Winnipeg Jets vs Colorado Avalanche Picks and Predictions January 11th 2025

Winnipeg Jets vs Colorado Avalanche January 11th 2025

Planning on watching today’s Avalanche and Jets game? Catch the action at Canada Life Centre in Winnipeg, MB, as the Jets hosts this showdown at 7:00 ET on NHLN. In this division matchup, the Avalanche are favored by -1.5 against the Jets. The over/under for the game is 6 goals.

Sign Up

Colorado vs. Winnipeg Key Information

• Teams: Avalanche at Jets
• Where: Canada Life Centre Winnipeg
• Date: Saturday, January 11th
• Betting Odds COL -114 | WPG -105 O/U 6

The Avalanche Can Win If…

With a 5-2 loss to the Predators, the Avalanche dropped to 26-16-1. The total was set at 6.5 goals, and the combined 7 goals surpassed that mark. Colorado, as the underdog on the puck line, failed to cover.

Colorado took the lead at 17:06 in the second period, but the Predators responded with five unanswered goals. The Avalanche’s defense struggled, allowing two empty-net goals in the third period.

In their 5-2 loss to Nashville, the Avalanche took 30 shots on goal but only scored twice. Cale Makar netted his 5th goal of the season on a power play, while Nathan MacKinnon added his 6th goal, coming late in the third period.

Makar also picked up his 16th assist on MacKinnon’s goal. Earlier, Nathan MacKinnon had assisted on Makar’s power play goal, marking his 14th assist of the season. The Avalanche ended the game with 23 giveaways.

Colorado’s defense gave up five goals to the Predators, including two empty-netters late in the 3rd period. Goalie Justus Annunen made 21 saves with a save percentage of 87.5%. The Avalanche also recorded 15 blocks and 11 takeaways, but their defense struggled after taking a 1-0 lead, allowing Nashville to score five of the last six goals.

• Colorado will look to keep things rolling as they have put together a mark of 2-1 over their past three games. This also includes going 2-1 puck line and an over-under mark of 1-2.
• Through their last ten regular season contests, Colorado has a record of 8-2. This includes going 7-3 vs. the puck line along with an over-under mark of 4-6.

The Jets Can Win If…

Winnipeg improved to 28-12-3 with a 7-4 win over the Lightning. The Jets, favored by -1.5 goals, covered the puck line. The total for the game was set at 6.5 goals, but the teams combined for 11.

After falling behind 2-0 in the first period, the Jets rallied with seven different players finding the net. Winnipeg’s final two goals came with the Lightning’s net empty.

In their 7-4 win over the Lightning, the Jets’ offense saw seven different players find the net, with Vladislav Namestnikov scoring his third goal of the season. Logan Stanley added his first goal, while Alex Iafallo netted his first on a power play. Nikolaj Ehlers picked up his 9th goal, including an empty-netter, and Cole Perfetti scored his 4th, also on an empty net.

Winnipeg took 34 shots on goal and recorded 10 assists. Josh Morrissey contributed two assists, bringing his season total to 13. Mark Scheifele added his 10th assist, while Kyle Connor now has 10 assists on the year.

Defensively, the Jets found themselves in an early 2-0 hole after giving up the first two goals of the game. They also allowed the Lightning to tie the game at 3-3 and 4-4, but ultimately secured a 7-4 victory. Connor Hellebuyck made 26 saves with an 86.7% save percentage. The Jets’ defense also contributed 5 takeaways and 31 hits.

• Winnipeg has put together a record of 1-2 in their last three games (regular season). Across this span, their puck line record sits at 2-1 to go along with an over-under mark of 2-1.
• Over their last ten regular season games, the Jets have gone 5-5 straight up. Across these games, their puck line record was just 6-4, while posting an over-under record of 5-4-1.

The Lean

When it comes to a moneyline wager, I’m going with the Jets to defeat the Avalanche while playing at home. Given the current moneyline odds at -105, I’m placing a wager on the Jets to win outright.

