Tag: Blues

St. Louis Blues at Chicago Blackhawks odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Sunday’s Blues at Blackhawks NHL matchup, with NHL betting odds, picks and best bets

The Chicago Blackhawks (31-29-8) host the defending champ and rival St. Louis Blues (40-18-10) at United Center at 7:30 p.m. ET Sunday (on NBCSN). We analyze the Blues-Blackhawks sports betting odds and lines, with NHL matchup analysis, picks and tips.

Blues at Blackhawks: Projected starting goalies

Jake Allen vs. Malcolm Subban

Allen is 10-6-3 with a 2.31 goals-against average and .922 save percentage this season as the backup to Jordan Binnington. Allen posted a 38-save shutout in Chicago on Dec. 2, his only one of the season. Binnington has posted a 30-12-7 record with a 2.57 GAA and .911 SV% in 49 starts. He continues to do a tremendous job, as the defending champs look poised for another lengthy postseason run. While he is 2-0-0 against the Blackhawks this season, he also has a dismal 4.01 GAA and .846 SV% against them, so that’s why he’ll likely get a break.

Subban might get a shot after Corey Crawford was a bit shaky in his most recent outing. While it might be quite the tall order for what would be Subban’s first start with the team following his trade from Vegas, he did beat the Blues 6-5 in overtime Feb. 13. Crawford is 0-3-0 with a 4.77 GAA and .867 SV% in three starts against the Blues this season.

Place a sports bet on this hockey action or other games at BetMGM.

Blues at Blackhawks: Odds, picks and betting tips

Odds courtesy of BetMGM; access them at USA TODAY Sports for a full set of today’s betting odds. Odds last updated Sunday at 2 p.m. ET.

Prediction

Blues 5, Blackhawks 3

Moneyline (ML)

The BLUES (-139) are a good bet regardless of whether the Blackhawks (+115) give Crawford or Subban the nod. St. Louis has been getting the better goaltending overall this season. The Blues are also 8-1 in their past nine games overall and 7-1 in the past eight as a favorite. The favorite is also 5-1 in the past six meetings in this rivalry, too.

New to sports betting? A $10 wager for the Blues to win in regulation, overtime or a shootout would profit $7.20 if they do so.

Puck Line/Against the Spread (ATS)

BLUES (-1.5, +185) is a nice small-unit play, as you can profit almost double your initial investment. While the home team is 6-1 in the past seven in this series and the Blues are 4-8-2 in their past 14 on the road, St. Louis is overall the better team with much more depth on offense and in the crease.

Over/Under (O/U)

The OVER 5.5 (-150) is the best bet in this rivalry game, though the vig jumped from -110 to -150 from Sunday morning to afternoon. The Over is 7-3-1 in the past 11 battles in Chicago, and 15-6-5 in the previous 26 installments in this series. The Over is also 10-4-1 in the past 15 divisional games for St. Louis, while going 7-2 in the past nine for Chicago and 11-4 in the past 15 in which Chicago plays a team with a winning record.

Want some action on this matchup? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @JoeWilliamsVI and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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St. Louis Blues at New Jersey Devils odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Friday’s St. Louis Blues at New Jersey Devils sports betting odds and lines, with NHL matchup analysis, picks and tips.

The St. Louis Blues (40-17-10) continue their road trip against the New Jersey Devils (26-28-12) Friday at Prudential Center at 7 p.m. ET. We analyze the Blues-Devils sports betting odds and lines, while providing NHL betting tips and picks around this matchup.

Blues at Devils: Projected starting goalies

Jake Allen vs. Mackenzie Blackwood

Allen has a stellar 10-6-3 record, 2.31 goals against average and .922 save percentage overall this season. He is likely to start, giving All-Star Jordan Binnington a breather. Binnington has posted a solid 30-11-7 record, 2.56 GAA and .911 SV% in his 48 starts overall.

Blackwood has a solid 21-13-8 record, 2.71 GAA and .916 SV% in 45 appearances (41 starts), which is definitely impressive considering how New Jersey has struggled overall. He has been amazing since the All-Star break, going 7-1-2 with a 1.95 GAA and .947 SV% with two of his three shutouts.

Place a sports bet on this hockey action or other games at BetMGM.

Blues at Devils: Odds, picks and betting tips

Odds courtesy of BetMGM; access them at USA TODAY Sports for a full list. Odds last updated at 4:50 a.m. ET.

