Winnipeg Jets Now Heavily Favored to Win Central Division
- The Winnipeg Jets (43-25-4) lead the Central Division
- The Nashville Predators (41-27-5) are second in the division
- The Jets have 10 games left to play while the Predators only have nine remaining
The 2018-19 NHL regular season is winding down and with playoff positions almost finalized, there is an amazing value bet on the board.
2019 NHL Central Division Odds
| Who Will Win the Central Division? | Odds |
|---|---|
| Winnipeg Jets | -220 |
| Nashville Predators | +165 |
| St. Louis Blues | +2500 |
| Dallas Stars | +3000 |
| Minnesota Wild | +15000 |
| Chicago Blackhawks | +75000 |
| Colorado Avalanche | +75000 |
*Odds taken on 03/19/19
Things have changed since the last time we addressed this topic and for what it’s worth it’s now really a two horse race in the Central Division between the Winnipeg Jets and Nashville Predators. That said, even calling it a two horse race is generous. The Jets are overwhelming favorites to win, and at -220 are offering incredible value.
The 2018-19 campaign marks the fifth instance in @NHLJets / Thrashers franchise history the club has recorded at least 90 points in a season. The others:
2017 – 18 (114)
2014 – 15 (99)
2006 – 07 (97)
2005 – 06 (90) #NHLStats #WPGvsLAK pic.twitter.com/xsIiYBczJF— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) March 19, 2019
Predators Running Out of Time
The Predators trail the Jets by one point and have nine games left, while Winnipeg still has 10 games remaining. One point and one less game may not sound like a big deal, but they certainly are with such little time left in the regular season. They do play the Jets one more time, but they also play the Leafs, Blue Jackets, and Penguins twice.
It is an uphill climb for Nashville and paying only +165 isn’t close to the price you’d need to see to find value.
….anyways, here’s Wonderwall 🎶#90sNight | #TORvsNSH | #Preds pic.twitter.com/t8Yu6ARaFd
— Bridgestone Arena (@BrdgstoneArena) March 19, 2019
The Jets are the Better Team
In the playoffs last year the Jets beat the Predators in seven games. This season they carry a lead so far, even if it’s slim. There isn’t much separating the two Western Conference powers, but with Blake Wheeler, Mark Scheifele, and Patrik Laine leading the way Winnipeg is the slightly better squad.
Connor Hellebuyck earned his 30th victory of the season to become the only goaltender in @NHLJets / Thrashers franchise history to post consecutive 30-win campaigns. #NHLStats #CGYvsWPG pic.twitter.com/UvP4yVjmVH
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) March 17, 2019
The Jets rank seventh in goals per game with 3.39, while the Predators sit in the bottom half of the league, scoring only 2.95 per game. Nashville is slightly better defensively, but the gap isn’t nearly as big as the one on offense.
The Jets rank seventh in goals per game with 3.39, while the Predators sit in the bottom half of the league, scoring only 2.95 per game.
The late schedule also favors Winnipeg. In their remaining 10 games they’ll be heavy favorites at least seven times against Anaheim, Dallas, Montreal, Chicago, Minnesota, Colorado, and Arizona. When you think of all the points the Jets have available in front of them, it starts to get pretty difficult to map out a way for Nashville to catch them.
The big thing to focus on here is the value. The Jets are the better team, with a lead and a game in hand and it only costs you -220 to take them to win the Central.
Pick: Jets (-220)
Ryan has been working at TSN for over eleven years, and is now a lead writer and content producer at That's Hockey. Over the years, he's launched and hosted TSN's first NCAAF podcast, The College Football Show, and been featured on the likes of TSN 1050, Sportscentre, and That's Hockey 2Nite.
