Winnipeg Jets will host St. Louis Blues in the first game of the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs opening round on Saturday. The Jets finished the regular season as the top team in the Western Conference and are heading into Round 1 with a strong momentum of four wins in their last five games. The Blues, on the other hand, secured the second wild-card spot in the West after a decisive 6-1 victory against the Utah Hockey Club in their last regular-season game.
The game is scheduled to start at 6 p.m. ET at Canada Life Centre in Winnipeg. Betting odds favor Winnipeg, with a money line of -185, while the over/under for total goals is set at 5.5. The Jets are also -1.5 on the puck line with odds of +147. Experts from proven models have provided NHL predictions for this game.
Expert Picks for Jets vs. Blues Game 1
Here are some top recommendations for the Jets vs. Blues game on Saturday:
Blues +1.5 Puck Line
Despite the Jets winning three out of four games against the Blues this season, St. Louis managed to keep two of these games within a one-goal margin. One notable game was on February 22nd at Enterprise Center, where St. Louis rallied to tie the game and force overtime, ultimately losing in a shootout. Predictive models suggest the Blues are likely to cover the +1.5 puck line in over 60% of simulations.
Over 5.5 Total Goals
Connor Hellebuyck, who led the NHL with a 2.01 goals-against average this season, has only recorded one shutout in his recent eight starts. St. Louis has seen the total goals exceed 5.5 in five of their last six games and has scored against Winnipeg in each of their four encounters this season.
Kyle Connor to Score Anytime
Kyle Connor was Winnipeg`s leading scorer in the regular season, ranking seventh in the league with 41 goals. He has scored one goal and provided two assists in four games against the Blues this season and comes into the playoffs with three goals in his last four games.