Prediction

Blues 4, Devils 1

Moneyline (ML)

The BLUES (-189) are a bit expensive on the moneyline, but they’re a slam-dunk play. St. Louis has dominated this series in recent seasons, posting 16 wins in the past 21 meetings, including five straight victories in Newark, N.J. The favorite is 13-3 in the previous 16 meetings overall.

New to sports betting? A $10 bet on the Blues to win returns a profit of $5.29 while a $10 wager on the Devils (+155) results in a profit of $15.50.

Puck Line/Against the Spread (ATS)

The BLUES (-1.5, +150) are a better bet against the spread, as they have just dominated this series against the Devils (+1.5, -182) in recent seasons.

Over/Under (O/U)

A small-unit wager on the UNDER 5.5 (-110) is warranted, as the Under is 4-0-1 in the past five meetings in Newark, and 4-1 in the past five battles overall. The Under is 6-3 in the past nine games for the Blues, too, including their 3-0 win over the Devils on Feb. 18.

Want some action in this one? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @JoeWilliamsVI and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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St. Louis Blues at New York Rangers odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Tuesday’s St. Louis Blues at New York Rangers sports betting odds and lines, with NHL betting picks, tips and best bets.

The New York Rangers (35-26-4) host the St. Louis Blues (39-17-10) Tuesday at Madison Square Garden at 7 p.m. ET. We analyze the Blues-Rangers sports betting odds and lines, while providing NHL betting tips and picks around this matchup.

Blues at Rangers: Projected starting goalies

Jordan Binnington vs. Alexandar Georgiev

Binnington puts his 29-11-7 record, 2.60 goals against average and .910 save percentage on the line against the Blueshirts. While he has been strong at home with a 20-4-5 record, 2.21 GAA and .918 SV% in 29 home games, he has a 9-7-2 record, 3.22 GAA and .900 SV% with no shutouts in 18 assignments on the road.

Georgiev will start against the champs, and he has a 16-13-1 record, 3.02 GAA and .912 SV% in his 29 starts and two relief appearances. He is a solid 4-3-0 with a 2.74 GAA and .920 SV% in seven starts and eight appearances since the All-Star break.

Place a sports bet on this hockey action or other games at BetMGM.

Blues at Rangers: Odds, picks and betting tips

Odds courtesy of BetMGM; access them at USA TODAY Sports for a full list. Odds last updated at 12:05 p.m. ET.

Prediction

Rangers 4, Blues 3

Moneyline (ML)

The Blues (-154) are moderate favorites on the road as they look for their eighth consecutive victory. Most of that damage has been done at home, as they’re just 3-9 in their past 12 on the road. The RANGERS (+125) are short dogs at home, and the value play, based on the Blues’ road struggles, the fact they’re due for a loss and the trends in this series. The home team is 5-2 in the previous seven meetings.

New to sports betting? A $10 bet on the Rangers to win returns a profit of $12.50, while a $10 wager on the Blues results in a profit of $6.50.

Puck Line/Against the Spread (ATS)

The RANGERS (+1.5, -209) are rather expensive, but if you want a little insurance, you have to pay. The Blues (-1.5, +170) have been red-hot and might be tempting, but the public is all over the visitors, and that’s usually a bad sign.

Over/Under (O/U)

I’ll take a flier on the OVER 5.5 (-139). The Over is 7-3-1 in the past 11 on the road for the Blues, too, and 6-2 in the past eight against the Eastern Conference while going 9-4-1 in the past 14 against winning sides. The Over is 4-0 in New York’s past four, 11-4 in the past 15 versus the Western Conference and 13-3-1 in the past 17 against winning teams.

Want some action in this one? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @JoeWilliamsVI and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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Dallas Stars at St. Louis Blues odds, picks and best bets

Analyzing Saturday’s Dallas Stars at St. Louis Blues matchup, with NHL betting odds, picks and best bets

The defending champion St. Louis Blues (38-18-7) will host the Dallas Stars (32-23-8) Saturday at Enterprise Center in St. Louis at 8 p.m. ET. We analyze the Stars-Blues sports betting odds and lines, while providing NHL betting tips and picks around this matchup.

Stars at Blues: Projected starting goalies

Ben Bishop vs. Jordan Binnington

Bishop, the St. Louis native, heads into this one with a 21-14-4 record, 2.49 goals against average and .921 save percentage with a pair of shutouts. He is 0-3-0 with a 3.83 GAA and .890 SV% in his three previous appearances this season vs. STL. He allowed three goals on 30 shots in a narrow 3-2 loss in the only previous meeting in Missouri on Oct. 5.

