on the puck line.

Winnipeg plays the second of a three-game trip. They're on a 5-4 run losing as chalk of -222, -135, and -190. Vancouver has a winning home mark and plays its third straight at home. The defense is fourth in penalty killing. The Canucks are on an 11-9 run, including beating Calgary, 4-3, as an underdog, and the Kings (3-2) as a +163 dog, plus wins over Colorado, Nashville, St. Louis, and Toronto as underdogs of +135, +115, +120, and +125. They lit up Chicago on Saturday, 6-2, and were flat the next day against Utah. I expect a stround bounce-back effort tonight against their old Smythe Division rival. Play Vancouver.