NHL Central Division Odds: Jets Trying to Hold Off Avalanche, Stars

With NHL All-Star Weekend just days away, it's a perfect time to look at how the division races are heating up in the league.

Throughout this season, there have been a lot of surprises and disappointments. And as we've seen in the Central Division, one of the NHL's biggest surprises is leading the division as we head into the break. Considering how tight the race is for the top spot, the final few months should be exciting in the Central.

Let's dive into the NHL Central Division odds, per FanDuel Sportsbook.

NHL Central Division Odds

Winnipeg Jets (+140)

For so much of the season, the Winnipeg Jets found themselves in first place in the Central Division. Heading into the break, however, they're sitting in third with two games in hand. Can they keep up with their fellow division rivals?

As things stand, the Jets are 30-12-5 with 65 points. They're just two points off the lead and have played two fewer games than the Colorado Avalanche. Having those two games and the way they've played this season, there's good reason as to why they still have the edge in the odds.

What the Jets do better than any other team in the NHL is limit their opponents on the offensive end. They're allowing only 2.28 Goals Against per 60 minutes -- the best rank in hockey with a 0.25 advantage.

A lot of that has to do with having the best goaltender in the league this season. Former Vezina Trophy winner Connor Hellebuyck is near the top with a 2.20 goals against average and .924 save percentage, both of which rank second.

Hellebuyck is an advantage that is so far ahead of what the Avalanche and Dallas Stars have -- and it's why they do feel like the team to go with for the division. Assuming they can keep up the same pace that they've had through 47 games, this division can be there's without question.

numberFire's nERD metric also has the Jets as the second-best team in hockey with a 1.01, just behind the Boston Bruins.

This feels like their division this year.

Colorado Avalanche (+160)

There's no better offense in the NHL than the Colorado Avalanche, and that's why they're such a serious contender for the Stanley Cup, let alone the Central Division.

The Avs boast the NHL-best Goals For per 60 minutes average at a 3.8 clip. That has come on the back of MVP favorite Nathan MacKinnon (-135), who is in second with 84 points while tied for the league lead in assists. The offense is averaging 4.04 Goals For per 60 minutes in their last 25 games with a 63.1 Corsi For per 60 minutes -- and they don't seem to be slowing down.

Colorado will have a good chance of taking the division for the third straight season -- assuming that they can shore up in the net. Alexandar Georgiev has struggled a bit this year. He's got a 2.91 goals against average but an .899 save percentage. That's not going to cut it. Thankfully for the Avalanche, they do have a top-ranked defense, ranking sixth overall in Corsi Against per 60 minutes (57.1).

If they can improve their season average of 3.07 Goals Against per 60 minutes, then that's how they will win the division. The offense can only power them so much.

Deciding between the Avs and Jets comes down to siding with offense or defense. What supports Colorado more than anything else is their track record of winning the division. They have played two more games than the Jets, but for now, they lead the division, and all they'll need to do is hold on.

Dallas Stars (+260)

The Dallas Stars carry one of the most complete lineups in the sport along with a goaltender that they can count on. It's why they're just as much in the hunt as the Jets and Avalanche.

Dallas sits just one point behind the Avalanche for the division lead through 49 games, heading into the break with 66 points due to their 30-13-6 record. Unsurprisingly, the Stars have played like one of the best teams with offensive and defensive metrics in the same ballpark.

On the season, the Stars rank 10th in both Corsi For and Corsi Against -- proving their ability on both ends. numberFire backs the Stars, too, as they have a 0.79 nERD rating, the fourth-best in the entire NHL.

Like the Avalanche, they'll need to right the ship at goalie. Jake Oettinger has not had the season they expected. In 27 starts, he has just a 3.04 goals against average and .900 save percentage, which are the worst marks of his career. If he can get back on track, then the Stars' chances of taking the division feel just as reasonable as the Jets and Avs.

Taking the longer shot of the three teams is also worth considering, especially when the odds are all so close between them.

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The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author's advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.