Binnington will be in search of his 30th win of the season when he takes on the Stars. He has posted a 1-0-1 record, 2.45 GAA and .921 SV% in his other two regular-season starts against the Stars this season.

Place a sports bet on this hockey action or other games at BetMGM.

Stars at Blues: Odds, picks and betting tips

Odds courtesy of BetMGM; access them at USA TODAY Sports for a full list. Odds last updated at 7:30 a.m. ET.

Prediction

Blues 3, Stars 1

Moneyline (ML)

The BLUES (-162) are a good play against the Stars (+135), as they just seem to have the number of their rivals from the Metroplex. The Blues have ripped off wins in six consecutive, including four in a row at home, all behind Binnington. St. Louis has won three of the first four meetings this season, too.

New to sports betting? A $10 bet on the Blues ML returns a profit of $6.20 if they win, while a $10 wager on the Stars ML results in a profit of $13.50.

Puck Line/Against the Spread (ATS)

The BLUES (-1.5, +180) are a little bit of a risky play, but very tempting at this price level. A small-unit play is warranted based upon their 3-1 SU record this season. St. Louis has outscored Dallas 13-7 in the first four meetings, covering the puck line in two of their three wins vs. STL.

Over/Under (O/U)

The UNDER 5.5 (-139) is 5-2 in the past seven for Dallas as an underdog, while going 15-6-3 in the past 24 against Central Division foes. The under is 5-2 in the past seven for St. Louis, while going 4-1 in the past five as a favorite. The under is also 5-1-1 in the past seven meetings in this series, including 4-0 in the past four at Enterprise Center.

Want some action in this one? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @JoeWilliamsVI and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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New York Islanders at St. Louis Blues odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Thursday’s New York Islanders at St. Louis Blues sports betting odds and lines, with NHL matchup analysis, picks and tips.

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The New York Islanders (35-20-7) lock horns with the St. Louis Blues (37-17-10) Thursday at Enterprise Center at 8 p.m. ET. We analyze the Islanders-Blues sports betting odds and lines, while providing NHL betting tips and picks around this matchup.

Islanders at Blues: Projected starting goalies

Semyon Varlamov vs. Jordan Binnington

Varlamov suffered a tough 4-3 loss in overtime against the New York Rangers Tuesday, snapping a two-game winning streak. While he is 19-12-5 with a 2.51 goals against average and .918 save percentage in 41 appearances (36 starts), he is actually much better on the road. He is just 8-7-1, but he has a 2.18 GAA and .928 SV% in 19 road games, including 16 starts.

Binnington has racked up a 28-11-7 record, 2.61 GAA and .911 SV% in 46 starts. His splits easily favor him at home, as he is 19-4-5 with a 2.23 GAA and .919 SV% with all three of his shutouts at Enterprise Center, while going just 9-7-2 with a 3.22 GAA and .900 SV% on the road.

Place a sports bet on this hockey action or other games at BetMGM.

Islanders at Blues: Odds, picks and betting tips

Odds courtesy of BetMGM; access them at USA TODAY Sports for a full list. Odds last updated at 6:10 a.m. ET.

Prediction

Blues 3, Islanders 2

Moneyline (ML)

The BLUES (-176) are heavily favored at home behind Binnington. This won’t be a slam-dunk play, however, as the Islanders (+145) just made some key acquisitions at the trade deadline. While the home team should still come out ahead, go very lightly.

New to sports betting? A $10 bet on the Blues ML returns a profit of $5.68 if they win, while a $10 wager on the Islanders ML results in a profit of $14.50.

Puck Line/Against the Spread (ATS)

This game is going to be super close, and could need overtime or a shootout to determine a winner. As such, you cannot play the Blues (-1.5, +145). However, the Islanders (+1.5, -176) is just a little too expensive. AVOID.

Over/Under (O/U)

The UNDER 5.5 (-121) has connected in six of the past seven games overall for the Islanders, and 5-0 in the past five against Western Conference foes. For the Blues, they have hit the Over in six of the past seven against Eastern Conference teams, while the Over is 8-3-1 in the past 12 against winning teams. Don’t get carried away, but bank on a lower-scoring game.

Want some action in this one? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @JoeWilliamsVI and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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Chicago Blackhawks at St. Louis Blues odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Tuesday’s Chicago Blackhawks at St. Louis Blues sports betting odds and lines, with NHL matchup analysis, picks and tips.