If you’re looking to get a bet down on this matchup, we foresee the Jets winning the underdog. However, if you’re not as confident in the Jets straight-up, we’d still recommend placing a bet on them to cover the puck line.

With an over/under line sitting at 6 goals, we like this game to surpass that mark and recommend getting a bet down on the over.

The Best Expert Hockey Handicappers

Avalanche Look to Close Gap on Central Division-Leading Jets

The Colorado Avalanche, riding high on an 8-1-1 stretch, are poised to tighten the Central Division race as they face the Winnipeg Jets on Saturday night. The Jets, currently clinging to first place, have struggled with consistency, losing four of their last five games (1-2-2). This divisional clash offers a prime opportunity for the Avalanche to gain ground in their quest for dominance.

Avalanche’s Stellar Form

Colorado enters the game with momentum, fueled by consistent performances from key players. Mikko Rantanen continues to be a cornerstone of the team’s offense, recently reaching the 25-goal mark for the fifth straight season. Rantanen’s recent form is electrifying, with 25 points (10 goals, 15 assists) in his last 16 games. He also scored in Colorado’s convincing 5-2 victory over the Jets on New Year’s Eve.

The supporting cast has been equally impactful. Nathan MacKinnon and Logan O’Connor each notched a goal and an assist in Thursday’s 6-1 rout of the Minnesota Wild. Additionally, Jonathan Drouin and Josh Manson tallied two assists apiece, further showcasing the Avalanche’s offensive depth.

Head coach Jared Bednar praised the team’s improvements in response to recent struggles. “We went over some things this morning that were kind of hurting us over the last three games,” Bednar said. “I thought the guys did a nice job implementing what we talked about and correcting some of those mistakes.”

Jets Seek Stability Amid Home Stretch

The Winnipeg Jets, despite their recent slump, remain a formidable opponent. They are midway through an eight-game homestand, where they’ve managed a 1-1-2 record so far. In their latest outing, the Jets fell 2-1 in overtime to the Los Angeles Kings.

Winnipeg’s offense is led by Mark Scheifele, who scored a power-play goal against the Kings and assisted on Gabriel Vilardi’s tally. Scheifele and Vilardi have built strong chemistry, with the duo combining for key plays in recent games.

Defensively, the Jets welcomed back Dylan Samberg, who returned to the lineup after missing 21 games with a broken foot. Samberg logged 22:35 of ice time and blocked two shots in his return, solidifying a defense that relies heavily on his penalty-killing prowess.

Goaltending Matchup: Blackwood vs. Hellebuyck

Both teams boast stellar goaltenders heading into Saturday’s matchup. Mackenzie Blackwood, Colorado’s netminder, extended his point streak to eight games (7-0-1) with 24 saves against Minnesota. His confidence and consistency have been a crucial factor in the Avalanche’s resurgence.

On the other side, Winnipeg’s Connor Hellebuyck is a standout this season, leading the NHL in wins (25) and goals-against average (2.08). Hellebuyck was instrumental in the Jets’ 1-0 victory over Colorado in November, stopping 35 shots. His performance will be pivotal if the Jets are to stifle Colorado’s surging offense.

Key Storylines to Watch

1. Rantanen’s Scoring Streak: Can Rantanen maintain his hot streak and continue to lead Colorado’s charge?
2. Jets’ Home-Ice Advantage: Will Winnipeg rebound and capitalize on their homestand to solidify their lead in the division?
3. Defensive Depth: Both teams have shown defensive vulnerabilities recently. How will adjustments impact the game’s flow?
4. Special Teams Battle: With key penalty killers like Samberg back, will the Jets’ penalty kill hold up against Colorado’s dynamic power play?

What’s at Stake

For Colorado, a win narrows the gap in the Central Division standings, strengthening their push for first place. For Winnipeg, this game represents a chance to halt their skid and maintain their tenuous hold on the top spot.

With both teams featuring elite talent and high stakes, Saturday’s clash promises to be a thrilling showcase of Central Division hockey.