NFL Previews 
MLB Previews 
NBA Previews 
NHL Previews 
Soccer Previews 
Florida Panthers vs Winnipeg Jets Picks and Predictions – Thursday January 22, 2026
Florida heads north on Thursday night looking for something it hasn’t had much lately: a clean, repeatable game. The Panthers have been stuck in that win-one, lose-one rhythm for weeks, and the 4-1 loss to San Jose was another reminder that their margin is thin when the details drift.
Winnipeg is in a better spot right now, especially at home and especially in the areas that swing tight games. The Jets have been trending the right way, they’re getting timely special-teams results, and this matchup sets up as a test of Florida’s lineup stability now that Matthew Tkachuk is back but the overall health picture is still messy.
Florida Panthers vs Winnipeg Jets Odds
These are the current betting lines, and you’ll want to monitor the latest NHL odds in case goalie confirmation or lineup news pushes the price.
| Team | Moneyline | Puck Line | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florida Panthers | -110 | -1.5 (+220) | O 6.0 (-110) |
| Winnipeg Jets | -110 | +1.5 (-275) | U 6.0 (-110) |
Florida Panthers Betting Form
Florida’s last two weeks have been defined by uneven execution and long stretches where the offense doesn’t look connected. When they get into their forecheck game, they can tilt the rink and draw penalties. When they don’t, you see too many one-and-done possessions and not enough second-chance looks around the crease. If you’re backing them on the road, you’re betting they can dictate pace and keep their defensive gaps tight enough to avoid giving Winnipeg free transition.
Tkachuk’s return matters immediately because it changes the texture of Florida’s top six and their net-front presence on the power play. But this is still a lineup searching for continuity, and the absence of Aleksander Barkov leaves a real hole down the middle in matchup minutes and puck management. If you want to track how the Panthers have actually performed across recent spots and opponents, start with Florida Panthers stats and results.
Availability is a big part of the handicap here. Florida is still dealing with key absences, and any late scratches will matter for both the side and the total. Check the linked Florida Panthers injury report before you lock anything in.
Winnipeg Jets Betting Form
Winnipeg is playing with more structure right now, and it’s showing up in the spots bettors care about. They’re not overextending at 5v5, they’re getting contributions through the lineup, and they’ve been sharp on special teams. That’s a steady foundation, and it travels well inside a single game when momentum swings.
The Jets’ recent run has been helped by finishing chances and cashing in on the power play, while the penalty kill has been a difference-maker. That matters in a matchup with Florida, because Tkachuk’s presence should create more chaos and drawn calls, but Winnipeg has been good at keeping their box connected and clearing the front.
Home ice is real here. Winnipeg gets last change, and that lets them chase the matchups they want when Florida tries to stack a line or protect a weaker center group without Barkov. For a fuller snapshot of how Winnipeg is trending, including where the offense is coming from and how they’ve priced in markets, use Winnipeg Jets schedule and stats. And for lineup clarity, check the Winnipeg Jets injury report.
Florida Panthers vs Winnipeg Jets Matchup Breakdown
At 5v5, this comes down to who controls the middle of the ice and who wins the shift after a clean break. Florida wants to turn this into a forecheck and volume game, forcing Winnipeg’s defense to make plays under pressure. Winnipeg wants to exit clean, get pucks behind Florida’s forwards, and turn broken coverage into odd-man looks.
Special teams could decide it. Winnipeg has been getting real separation on the power play lately and the penalty kill has been near lock-down. Florida’s power play should be more dangerous with Tkachuk back, but without Barkov you lose a high-end distributor and a matchup center who can keep you out of the penalty box in the first place. If you’re weighing special-teams impact on side and total, it helps to review the fundamentals in the NHL betting guide.
Goaltending is the swing piece, and it’s not something you should guess at. Winnipeg has rotated looks recently, and Florida’s starter status can matter just as much given their current inconsistency. If one side confirms a backup, that’s where the total and puck line can move fast. Treat goalie news as market-moving, not trivia.
Rest and travel are reasonable for both teams, so I’m not upgrading either side purely on schedule. The edge is more about matchup leverage: Winnipeg’s ability to win the special-teams battle and keep Florida from playing downhill for 60 minutes.
Florida Panthers vs Winnipeg Jets Predictions and Best Bets
Florida is capable of showing up here and taking over a game if the forecheck is on and Tkachuk ramps quickly into full impact minutes. But from a betting standpoint, I don’t want to pay for Florida’s ceiling when their floor has been showing up too often. Without Barkov, they’re easier to defend in key matchups, and that matters against a home team that can dictate line deployments.
Winnipeg has been better in the “win the boring minutes” areas: cleaner special teams, more consistent structure, fewer stretches of chaos. That’s usually the profile I’ll back in a near pick’em, especially at home.
The total at 6.0 is tricky. Florida can turn games into track meets when they’re right, but this looks more like a matchup where Winnipeg tries to keep 5v5 controlled and let the power play do the damage. If you’re playing totals, you’re basically betting on whether special teams explode or whether the game stays mostly even-strength.
Best Bet: Winnipeg Jets moneyline (-110)
NHL Picks and Handicappers on ScoresAndStats
If you’re building a card beyond this game, it’s worth comparing your read to the market and to what the strongest cappers are actually doing. The NHL picks page is the quickest way to scan the slate and see where consensus and contrarian angles are forming.
For bettors who care about long-term edges, follow performance, not noise. The best handicappers hub and the live handicappers leaderboard help you separate who’s hot from who’s consistently profitable. If you want to tail with real intent, you can also access premium packages through buy picks, and keep daily matchup context flowing through the NHL previews hub. For futures and bigger-picture angles that still influence regular-season urgency, the Stanley Cup betting guide is a solid reference point.
