My betting prediction today is supported by one of my NHL betting systems called “Goal Drought” which is designed to provide a lucrative betting angle. I'm referring to the Winnipeg Jets visiting the Penguins in Pittsburgh.
How does this system work?
If the visiting team has lost their last two games by three goals or less and they come into the duel that we have today with odds of over 1.80, then we have to bet on this team.
However, I don't follow my systems blindly, so I always research deeper to see if it's worth betting on or not.
In today's games, two teams meet this criterion. But one of them I particularly like is the Jets. On January 24th and 27th, they initially lost 1-0 in overtime against the Maple Leafs, who they also defeated 4-2 a few days later.
The Jets' odds tonight are currently around +100 in American format or 2.00 in decimal format.
So in this situation, we have to bet on the visiting team, the Winnipeg Jets, in today's game against the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Loss of altitude
Not long ago, jets flew at high altitudes, if I may use that expression. From December 30th to January 20th, they recorded an impressive winning streak, winning 10 out of 11 games during that period. But just before the All-Star break, the Jets took a nosedive with a three-game losing streak. A loss to the Bruins was preceded by two straight losses to the Leafs.
I believe they are ready to recover from this much-needed break.
During the same period, the Penguins recorded five wins and as many losses. They are coming off an overtime win against the Canadiens, but prior to this game they had lost three straight, falling to the Vegas Knights, Arizona Coyotes and Florida Panthers.
Good news for the Jets, though. Mark Scheifele is expected to return to action after recovering from an injury. The Jets are much better when Scheifele is in the lineup because he adds power to the offense. Before his injury, Scheifele had scored 41 points, including 14 goals.
The arrival of Sean Monahan
The Jets also made a very good acquisition in Sean Monahan in the transaction with the Habs.
In Montreal he showed a very good performance with 13 goals and 35 points. His arrival was supposed to bring reinforcements.
Getty Images via AFP
However, I have one concern. In their last meeting against the Penguins, the Jets had lost their last four games. In addition, Sidney Crosby's gang have won 16 of their last 20 meetings.
However, the Jets are a much better team this season, especially on the road. They have a record of 14 wins, five losses and three overtime losses. In the previous two seasons, their away performance was below 50%.
One of the main reasons I favor the Jets in this matchup is their ability to stifle their rivals' offense. The defense is effective and has not conceded more than three goals in 35 of the last 37 games. Of course, this is largely thanks to their goalkeepers. They have been remarkable so far.
Winnipeg should send Connor Hellebuyck in front of the cage to face Crosby and Co. In addition to his two shutouts, he has a record of 23 wins, 9 losses and three overtime losses this season. He has an average of 2.20 goals allowed per game and an efficiency rating of 0.928.
At +100 odds, I believe the Jets represent excellent value and I'm confident they can get the job done against the Penguins.