Winnipeg Jets vs St. Louis Blues Picks and Predictions December 3rd 2024

The Blues and Jets are set to face off at 8:00 ET on ESPN+. The Jets will host the game at Canada Life Centre in Winnipeg, MB. The over/under for this matchup is currently set at 5.5 goals and the Jets are the -1.5 favorite to win at home vs. the Blues.

St. Louis vs. Winnipeg Key Information

• Teams: Blues at Jets
• Where: Canada Life Centre Winnipeg
• Date: Tuesday, December 3rd
• Betting Odds WPG -209 | STL +174 O/U 5.5

The Blues Can Win If…

With a 4-2 win over the Maple Leafs, the Blues moved closer to .500, now sitting at 11-12-2. St. Louis covered the puck line as underdogs, and the total of 6 goals matched the pre-game line.

After trailing 1-0 in the first period, the Blues responded with four unanswered goals. Three different players contributed to the scoring, with Colton Parayko leading the way with two goals.

Colton Parayko led the way for the Blues with two goals in their 4-2 win over the Maple Leafs. He now has three goals on the season, scoring his second and third in the second period. Parayko added his fifth assist on Pavel Buchnevich’s empty-netter, which was Buchnevich’s fourth goal of the year.

After a scoreless first period, the Blues netted three goals in the second. Jordan Kyrou, who scored his third goal of the season, capitalized on one of the team’s 24 shots on goal. Ryan Suter picked up two assists, giving him three on the year. The Blues ended the game with 14 giveaways.

Defensively, the Blues will look to build off their last game, where they allowed just two goals to Toronto. Jordan Binnington made 35 saves with a 94.6% save percentage. The defense also tallied 3 takeaways and 17 hits. The first goal they allowed came 5:25 into the first period, and the second came at the 6:08 mark of the third.

• St. Louis will look to keep things rolling as they have put together a mark of 2-1 over their past three games. The team has also been excellent vs the spread, going 2-1. Their over-under record in these games was 1-2.
• Across St. Louis’s last ten regular season games, their record sits at 4-6. Their record against the puck line in this stretch is 5-5 to go along with an over-under mark of 3-7.

The Jets Can Win If…

With a 7-4 win over the Lightning, the Jets improved to 18-7-0. Winnipeg covered the puck line as -1.5 goal favorites, and the total of 11 goals easily surpassed the pre-game line of 6.5 goals.

Winnipeg fell behind 2-0 in the first period, but seven different players scored to help them rally for the win. The Jets took the lead for good when Alex Iafallo scored at 15:57 in the third period, making it 4-3.

Winnipeg’s offense was firing on all cylinders in their 7-4 win over Tampa Bay, with seven different players finding the back of the net. The Jets took 34 shots on goal and added two empty-netters, with Cole Perfetti scoring his 4th goal of the season and Nikolaj Ehlers netting his 9th.

Vladislav Namestnikov opened the scoring for the Jets and picked up his 7th assist on Ehlers’ empty-net goal. Josh Morrissey also added two assists, bringing his season total to 13. Winnipeg recorded 10 assists in the game and scored their 4th goal on a power play.

Defensively, the Jets will look to improve after allowing the first two goals of the game and another that tied it at 4-4. Connor Hellebuyck made 26 saves with a save percentage of 86.7%. The Jets’ defense also contributed 5 takeaways and 31 hits.

• The Jets have gone 0-3 over their last three regular season games. In these matchups, they ended with an puck line record of 0-3 and an over-under mark of 1-2.
• Across Winnipeg’s last ten regular season games, their record sits at 4-6. This includes going 4-6 vs. the puck line along with an over-under mark of 3-7.

The Lean

When it comes to a straight moneyline bet, look no further than the Jets. Nevertheless, given the payout of -209, you could also think about incorporating this bet into a parlay.

If you’re looking for my recommendation on the puck line, I suggest taking the Blues to cover. Even if the Jets manage to win outright, this game is expected to remain competitive, and the Blues should cover the puck line.

With an over/under line sitting at 5.5 goals, we like this game to surpass that mark and recommend getting a bet down on the over.

Jets Return Home After Rough Road Stretch

The Winnipeg Jets (18-7-0) are back on home ice after a challenging six-game road trip in which they went 2-4-0, including three straight losses to close the stretch. Winnipeg struggled offensively, managing just five goals over those final three defeats, and aims to rediscover its early-season scoring prowess against the St. Louis Blues.

The Jets started the season hot, boasting a 15-1-0 record fueled by an average of 4.6 goals per game. However, they have cooled off, averaging just 2.3 goals per game in their last nine outings.

A return to the Canada Life Centre might be the perfect antidote. Winnipeg has dominated at home this season, compiling a 9-1-0 record while outscoring opponents 43-22.

Key Performers at Home:

• Mark Scheifele: The Jets’ top scorer thrives in Winnipeg, amassing 16 of his 26 points (10 goals, 6 assists) in home games.
• Connor Hellebuyck: The goaltender boasts a 10-1-1 record with a 1.99 goals-against average and a .929 save percentage against St. Louis since 2020.

Blues Seek Momentum Under New Leadership

The St. Louis Blues (11-12-2) are navigating a transitional period under new head coach Jim Montgomery, who took over on Nov. 19 after being dismissed by the Boston Bruins. Since Montgomery’s arrival, the Blues are 2-0-1 and have demonstrated defensive improvement, allowing just seven goals across three games.

Recent Highlights for the Blues:

• Jake Neighbours: The forward has stepped up offensively, netting four goals in his last seven games, including a dramatic last-second tally to force overtime against Philadelphia on Saturday.
• Dylan Holloway: The winger has been productive under Montgomery, tallying three goals and five points in the last three games.

The Blues, however, will need a strong performance in Winnipeg, where they’ve dropped their last five contests. Goaltender Jordan Binnington, who has a 2.87 GAA this season, has struggled mightily against the Jets, going 0-5-1 in his last six starts with a 3.54 GAA.

Matchup at a Glance

• Jets Offense: Winnipeg’s early success was driven by its potent offense, but inconsistency has crept in. Coach Scott Arniel is calling for a stronger start and sustained pressure throughout.
• Blues Defense: St. Louis has shown renewed focus under Montgomery but faces a stiff challenge against a Jets team that excels at home.
• Key Injuries:
  • St. Louis: Pavel Buchnevich (lower body) remains day-to-day, while veteran defenseman Nick Leddy (lower body) may return during the team’s four-game Canadian trip.
  • Winnipeg: Adam Lowry and Cole Perfetti will look to provide secondary scoring behind Scheifele and Kyle Connor.

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What to Watch For

1. Jets’ Offense: Can Winnipeg reignite its scoring touch after struggling on the road?
2. Blues Under Montgomery: Will St. Louis continue to trend upward under its new coach?
3. Goaltending Duel: Connor Hellebuyck’s dominance against the Blues vs. Binnington’s shaky history against the Jets.

Prediction

The Jets’ dominant home form and Hellebuyck’s strong play against St. Louis should help Winnipeg snap its losing streak in a close contest.

Jets 3, Blues 2