Sportsinteraction

Posted at 11:00 AM EST. Odds are subject to change.

Anaheim  +103 over Winnipeg  

8:00 PM EST. Winnipeg is being asked to deal with a demanding early-season schedule, and that is where Anaheim has an opportunity to take advantage. The Jets are playing their second game in three days and their fourth in six, a stretch that can take some of the jump out of a team’s game. That matters against an Anaheim club that should be looking to make this a hard-working, uncomfortable night rather than allowing Winnipeg to settle into its preferred rhythm.

The concern for Winnipeg is not simply having tired legs; it is what that schedule can do to the details. Defensive coverage, puck support and winning battles along the boards all require energy and concentration. Those are the areas where a team under a heavier workload can begin giving away opportunities. Anaheim needs to stay patient, put pressure on the Jets through all three zones and make them work for every clean exit. The longer this game stays competitive, the more attractive the Ducks become.

We do not need to turn this into a referendum on which team has the bigger name. The schedule gives Anaheim a legitimate opening, and the Ducks have a chance to make Winnipeg pay for a busy stretch at the very start of the season.

Sportsinteraction