Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the NHL match.
The Winnipeg Jets' unbeaten run of eight games came to an end in their matchup with the Toronto Maple Leafs (4:6) on Tuesday night. Despite this setback, the Jets still top the division and maintain their lead in the Western Conference. Their next opponents are the Detroit Red Wings, who have suffered two consecutive losses.
Detroit Red Wings
Alex Lyon is expected to be in goal for the Red Wings, which is likely good news for the home fans. The spirited goaltender, who often compensates for defensive lapses, could secure an unexpected victory for the team. Lyon has appeared in goal five times, boasting an incredible save percentage of 94% with a goals-against average of 2.05.
Winnipeg Jets
The Jets aren't playing back-to-back games, meaning starting goaltender Connor Hellebuyck is almost certain to be in a goal. After a disappointing playoff series, Hellebuyck has taken the new season as a personal challenge: he has won six of his seven games, allowing an average of 2.14 goals per game and saving 83.7% of high-danger chances (ranking seventh in the league). His recent game against the Toronto Maple Leafs might not have been his best, but it's rare for the American goaltender to have two poor performances in a row during the regular season.
Detroit Red Wings vs Winnipeg Jets Prediction
Lyon and Hellebuyck rank in the top 10 goaltenders for goals saved above expectation (GSAx), indicating that they make significantly more difficult saves than the average league goaltender, so a high-scoring shootout is unlikely. Instead of focusing on the total, here's a more intriguing suggestion: both teams will score under 3.5 goals combined.
