Winnipeg Jets vs Ottawa Senators December 28th 2024
The Senators and Jets are set to face off at 7:00 ET on ESPN+. The Jets will host the game at Canada Life Centre in Winnipeg, MB. The over/under goal line for this matchup is currently at 6 goals, and the Jets are favored by -1.5 vs. the Senators.
Ottawa vs. Winnipeg Key Information
- Teams: Senators at Jets
- Where: Canada Life Centre Winnipeg
- Date: Saturday, December 28th
- Betting Odds WPG -158 | OTT +133 O/U 6
The Senators Can Win If…
Ottawa improved to 18-14-2 with a 3-0 win over the Kraken. The Senators, favored by -1.5 goals, covered the puck line. The total was set at 6.5 goals, but the combined score of 3 fell well short.
All three of Ottawa’s goals came from different players, with Adam Gaudette opening the scoring at 14:32 in the first period. The Senators’ defense held Seattle to 22 shots on goal.
Ottawa’s offense was held to just 23 shots on goal, but they managed to find the net three times in their 3-0 win over Seattle. Adam Gaudette opened the scoring with his 7th goal of the season, while Brady Tkachuk followed with his 7th goal as well. Tim Stützle added an empty-netter, his 6th goal of the year.
The Senators recorded 11 giveaways and were shut out on the power play. They did, however, pick up five assists, with Tim Stützle earning his 10th assist on Tkachuk’s goal.
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Defensively, the Senators were rock solid, allowing 0 goals on 22 shots from the Kraken. Anton Forsberg stopped every shot he faced, finishing with a 100% save percentage. The Senators’ defense also added 2 takeaways, 25 hits, and 14 blocks.
- Spanning across their last three games, Ottawa have gone 2-1. But, they did not perform well vs the puck line in these games, going 1-2. Their over-under record in these matchups was 1-2.
- Across Ottawa’s last ten regular season games, their record sits at 8-2. Their record vs the puck line sits at 5-5 in these matchups, while posting a 1-7-2 over-under mark.
The Jets Can Win If…
With a 7-4 win over the Lightning, the Jets improved to 25-10-1. 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 trailed 2-0 early, but seven different players scored to secure the victory. The Jets took the lead for good with a goal at 12:22 in the third period, and they added two empty-netters to seal it.
Winnipeg’s offense came alive in their 7-4 win over Tampa Bay, with each of their 7 goals coming from different players. Vladislav Namestnikov opened the scoring for the Jets, netting his 3rd goal of the season. Logan Stanley added his first goal of the year, while Alex Iafallo found the net for the first time, scoring on a power play. Dylan Samberg contributed his 3rd goal, and Nikolaj Ehlers scored his 9th, with his goal coming on an empty net. Cole Perfetti closed out the scoring with his 4th goal, also on an empty net.
Josh Morrissey picked up two assists, bringing his season total to 13. Mark Scheifele also added an assist, now with 10 on the year, and later scored his 8th goal of the season. The Jets took 34 shots on goal and recorded 10 assists in the game.
Defensively, the Jets will look to improve after allowing 4 goals to the Lightning, including the first two of the game and another that tied the score at 4-4 in the 3rd period. Connor Hellebuyck made 26 saves with a save percentage of 86.7%. The Jets’ defense also recorded 5 takeaways and 31 hits.
- Through their last three games, the Jets have a record of 2-1. Their strong play has also resulted in an puck line mark of 2-1 (last 3). They had an over/under mark of 1-2 in those same games.
- The Jets have gone 7-3 over their last ten regular season games. Their record against the puck line in this stretch is 5-5 to go along with an over-under mark of 4-5-1.
The Lean
For a moneyline pick, I’m taking the Senators to pick up on a win over the Jets and the road. With the moneyline sitting at +133, I’ll be locking in a bet on the Senators straight-up.
Our projections have the Senators pulling out a win as the underdog. But if you’re not as bullish as we are on the Senators, we’d recommend at least getting a bet down on them to cover the puck line.
If you’re looking at the over/under line set at 6 goals, our prediction is that this game will exceed that mark, and we strongly advise placing a bet on the over.
Senators, Jets Look to Stay Hot as NHL Action Resumes
Two of the NHL’s hottest teams will face off when the Ottawa Senators visit the Winnipeg Jets on Saturday night. Both clubs are aiming to carry their strong recent form into the second half of the season following the league’s holiday break.
Senators Adjust Without Ullmark
The Ottawa Senators’ six-game winning streak ended Sunday with a 3-1 loss to the Edmonton Oilers. Adding to their woes, standout goaltender Linus Ullmark exited with an upper-body injury and will not travel with the team on its five-game road trip.
“His back tightened up, so I felt it was best that he came out,” coach Travis Green said after the game. Ullmark’s absence is a blow, as he had been stellar, posting a 7-0-0 record with a .967 save percentage and a 0.99 goals-against average in his previous seven starts.
The Senators will likely turn to Leevi Merilainen, who earned his first three NHL starts recently, including an overtime win against Vancouver on Dec. 21. Veteran Anton Forsberg, out since Dec. 8 with a lower-body injury, will travel with the team and could be an option soon.
Saturday’s matchup is the fifth of a nine-game road trip for Ottawa. The Senators, currently sitting in a playoff spot for the first time since 2016-17 at the Christmas break, see this stretch as critical.
Jets Thriving Behind Hellebuyck and Offense
The Winnipeg Jets come into Saturday’s game riding a 5-1-1 run, with stellar goaltending and offensive firepower leading the way. Connor Hellebuyck, last season’s Vezina Trophy winner, remains in top form, boasting a league-leading 2.07 goals-against average, a .927 save percentage, and four shutouts.
Offensively, the Jets are thriving as well, with four or more goals scored in six of their past nine games. Mark Scheifele and Kyle Connor became the NHL’s first 20-goal duo of the season during Monday’s 5-2 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs. Scheifele’s hat trick and Connor’s two goals showcased Winnipeg’s potent top line, which also includes Gabriel Vilardi.
“When your top guys can do that, it gets the opposition on their heels,” said Jets coach Scott Arniel. “It certainly leads to lots of success.”
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The Jets boast an imposing 12-3-1 home record and have won four of the last five meetings against the Senators. However, Ottawa managed to win 3-2 in Winnipeg on March 30 last season.
Key Players to Watch
- Ottawa Senators: Forward Tim Stutzle is on the verge of crossing the 40-point mark, with 39 points in 34 games this season.
- Winnipeg Jets: Defenseman Josh Morrissey ranks third among NHL blue-liners with 30 assists in 36 games, solidifying himself as a key playmaker.
What to Expect
Both teams will look to set the tone early in this pivotal matchup. The Jets will aim to leverage their home-ice advantage and Hellebuyck’s elite goaltending, while the Senators will try to maintain their playoff positioning despite Ullmark’s absence. With potent offenses on both sides, the game promises an exciting showdown of surging squads.