PREMIUM
NHL Game of the Week (Rogers' 10* NHL) >> Final Play of 1st Half!
(NHL) Winnipeg vs. Chicago,
Money Line: -157.00 Chicago (Home)
Result: Loss
Money Line: -157.00 Chicago (Home)
Result: Loss
The set-up: The 22-25-4 Winnipeg Jets travel to Chicago on Thursday to take on the 30-15-5 Blackhawks. Chicago's 65 points are the second-best total in the West (Wild have 67 points) and over on the East, only the Caps and blue Jackets have earned more points than Chicago. However, the sub-.500 Jets have allowed just two goals in winning all three m previous meetings this season with the Blackhawks.
Winnipeg: Despite their success against Chicago, the Jets could use a victory entering the All-Star break after back-to-back home defeats. In fact, Winnipeg has dropped six of eight after falling 4-3 to the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday. Bryan Little scored twice and rookie star Patrik Laine posted an assist in his first game after missing eight with a concussion. "It was nice to get back on the ice, and be able to play instead of watching the game from the stands," the second overall pick in the 2016 NHL draft said Tuesday. Despite the layoff, Laine is still among the rookie scoring leaders with 38 points (21 goals, 17 assists).
Chicago: The Blackhawks are putting together another excellent season and should be among the favorites (surely in the West) to capture their fourth Stanley Cup championship since 2010. Head coach Joel Quenneville said Wednesday that Scott Darling would start in goal against the Jets over Corey Crawford, who allowed four third-period goals -- two of them 30 seconds apart to Tyler Johnson -- in Tuesday's 5-2 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning. Darling is 12-4-2 with a 2.21 goals-against average and coming off his second shutout of the season. He stopped 30 shots on Friday in Chicago's 1-0 road victory over the Boston Bruins.
The pick: The Jets have kept goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (2.82 GAA & .907 save percentage) on the bench the past four games in favor of veteran Ondrej Pavelec, who has not settled the Jets' shaky situation in goal. Pavelec has a 3.31 GAA in those four games, with an .896 save percentage. Hellebuyck was in goal for the three earlier wins over Chicago but it's expected that Pavelec will be in goal, tonight. Either way, I'll make Chicago a 10* play.
Winnipeg: Despite their success against Chicago, the Jets could use a victory entering the All-Star break after back-to-back home defeats. In fact, Winnipeg has dropped six of eight after falling 4-3 to the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday. Bryan Little scored twice and rookie star Patrik Laine posted an assist in his first game after missing eight with a concussion. "It was nice to get back on the ice, and be able to play instead of watching the game from the stands," the second overall pick in the 2016 NHL draft said Tuesday. Despite the layoff, Laine is still among the rookie scoring leaders with 38 points (21 goals, 17 assists).
Chicago: The Blackhawks are putting together another excellent season and should be among the favorites (surely in the West) to capture their fourth Stanley Cup championship since 2010. Head coach Joel Quenneville said Wednesday that Scott Darling would start in goal against the Jets over Corey Crawford, who allowed four third-period goals -- two of them 30 seconds apart to Tyler Johnson -- in Tuesday's 5-2 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning. Darling is 12-4-2 with a 2.21 goals-against average and coming off his second shutout of the season. He stopped 30 shots on Friday in Chicago's 1-0 road victory over the Boston Bruins.
The pick: The Jets have kept goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (2.82 GAA & .907 save percentage) on the bench the past four games in favor of veteran Ondrej Pavelec, who has not settled the Jets' shaky situation in goal. Pavelec has a 3.31 GAA in those four games, with an .896 save percentage. Hellebuyck was in goal for the three earlier wins over Chicago but it's expected that Pavelec will be in goal, tonight. Either way, I'll make Chicago a 10* play.
