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- What: Western Conference NHL Playoffs – Round 1 – Game 3
- Who: Winnipeg Jets vs. Colorado Avalanche
- Date: Friday, April 26, 2024
- Location: Ball Arena in Denver, CO
- Time: 10:00 p.m. ET
- How to Watch: TNT, TruTV, MAX, ALT
One of the higher-scoring series in the first round of the 2024 NHL Playoffs heads to Denver for Friday’s Game 3, with the team’s tied 1-1. In Game 1 of the Western Conference playoff matchup between the Winnipeg Jets and the Colorado Avalanche, the Jets downed the Avalanche 7-6. On Tuesday night, Colorado evened things up, beating the Jets 5-2. Game 3 takes place on April 26 at Ball Arena, the home of the Avalanche.
The Jets made the 2024 NHL Playoffs by finishing second in the Central Division and the Western Conference behind the Dallas Stars. Winnipeg had a 52-24-6 record. The team went 27-11-3 at home and was 25-13-3 on the road.
The Avalanche finished one spot behind the Jets in the division with a 50-25-7 record. The club was the best in the NHL on home ice in the regular season at 31-9-1. Colorado had a road record of 19-16-6.
Before we look at the betting breakdown for Game 3 of the Western Conference NHL playoff series between the Winnipeg Jets and the Colorado Avalanche, check out our guide to betting on the 2024 NHL Playoffs and our tips for betting on the NHL.
Winnipeg Jets vs. Colorado Avalanche betting picks – Game 3
 | Puck Line | Money Line | Total |
| Winnipeg Jets | +1.5 (-180) | +140 | Ov 6.5 (-109) |
| Colorado Avalanche | -1.5 (+160) | -157 | Un 6.5 (-107) |
Winnipeg Jets betting breakdown
After being eliminated by the Vegas Golden Knights in the first round last year, the Winnipeg Jets did their best to add scoring to the roster. The team added 12 goals to their season total in 2024 while reducing their goals against by 26. The team’s goal differential soared from plus-22 to plus-60. Winnipeg finished the 2024 regular season with 13 players netting 10 or more goals. That number was eight in 2023.
All eyes will be on Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck in Game 3. Hellebuyck, who had the second-best save percentage in the NHL regular season (.921) and the fourth-lowest goals against average of 2.39, has allowed 10 goals on 77 shots in the two games against the Avalanche. Hellebuyck, who finished last year’s postseason with a 3.44 GAA and a .886 SV% after posting regular season numbers of 2.49 (GAA) and .920 (SV%), has a 5.04 GAA and a .870 SV% in the two games he has played for the Jets in the 2024 playoffs. Yes, the Jets have allowed far too many shots on goal against the Avalanche, but for a player who is expected to be a front-runner for the Vezina Trophy, Hellebuyck must play better in net.
On a positive note, six players have scored a goal for the Jets so far in the series against the Avalanche. However, the team has allowed an average of 39 shots per game in the postseason. That number needs to be reduced in a big way if the Jets hope to pick up a win in Colorado’s barn in the next two games of this Western Conference series.
Colorado Avalanche betting breakdown
The Colorado Avalanche did not play well against the Winnipeg Jets during the 2024 regular season. Winnipeg swept Colorado in that season series 3-0 and outscored them 17-4. What made things more worrisome for the Avalanche was that the Jets trounced them 7-0 in the third to last game of the 2024 regular season. In Game 1 of the 2024 playoffs, the Avalanche showed that they could get shots on net and score, taking 46 shots and netting six goals, but the team lost 7-6 in that game. The Avalanche had a better result in Game 2, scoring five times on 32 shots.
Colorado’s goaltender Alexandar Georgiev allowed four goals on 15 shots in the 7-0 loss to the Jets late in the regular season. He did not look good in Game 1 of the 2024 playoffs, surrendering seven goals on 16 shots. However, the 28-year-old, who is in his second year with the club, got the support of the coaching staff and his teammates after that loss, and he bounced back in Game 2, making 28 saves on 30 shots in a winning effort.
With the series heading to Colorado for Game 3, the Avalanche have some favorable numbers on their side. The club was the best home team during the NHL regular season, with 31 victories. They had a plus-60 goal differential, which was second-best in the league, and scored the most goals per game (4.2). Further, the team had the third-best power play (27.9%) in the league.
Best bets for Game 3 between Winnipeg Jets and Colorado Avalanche
Goaltending is a question mark for both teams heading into Game 3, but one thing that is not a question is how well the Avalanche play on home ice. They were fantastic at Ball Arena during the 2024 NHL regular season, and I look forward to that carrying over into the playoffs. The betting pick is for the Colorado Avalanche to beat the Winnipeg Jets in Game 3 of their Western Conference Series.
It’s hard to fathom the number of goals these teams have combined for in the first two games (20), but the betting pick for Game 3 is for the Jets and Avalanche to combine for fewer than 6.5 goals.
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