Utah Hockey Club vs Winnipeg Jets Picks and Predictions April 5th 2025

Central-Leading Jets Ride Shutout Momentum Into Utah Showdown

With the Central Division title still up for grabs, the Winnipeg Jets hit Salt Lake City on Saturday to face the Utah Hockey Club, carrying the momentum of a commanding shutout win and their eyes firmly set on the finish line.

Winnipeg (52-20-4, 108 points) locked in a playoff spot but can’t let off the gas, holding just a four-point edge over the surging Dallas Stars, who have a game in hand and are riding a seven-game win streak. The Jets made a strong statement Thursday by blanking the Vegas Golden Knights 4-0—snapping an eight-game regular-season losing streak to the defending champs.

Want To Avoid Common Mistakes? Check Out The Expert Betting Guide.

“We really got off, all the lines, the (defense), everybody got running right away… When you can get up a couple of goals like that, it certainly makes them change their game a little bit,”

– Jets coach Scott Arniel on their win over Vegas.

Winnipeg’s success has been tied to quick starts all season. They boast a 32-3-3 record when scoring first, a stat that underscores their ability to control games once they seize momentum.

“The messaging in our room and from (Arniel) is just about the process… take care of that and the results will follow,”

– Jets captain Adam Lowry on staying focused during the playoff push.

Utah (34-30-12, 80 points) finds itself clinging to fading playoff hopes. After a 4-2 loss to the Kings on Thursday, the club now trails Minnesota by nine points for the final wild-card spot with only six games left. The defeat stung after Utah had limited LA to just nine shots through two periods before surrendering two quick goals in the third.

Despite the standings, the message from within the Utah locker room is to keep battling, both for pride and to set a tone for next season.

“If we were in last or first place, you’re always playing for something… These next seven games can give us momentum into the next season,”

– Utah forward Dylan Guenther on the team’s mindset.

Guenther played Thursday with a bubble cage after taking a puck to the face Tuesday, earning nine stitches and two black eyes—a gritty reminder of the grind of an NHL season.

Need NHL Wins Now?

Get Sharp Picks That Beat The Ice!

join now

Both teams are banged up heading into the clash. Winnipeg is monitoring injuries to Nikolaj Ehlers (day-to-day), Rasmus Kupari (concussion protocol), and Gabriel Vilardi (week-to-week), while defenseman Neal Pionk has resumed skating but remains without a return date.

As the Jets continue their push for the division crown, every game—and every point—matters, especially against a Utah team with nothing to lose.

Betting on this late-season matchup? Stay ahead with expert NHL picks and predictions tailored for smart betting during the playoff push.