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Jets’ Hot Streak Sends Central Division-Title Odds From +1200 to +530

David Golokhov

by David Golokhov in NHL Hockey

Updated Apr 13, 2020 · 9:49 AM PDT

Winnipeg Jets MTS Center
The Winnipeg Jets have won seven of their last 10 games. Are they a good bet to win the Central Division? Photo by Krazytea (Wikimedia) [CC License]
  • The Dallas Stars are 12-1-1 in their last 14 games
  • Colorado started their season 8-1-1 but are just 5-6-1 since
  • The Winnipeg Jets have won seven of their last 10 contests

The race for the top spot in the NHL’s Central Division has been wild ride as a number of different teams have been on a number of different streaks.

In the latest standings the St. Louis Blues are in the top spot with 33 points and now the favorite to win the division.

Are they the best bet or is there value elsewhere?

2019-20 NHL Central Division Odds

Team Odds
St Louis Blues +200
Colorado Avalanche +250
Nashville Predators +400
Dallas Stars +500
Winnipeg Jets +650
Chicago Blackhawks +3300
Minnesota Wild +3300

Odds taken Nov. 22

Blues Odds Inch Down

The Blues odds have inched down a little bit over the last week. On average, they were at +170 about a week ago but now they’re at +210. That’s understandable as they were riding a seven-game winning streak at that point but are now just 2-3 in their last five games.

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The main issue for the Blues right now is their offense, which has been inconsistent. They scored five goals in their win over the Calgary Flames on Thursday but had averaged just 2.4 goals per game over their previous five contests. They’re still waiting on Robert Thomas to perk up as he has just five points in 17 games this season.

Avalanche are Getting Healthy

The Avs 2020 NHL division odds also shifted down as they were at +210 but are now at +250. They’ve been one of the streakier teams in the Central Division as they started the season 8-1-1, then lost five in a row, then won three in a row and are now just 2-2 in their last four games.

It’s worth noting that this team has played four more road games (13) than at home (nine), and they’re a healthy 6-2-1 in Denver. Speaking of healthy, they’re finally getting there as both goaltenders – Philipp Grubauer and Pavel Francouz – are back to full strength. That’s a big key to this team’s success.

Jets Running Hot Right Now

Not much was thought of the Winnipeg Jets when they started the year just 6-7 but they’ve been a completely different team since that point. They have since won seven of their last 10 games.

While their odds have come down from +1200 to +530, I’m still not that excited about them.

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The Jets struggle on their home ice as they’re just 5-5-1 at Bell MTS Place. Also, their offense has been cold to start the year. This team was seventh in the NHL in goals per game last season (3.29) but they’re now down to 25th so far (2.68). We saw this coming a little bit as they lost a couple of key pieces in the offseason.

Value With the Dallas Stars?

Speaking of streaky teams in the Central Division, the Dallas Stars epitomize that. They registered just one win in their first nine games and were on the cusp of firing head coach Jim Montgomery. The Stars entered the season with Stanley Cup aspirations but were an abject disaster through nine games. And then everything turned around.

Since then, the Stars are 12-1-1, which is the best mark in the NHL over that span. They lead the league in goals allowed per game in November (1.75) by a mile as they’re they only team that’s below the 2.00 mark. The next-best team this month is at 2.10.

As for their offense – the aspect of the team that’s long been the Achilles heel – they’re scoring 3.75 goals per game in November, which is the sixth-best mark. 2015 first-round pick Denis Gurianov has given the offense a boost as he looks like he belongs. Meanwhile, Corey Perry has come to life with five points in his last two games.

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The Stars have gone from +920 to +420, but I still see some value here. I have them as the team to beat in this division – especially when their defense and goaltending are performing at this level.

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