Jets vs Panthers Prediction: Florida Looks to Extend Winnipeg’s Losing Streak

The Winnipeg Jets are riding a seven-game losing streak into Sunrise, and the Florida Panthers beat them 5-1 just three days ago.

Quick take:

• Pick: Florida Panthers moneyline
• Why: The Jets are 0-5-2 in their last seven, their power play has stalled, and Florida just beat them 5-1 behind three power-play goals.
• The number to watch: Winnipeg’s power play is 2-for-18 at home and went 0-for-14 over the five games before Tuesday’s loss.

Friday night at Amerant Bank Arena is a rematch, and on paper it is a lopsided one. The Panthers (7-4-2) wrapped up a four-game road trip by beating Winnipeg 5-1 at Canada Life Centre on Tuesday, and they are 5-2-0 over their last seven games and 6-4-0 over their last ten.

The Jets (4-6-3) opened the season 4-1-1 and have not won since. They dropped a 6-4 decision at Tampa Bay on Thursday night, their seventh straight loss, and now travel to face the same team that handed them the sixth one. Puck drop is 7 p.m. ET.

The Market Sees a Mismatch

Florida is a heavy favorite, with the moneyline sitting between -218 and -231 depending on the book and Winnipeg priced between +185 and +189. The total is 6.5, and the puck line has Florida at -1.5, which tells you the market expects a Panthers win but not necessarily a blowout. To compare prices before you bet, our live NHL odds page tracks current lines across books.

Recent Form

The form and head-to-head data below show the contrast between a team that has won five of seven and one that has not won in two weeks.

Showing 10 of last 10 meetings

Why the Jets Keep Coming Up Short

Winnipeg’s problems are easy to find. The Jets are scoring 2.33 goals per game while allowing 3.00, the power play converts at 18.2 percent, and the penalty kill sits at 74.2 percent. That last number is a bad one to carry into a building where Florida just went 3-for-5 with the man advantage.

Kyle Connor is still doing his part, leading Winnipeg with 10 goals and 14 points, and Mark Scheifele had three assists in the Tampa loss. The depth behind them is thin, with Vladislav Namestnikov and defenseman Josh Morrissey both on injured reserve. Stuart Skinner has a .899 save percentage and a 2.97 goals-against average, and he has not been able to stop the bleeding.

Florida scored three times by the 10:18 mark of the first period in Tuesday’s 5-1 win, and Winnipeg’s power play is just 2-for-18 at home this season.

That early fragility is the real concern for the Jets. When they fall behind, they have not shown they can climb back, and Florida has made a habit of striking first.

The Panthers are not at full strength either. Aleksander Barkov and Brad Marchand are both out, and starting goalie Jacob Markstrom is still sidelined after being hit by a puck in practice, with a return expected next week. Akira Schmid has filled in well, winning four of his five starts and making 24 saves on Tuesday, though his .885 save percentage is nothing special.

What keeps Florida dangerous anyway is the Tkachuk brothers. Matthew Tkachuk leads the team with 20 points, including 16 assists, and he had four assists in the last meeting. Brady Tkachuk, acquired from Ottawa in a June trade, leads the Panthers with eight goals and has 15 points. Together they have 29 points over the past seven games, and defenseman Seth Jones has 14 assists of his own. Carter Verhaeghe scored twice in the Tuesday win and has been a power-play weapon too.

Prediction and Best Bet

Florida wins this one. Winnipeg is short on bodies and confidence, it is facing a team that just beat it by four, and the power-play gap is the difference-maker. The Panthers do not need Barkov or Markstrom to handle a team that cannot end its slide.

The pick:

1. Prediction: Panthers 4, Jets 2
2. Best Bet: Panthers on the moneyline

The price is steep at roughly -220, so it is worth shopping for the best number, perhaps with a DraftKings promo code bonus, but the straight pick is Florida to win.