Winnipeg Jets vs Colorado Avalanche Prediction, Preview and Odds - 04/26/2024

Game Time: 10:00 pm ET, Friday, April 26, 2024

Venue:  Ball Arena, Denver, CO

Where to Watch:  TNT, MAX

DraftKings:  Moneyline:  Jets +140, Avalanche -166; Over/Under:  6.5 goals

Bet365:  Moneyline:  Jets +140, Avalanche -165; Over/Under:  6.5 goals

BetMGM:  Moneyline:  Jets +140, Avalanche -165; Over/Under:  6.5 goals

Winnipeg Jets:  52-24-6 (2nd place, Central Division)

Colorado Avalanche:  50-25-7 (3rd place, Central Division)

Do not miss out on our expert handicapper analysis! Brian Bitler is on a HOT STREAK in the NHL on a 10-3 NHL RUN for +$7,190 PROFIT! Make sure you check out his picks and many more from the expert handicappers featured in the Shop Picks section.

Winnipeg Jets:  9-1-0 last 10

Colorado Avalanche:  4-5-1 last 10

The Jets are entering this game with 110 points, a 52-24-6 record overall, and they were 25-13-3 in their road games this regular season where they will be in this game. They are entering this game off a loss against the Colorado Avalanche in their last game, losing that one at home 5-2. David Gustafsson and Mark Scheifele each scored 1 goal for them in that game. Kyle Connor, Brenden Dillon, Neal Pionk, and Gabriel Vilardi each led the team in assists with 1 while Nikolaj Ehlers and Sean Monahan each led the team in shots on net in that game with 4. Connor Hellebuyck was the starting goalie in that game and he allowed 4 goals on 31 shots with 27 saves and a .871 sv percentage. Their offense has scored 259 goals this season averaging 3.2 goals per game and their defense has allowed their opponents to score 199 goals against them allowing 2.4 goals per game.

The Avalanche are entering this game with 107 points, a 50-25-7 record overall, and they were 31-9-1 in their home games this regular season where they will be in this game. They are entering this game off a win against the Winnipeg Jets in their last game, winning that one on the road 5-2. Artturi Lehkonen, Josh Manson, Valeri Nichushkin, Zach Parise, and Miles Wood each scored 1 goal for them in that game. Cale Makar led the team in assists with 2 while Valeri Nichushkin led the team in shots on net in that game with 5. Alexandar Georgiev was the starting goalie in that game and he allowed 2 goals on 30 shots with 28 saves and a .933 save percentage. Their offense has scored 304 goals this season averaging 3.7 goals per game and their defense has allowed their opponents to score 254 goals against them allowing 3.1 goals per game.

The current betting odds have the Avalanche listed as a favorite in this game according to Draftkings Sportsbook. This is game 3 of a 7 game series between the 2nd seeded Jets and the 3rd seeded Avalanche from the Central Division for Round 1 of the NHL Western Conference playoffs. This series is all tied up 1-1 after the Avalanche won game 2 of this series on the road. The Avalanche won game 2 convincingly with a 5-2 win on the road and so far they have looked like the better team in the series as they were right in game 1 that they lost, losing that game 7-6. Their offense has kept them alive to start this series and now they are in a great situation going back home for game 3 with the home advantage back on their side. The Avalanche have also looked really good on their home ice all season with their 31-9-1 home record which is one of the best home records in the entire NHL this season. The Jets have been a good road team this year, but they have also been one of the best defensive teams in the NHL all season which hasn't panned out well for them in these first 2 games. For a team that allowed less than 200 goals all season which was one of the best in the entire NHL, they have already given up 11 goals in the first 2 games of this series. The Jets don't have the offense to score goals at the rate the Avalanche do and without their solid defense and goaltending in this series, the Jets really have nothing going for them here. The Avalanche have the playoff experience from winning the Stanley Cup in recent years and they will take advantage of their chance to flip the home games in this series and take a series lead here. The best way to place a bet here is on the Avalanche to win this game. 

Jets Avalanche Prediction:  Our NHL Pick for Friday, April 26, 2024 (10:00 pm ET start time) is Avalanche 5 Jets 3.

Don't miss our champion handicappers free picks and expert hockey picks today. And if you enjoyed this Winnipeg Jets Colorado Avalanche prediction, be sure to drop by every day for our weekly NHL predictions and previews.

Winnipeg Jets: 16-4 (+10.1 units) on the moneyline after playing 4 consecutive home games. 55-35 (+14.7 units) on the moneyline after playing a game where 7 or more total goals were scored. 9-0 OVER in the 3rd game of a playoff series. 6-3 OVER revenging a home loss versus an opponent of 2 goals or more.

Colorado Avalanche: 12-15 (-13.7 units) on the moneyline off a win by 3 goals or more over a division rival. 52-36 (-8.7 units) on the moneyline after scoring 5 goals or more in their previous game. 30-19 OVER after one or more consecutive overs. 19-8 OVER off a win by 3 goals or more over a division rival.

Winnipeg Jets:  M. Barron (C) Early May - Lower Body.

Colorado Avalanche:  J. Annunen (G) Ques Fri - Illness. S. Girard (D) Out Indefinitely - Concussion. J. Drouin (LW) Out indefinitely - Lower Body. L. O'Connor (RW) out for season - Hip. P. Francouz (G) out for season - Groin. G. Landeskog (LW) out for season - Knee.

“I think we need some more zone time. We were just too quick on a lot of our plays. Getting shots blocked. They did a good job getting into lanes.” - Kyle Connor after their loss against the Avalanche in game 2 of this series on Tuesday.

“They showed so much support to me over the last couple of days. A very rough first game, obviously. I just felt so much trust in the room from everybody and I appreciate it so much. It helped me reset, to know that they have got my back. I know I’ll help them out as well during this playoff.” - Alexandar Georgiev after their win against the Jets in game 2 of this series on Tuesday.

LW Connor, Kyle

C Scheifele, Mark

RW Vilardi, Gabriel

LD Morrissey, Joshua

RD DeMelo, Dylan

G Hellebuyck, Connor

LW Parise, Zach

C MacKinnon, Nathan

RW Rantanen, Mikko

LD Toews, Devon

RD Makar, Cale

G Georgiev, Alexandar

Points: M. Scheifele (72)

Goals: K. Connor (34)

Assists: J. Morrissey (59)

GAA: L. Brossoit (2.00)

Points: N. MacKinnon (140)

Goals: N. MacKinnon (51)

Assists: N. MacKinnon (89)

GAA: J. Annunen (2.25)

Coaches:

Winnipeg Jets: Rick Bowness (2nd season)

Colorado Avalanche: Jared Bednar (8th season)