The Anaheim Ducks have swept the Winnipeg Jets in the regular season. They’re on the verge of doing the exact same thing on the Jets again, as Anaheim aims to advance to the Western Conference semifinals with a win on Wednesday. Will the Ducks send Winnipeg to an early vacation? Or will the Jets finally have liftoff in this series? Read on for more about this game below. You can also click here for our preview of Game 4 of the series between the Pens and Rangers.
[sc:NHLArticles ]Anaheim Ducks vs. Winnipeg Jets Betting Preview
Series Scores & Schedule
Game 1 — April 16, Winnipeg Jets 2 at Anaheim Ducks 4
Game 2 — April 18, Winnipeg Jets 1 at Anaheim Ducks 2
Game 3 — April 20, Anaheim Ducks 5 (OT) at Winnipeg Jets 4
Game 4 — April 22, 9:30 PM ET, Anaheim Ducks (-275) at Winnipeg Jets (+235); total: 5.5— view all NHL lines
Game 5 — April 24, Time TBD, Winnipeg Jets at Washington Capitals
Game 6 — April 26, Time TBD, Anaheim Ducks at Winnipeg Jets
Game 7 — April 28, Time TBD, Winnipeg Jets at Anaheim Ducks
Betting on the Anaheim Ducks
The Ducks sure do love to put up a show after the second intermission. Anaheim scored a goal late in the third period and another in overtime to win Game 3 of the series, 5-4. The Ducks are now 7-0 in their last seven meetings with Winnipeg.
[sc:NHL240 ]With Rickard Rakell’s game-winning goal in overtime, Anaheim now has seven total goals past the second intermission in this series. Anaheim has trailed the Jets going into the third period in all games this series, but has managed to win it all—thanks to the Ducks’ ability to pick up their play late in those contests. Prior to Rakell’s goal, Ryan Kesler netted the game-tying goal in the third period.
Kesler has proven to be the offensive threat the Ducks thought they got when they traded for him last June. Thus far in the series, Kesler has collected two goals and four assists, providing the team the desired offensive depth beyond Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry. Kesler finished the regular season third in goals (22) and points (47). Getzlaf and Perry, however, remain as the Ducks’ top offensive options. Getzlaf didn’t score in Game 3, but has a goal and three assists to show in the first round matchup with the Jets. Perry, meanwhile, paces the team with three goals, which includes his second period goal in Game 3.
The Ducks’ offense will have to be as effective on Wednesday to give goalie Frederik Andersen (playoffs: .923 SV%) some cushion. With John Gibson (upper body) likely out for the duration of the first round, Andersen may once again find himself in between the pipes for Anaheim this coming Wednesday.
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Betting on the Winnipeg Jets
There’s a saying in sports that a playoff series never really begins until the home team loses. The problem for the Jets, however, is that it’s also close to ending if they can’t find a way to stop the rolling Ducks.
The special teams have been a glaring weakness for Winnipeg in this series. The team has gone scoreless in seven power play opportunities through the first two games, while allowing Anaheim to go 3-for-7 on the man advantage. That said, the Jets’ special teams have finally shown signs of life in Game 4, wherein they tallied their first man advantage goal of the series and kept Anaheim’s power play in check (0-for-3 PP).
With the Ducks seemingly finding a way to score late-game goals, all eyes will be on goalie Ondrej Pavelec in Game 4. That is if Paul Maurice will not replace him with rookie net minder Michael Hutchinson. But Game 4 being too critical for Winnipeg, Maurice will likely stick with the seven-year veteran Pavelec, who has allowed 11 goals on 103 shots faced in this series for an unspectacular .893 save percentage.
Winnipeg may enter Game 4 minus defenseman Dustin Byfuglien, who may be suspended for his punch to Corey Perry in Game 3.
Winnipeg is 6-4 in its last 10 home games.
Writer’s Prediction
Winnipeg (+235) wins, 3-2.
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