The Winnipeg Jets host the St. Louis Blues on Monday night at Canada Life Centre. Puck drop is set for 7:30PM ET. Winnipeg leads the Central Division with a 52-25-3-1 record, while St. Louis sits in fourth at 43-35-6-1.
St. Louis has won 12 straight games, the longest streak in the NHL this season. Winnipeg previously had an 11-game win streak earlier this year. This will be the fourth meeting of the season between these teams, with Winnipeg winning two of the first three.
WPG Preview – Jets Still Hold First in the Central
Winnipeg is coming off a 4-1 loss to Utah on Saturday night. They gave up three goals in the first two periods and were never able to close the gap. Despite that, the Jets have won four of their last six games and remain in control of the Central Division standings.
Mark Scheifele continues to be the top offensive producer with 38 goals and 800 career points. Kyle Connor and Nino Niederreiter also provide scoring depth. Winnipeg is scoring 3.04 goals per game while allowing only 2.34, one of the lowest marks in the league.
Connor Hellebuyck is expected in net. He has started 60+ games this season and owns a .912 save percentage over his last five. The Jets are strong at home with a 28-6-4 record and allow fewer than 2.5 goals per home game.
STL Preview – Blues Ride Franchise-Best Win Streak
St. Louis beat Colorado 5-4 on Saturday to stretch its win streak to 12 games, a new franchise record. Robert Thomas led the way with four points and now has 19 points during an eight-game streak. The Blues jumped out to a 4-0 lead but nearly gave it away late.
Jordan Binnington is likely to start in goal. He has won three straight and has allowed just six goals over those games. His season numbers include 27 wins and a .902 save percentage. Backup Joel Hofer has also been effective with a 16-7-3 record.
Offensively, the Blues average 2.83 goals and give up 2.99 per game. Their power play is converting on 21.7% of chances while the penalty kill is at 79.2%. The team is 20-14-4 on the road and has covered the puck line in 48 of 84 games this season.
Betting Prediction
Winnipeg is listed as a -165 favorite with a total of 5.5 goals. St. Louis is a +135 underdog, but comes in with the hottest streak in the league. Winnipeg is one of the league’s best home teams and has strong defensive metrics, especially at even strength.
The Blues are playing with confidence, but their defensive play hasn’t been as consistent. Winnipeg’s ability to control the puck and limit shots gives them an edge. Expect a close game, but the Jets should win 3-2 and stay ahead in the division race.
Pick: Jets -165 over the St. Louis Blues.
The Blues finally lose a game. The top team in the Central Division stays at home and knocks off St. Louis in a fun game on Monday night.
