Winnipeg Jets at Montreal Canadiens Betting Preview/Player Prop

The North Division of the National Hockey League has been hit hard by COVID-19 of late, and that has really affected some schedules for division teams. The Montreal Canadiens and Winnipeg Jets will square off on Thursday night, and both teams are close to full strength.

Winnipeg comes into this game with 49 points on the year, which has them in third place in the North. The Jets have been playing solid hockey of late, but this will not be an easy matchup on the road in Montreal.

The Canadiens have been dealing with a small COVID-19 outbreak in recent weeks, and it has affected their play on the ice. Montreal is currently in fourth place in the North with 43 points, and this team needs to go on a nice run.

The Montreal Canadiens are the betting favorites at -125 for this matchup with the Winnipeg Jets.

Jets Great on Special Teams

The Winnipeg Jets do a number of things really well this season, but their play on special teams really sets them apart from most teams in the league. Winnipeg is converting on 25 percent of their power-play chances while also killing off 80 percent of their own penalties.

Center Mark Schiefele leads the team with 30 assists and 45 total points, and he really makes this offense work well. The Jets are scoring 3.2 goals per game, but they haven’t been explosive as they are capable of in recent weeks.

Winnipeg is allowing nearly 2.7 goals per game, and they are looking to clean things up on that end of the ice. Goaltender Connor Hellebuyck has been solid for much of the season, but he will be facing a great offensive attack in this game.

Canadiens Limiting Scoring Chances

The Montreal Canadiens have been doing a great job of scoring goals lately, but this team is one of the better teams in the NHL and slowing down opponents. Montreal is allowing just 2.5 goals per game, and they can slow down the Jets on Thursday night.

Montreal is averaging 3.1 goals per game, but that number has slowed down a bit in recent weeks. Tyler Toffoli leads the team with 19 goals and 30 points, but there are plenty of other scoring options on this roster.

The Canadiens are looking to become a better team on the power play as they are converting just 21 percent of the time. Montreal has the pieces in place to become an explosive offensive team.

Canadiens Control Jets in Win

Both the Jets and Canadiens are looking to build up some momentum for a stretch run, and this should be a game that is tight throughout. Winnipeg and Montreal have both been scoring goals of late, but it will be the defensive ability of the Canadiens that makes a difference in this matchup.

I don’t expect much separation, but the home team will get the decisive goal at some point late in this game. Bet the Montreal Canadiens -125 over the Winnipeg Jets on Thursday night.

Player Prop

Tyler Toffoli Over 0.5 Total Points (-130)

While the Canadiens are mired in a 2-4 stretch right now, it hasn’t been because of a lack of production from veteran winger Tyler Toffoli.

Toffoli has picked up points in three straight contests and has seven points over the last six games, including a 3-point outburst against the Jets on March 15.

Overall, Toffoli leads the Habs in points (30) and goals (19).

With fellow winger Brendan Gallagher out on the lineup with a thumb injury, Toffoli should be called upon more to fill the void created in the absence of Gallagher’s 14 goals and 9 assists.

In the rematch against Winnipeg tonight, we’ll take Toffoli (-130) to have another big night and go Over his 0.5 Points total.

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