The Chicago Blackhawks (27-27-8) visit the St. Louis Blues (36-17-10) in a Central Division clash Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET. We analyze the Blackhawks-Blues odds and lines, while providing NHL betting tips around this matchup.

Blackhawks at Blues: Projected starting goalies

Corey Crawford vs. Jordan Binnington

Crawford figures to be the steady No. 1 option the rest of the way for the Blackhawks, who traded G Robin Lehner to the Vegas Golden Knights Monday. Crawford owns a 2.80 goals against average (GAA) and a .915 save percentage. He permitted eight goals on 68 shots in a pair of losses against St. Louis in December, but the 35-year-old veteran has logged a robust .939 SV% in nine games since Jan. 9. Crawford stopped 31 of 33 shots at Dallas Sunday. He’s also registered a .913 SV% when starting on two-day rest.

Binnington has played in 45 games for St. Louis, logging a 2.56 GAA and .913 SV%. He’s been sharp at home (2.12 GAA, .922 SV%) and of late (2.33 GAA, .918 SV% in February). Binnington is coming off a sharp Sunday start (32 saves, one goal allowed at the Minnesota Wild), which followed back-to-back home shutouts – 14 saves in a 1-0 win vs. the Arizona Coyotes Thursday, and 17 saves in a 3-0 victory vs. the New Jersey Devils Feb. 18.

Place a sports bet on this hockey action or other games at BetMGM.

Blackhawks at Blues: Odds, picks and betting tips

Odds courtesy of BetMGM; access them at USA TODAY Sports for a full set of today’s betting odds. Odds last updated at 1:30 p.m. ET.

Prediction

Blackhawks 3, Blues 2

Moneyline (ML)

Pythagorean comparisons (using goals and goals allowed to predict wins and losses) are bullish on Chicago and bearish on St. Louis. Recent puck-possession numbers indicate the ‘Hawks may be overlooked and worth a shot at a price +175 or better. The CHICAGO +185 line makes for moderate value.

New to sports betting? Every $1 wagered on the Blackhawks ML will profit $1.85 if they win.

Puck Line/Against the Spread (ATS)

PASS. Three of the Blues’ last four wins have been by multiple goals. But the Blackhawks line (+1.5, -150) isn’t tamped down enough to warrant a play.

Over/Under (O/U)

The Under is 3-2 over Chicago’s last five games and 4-1 in the Blues’ last five. The goal total in seven of Chicago’s last 10 games has been 5 or less. A struggling St. Louis power play makes for two subpar PP-units in this one. The netminders present a likable matchup for Under bettors, and the price here – UNDER 5.5 (+115) – is a lure. Will back the UNDER.

Want some action on this matchup? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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St. Louis Blues at Vancouver Canucks odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Monday’s St. Louis Blues at Vancouver Canucks sports betting odds and lines, with NHL matchup analysis, picks and best bets.

The St. Louis Blues (30-11-8) go north of the border Monday to play the Vancouver Canucks (27-18-4) at 10 p.m. ET at the Rogers Arena. It’s their first game of a four-game road trip through Western Canada. We analyze the Blues-Canucks odds and lines, while providing NHL betting tips around this matchup.

Blues at Canucks: Projected starting goalies

Jake Allen vs. Thatcher Demko

Allen gets the nod in the first game back from the all-star break. He is 8-3-3 through 14 starts and 17 relief appearances while backing up Jordan Binnington. Allen has a .927 save percentage and a 2.22 goals against average.

Demko, 24, will make his 16th start of the season. He is 9-5-1 while backing up starter Jacob Markstrom, and he has a .904 SV% and 3.06 GAA. He stopped 17 of 18 shots in a win over the San Jose Sharks in his last start before the all-star break.

Place a sports bet on this hockey action or other games at BetMGM.

Blues at Canucks: Odds, picks and betting tips

Odds courtesy of BetMGM; access them at USA TODAY Sports for a full set of today’s betting odds. Odds last updated at 4:50 p.m. ET.

Prediction

Canucks 3, Blues 1

Moneyline (ML)

The Blues and Canucks lead the Central and Pacific divisions, respectively. You expect motivation will be through the roof since the Canucks dropped their first meeting at home with the defending Stanley Cup champion Blues, losing 2-1 in overtime Nov. 5.  The Blues lost four straight on the road prior to the all-star break and the Canucks were on an eight-game home winning streak. Also, Vancouver has played well against Western Conference competition lately, going 8-1 in their last nine in-conference matchups.

