Winnipeg Jets @ Edmonton Oilers - March 20, 2025

Thursday night’s matchup between the Winnipeg Jets and Edmonton Oilers at Rogers Place promises to be an intriguing clash as both teams vie for a critical win. The stage is set for an exciting game, especially with the stakes high in this late-season stretch.

Edmonton comes into this contest riding a three-game winning streak after a decisive 7-1 victory in their last home game. Their offensive stats reveal they average 3.2 goals per game, propelled by an impressive shooting percentage of over 10%. With just under 32 shots per game, they demonstrate a consistent ability to generate scoring opportunities, which will undoubtedly put pressure on Winnipeg’s defense.

Conversely, while the Jets boast a slightly higher goal average of 3.5 per game with better shooting efficacy at around 12%, they recently suffered a setback against Vancouver, losing 6-2. This disparity speaks volumes about their recent struggles, particularly when you consider that Winnipeg has gone just 1-4 against the spread in its last five games.

Defensively, both teams have strengths; however, Edmonton is showing vulnerability with a penalty kill percentage of just below 77%, compared to Winnipeg’s slightly better rate of around 79%. Both teams have solid save percentages—Winnipeg at approximately 91.5% and Edmonton at around 89.5%. It’s crucial for both goaltenders to rise to the occasion tonight because even one bad bounce could swing momentum dramatically.

The power play could be key here as well—Winnipeg excels in this department with nearly one power play goal per game and a success rate nearing an impressive 31%. While Edmonton’s power play isn’t too shabby either at over 25%, if the Jets can capitalize on any opportunities given their current form and efficiency advantage, it might just tip the scales in their favor.

However, I foresee Edmonton taking this match-up primarily due to their recent form and home ice advantage—but not without some significant resistance from Winnipeg. They are capable of keeping things close based on their superior offense output overall throughout the season despite some recent inconsistency.

When it comes down to it though—while I expect Edmonton to emerge victorious tonight—the prediction stands that Winnipeg will cover the spread given how competitive they’ve been historically against them even during down periods. Furthermore, looking closely at both teams’ trends points towards staying under that total line of six; recent outings suggest that tighter defensive structures might reign supreme as each team strives for playoff positioning.

In conclusion: I’m calling it for Edmonton tonight with a final score suggesting perhaps something like a tight 3-2 finish or even closer—a low-scoring affair where defenses tighten up but ultimately yielding enough chances for Edmonton to secure that much-needed victory while allowing Winnipeg room to compete fiercely yet still cover those numbers laid out by oddsmakers.