This is an 8* TOTAL ART OF THE GAME on the OVER between the Winnipeg Jets and the Detroit Red Wings.

For a number of different reasons I expect this total to eclipse the posted number as the game comes down the stretch. The Wings are rolling: "I think the season's gone real well," Detroit coach Mike Babcock said last night. "Just coming into the season, we didn't know where we'd be. We've got a vastly improved group, we're getting better. We seem to be competitive on most nights." The Wings have won 14 of 19 and will be especially motivated today to bounce back from a 4-1 loss at Pittsburgh on Wednesday. Winnipeg certainly won't be rolling over though, the Jets are also in line for a playoff spot with a three-point lead over Calgary for the first wild-card spot; and note the Jets will also be motivated after falling 3-1 at Nashville on Thursday (note though that Winnipeg would outshoot the Predators 33-26 in the setback). This is also a revenge game for the visitors after Detroit rallied for a 4-3 win at Winnipeg on November 20th. Note that Winnipeg has seen the total go OVER the number in 17 of 26 in revenging a loss vs. an opponent, while Detroit has seen it sail above the posted number in interestingly nine of 12 this season after allowing 4 goals or more. In my opinion, the situation, the numbers and the trends do all indeed point to the OVER as the savvy move in this one.

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