PREMIUM
**$20 TUESDAY** >> Rogers' ICE BREAKER! 14-4 Overall L5 Days!
(NHL) Los Angeles vs. Winnipeg,
Money Line: -173.00 Winnipeg (Home)
Result: Loss
Money Line: -173.00 Winnipeg (Home)
Result: Loss
The set-up: The Winnipeg Jets conclude what's been a 'marathon' of a homestand when they welcome the LA Kings to Bell MTS Place on Tuesday night. Winnipeg has gone 6-2-1 so far and currently owns a 35-15-9 record, with the team's 79 points putting them in a first-place tie in the Central Division with Nashville. Meanwhile, the 32-22-5 LA Kings are involved in a tight battle for one of the final two spots in the Pacific Division, behind the first-place Vegas Golden Knights. They are also very much alive as a wild card in the Western Conference The Kings conclude their seven-game road trip tonight, coming off a a 3-1 victory at Chicago on Monday, leaving them 3-3-0 on the trek, so far.
LA Kings: The Kings jumped up from below the playoff line to third place in the Pacific Division with Monday's win. Defenseman Dion Phaneuf was one of the key contributors last night, as he scored his second goal in three games since being acquired from Ottawa, where he netted just three goals in 53 contests. Captain Anze Kopitar leads the team in goals (25) and points (63), despite being kept off the scoresheet Monday for only the fourth time in his last 20 games. Torrey Mitchell and Andy Andreoff joined Phaneuf in the goal column Monday after the trio entered the contest with a combined total of nine tallies on the season.
Winnipeg: The Jets are tied with Nashville for the Central Division lead but have played one more game. They cruised to a 7-2 triumph over Florida on Sunday, as rookie Kyle Connor scored twice to become the third member of the team to hit the 20-goal mark this season (21). Mark Scheifele was named the NHL's Third Star of the Week on Monday after registering three goals and four assists in three games. He missed 16 contests with an upper-body injury before returning Feb. 9 but is tied with Patrik Laine (team-high 27 goals) for second on the team in scoring with 46 points. Blake Wheeler, who tops the club with 67 points, is coming off back-to-back three-point performances and has recorded two goals and seven assists during the five-game streak he carries into Tuesday's game.
The pick: It's the end of a long road trip for the Kings and the end of an even longer homestand for the Jets, which clearly gives Winnipeg the edge. No reason to buck Winnipeg at home, where the Jets are 23-5-2, outscoring opponents by about 1 1/2 goals per game (3.83-to-2.37). Make the Jets an 8* play.
LA Kings: The Kings jumped up from below the playoff line to third place in the Pacific Division with Monday's win. Defenseman Dion Phaneuf was one of the key contributors last night, as he scored his second goal in three games since being acquired from Ottawa, where he netted just three goals in 53 contests. Captain Anze Kopitar leads the team in goals (25) and points (63), despite being kept off the scoresheet Monday for only the fourth time in his last 20 games. Torrey Mitchell and Andy Andreoff joined Phaneuf in the goal column Monday after the trio entered the contest with a combined total of nine tallies on the season.
Winnipeg: The Jets are tied with Nashville for the Central Division lead but have played one more game. They cruised to a 7-2 triumph over Florida on Sunday, as rookie Kyle Connor scored twice to become the third member of the team to hit the 20-goal mark this season (21). Mark Scheifele was named the NHL's Third Star of the Week on Monday after registering three goals and four assists in three games. He missed 16 contests with an upper-body injury before returning Feb. 9 but is tied with Patrik Laine (team-high 27 goals) for second on the team in scoring with 46 points. Blake Wheeler, who tops the club with 67 points, is coming off back-to-back three-point performances and has recorded two goals and seven assists during the five-game streak he carries into Tuesday's game.
The pick: It's the end of a long road trip for the Kings and the end of an even longer homestand for the Jets, which clearly gives Winnipeg the edge. No reason to buck Winnipeg at home, where the Jets are 23-5-2, outscoring opponents by about 1 1/2 goals per game (3.83-to-2.37). Make the Jets an 8* play.