BETTING the CANUCKS (+100) on the moneyline is too good to pass up for a team who’s 16-5-3 at home this season. New to sports betting? Bet $100 on the Canucks to win to earn a profit of $100.

Puck Line/Against the Spread (ATS)

We are staying away from the puck line and the alternate puck line because the last three tilts between the two division leaders have been decided by shootout or overtime. Also, we are on the Canucks to win this game—nixing a Blues puck line bet—and their 27-22 puck line record isn’t good enough to justify the Canucks’ (+1.5, -286) price point. STICK WITH THE MONEYLINE BET in Blues-Canucks.

Over/Under (O/U)

BetMGM has effectively priced us out of the regular 4.5 total so we are looking to the alternate line of 5.5 as the play in this game. BET UNDER 5.5 (-110) because the Under is 19-7-5 in the last 31 head-to-head meetings in Vancouver and 32-15-9 in the last 56 meetings overall.

Want some action on this matchup? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @Geoffery_Clark and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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New York Rangers at St. Louis Blues odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Saturday’s New York Rangers at St. Louis Blues sports betting odds and lines, with NHL matchup analysis, picks and tips.

The New York Rangers (21-18-4) and St. Louis Blues (28-10-7) drop the puck at Enterprise Center in St. Louis at 8 p.m. ET Saturday. We analyze the Rangers-Blues sports betting odds and lines, with NHL matchup analysis, picks and tips.

Rangers at Blues: Projected starting goalies

Henrik Lundqvist vs. Jordan Binnington

Lundqvist is confirmed to start, putting his 9-9-3 record, 3.10 goals against average and .910 save percentage on the line against the defending champs.

Meanwhile, the Blues are expected to counter with Binnington, who cruised past the Buffalo Sabres Thursday in a 5-1 victory. He improved to 21-7-4 with a 2.49 GAA and .917 SV%. Despite the win over the Sabres, he is still just 1-2-0 in his past three starts against Eastern Conference clubs dating back to Nov. 30. He also lost his only appearance against the Blueshirts last season, allowing three goals on just 24 shots at Madison Square Garden March 29.

Place a sports bet on this hockey action or other games at BetMGM.

Rangers at Blues: Odds, picks and betting tips

Odds courtesy of BetMGM; access them at USA TODAY Sports for a full set of today’s betting odds. Odds last updated at 7:20 a.m. ET.

Prediction

Blues 4, Rangers 2

Moneyline (ML)

The Blues (-209) are listed with the same exact odds they had vs. the Sabres Thursday. However, the Rangers (+170) are a little better, and a slightly larger risk. You shouldn’t risk more than two times your return anyway. AVOID.

New to sports betting? Every $10 wagered on the Blues ML will profit $4.78 if they win.

Puck Line/Against the Spread (ATS)

The BLUES (-1.5, +125) are worth a small-unit bet, although confidence isn’t terribly high. Still, four of their past six victories have also resulted in a puck-line cover, and seven of their past 10 wins at home have covered the line, too.

Over/Under (O/U)

The OVER 5.5 (-154) is a bit pricy, and no guarantee. If I were to lean to one side, it is Over, but I wouldn’t go crazy, especially with this kind of juice. Looking at alternative totals, Over 4.5 (-304) is too expensive, and Under 6.5 (-162) is equally unappealing. If you’re thinking offense will rule the day, OVER 6.5 (+135) might be your best bet – but I don’t like it much.

Want some action on this matchup? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @JoeWilliamsVI and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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Buffalo Sabres at St. Louis Blues odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Thursday’s Buffalo Sabres at St. Louis Blues sports betting odds and lines, with NHL betting picks, tips and best bets.

The Buffalo Sabres (19-17-7) and St. Louis Blues (27-10-7) tangle at Enterprise Center in St. Louis at 8 p.m. ET Thursday. We analyze the Sabres-Blues sports betting odds and lines, with NHL matchup analysis, picks and tips.

Sabres at Blues: Projected starting goalies

Linus Ullmark vs. Jordan Binnington

Ullmark enters Thursday off of back-to-back wins and has improved to 13-11-3 for the season. He has a .911 save percentage and 2.83 goals against average.

The Stanley Cup-winning tendy has posted a 20-7-4 record, 2.53 goals against average and .917 save percentage with one shutout so far this season. Justin Bieber has a bet with Binnington that he can beat him at least once on 10 shots, and the money will go to charity. It seems unlikely, as lately, men who are paid to play hockey have struggled to sneak it by Binny. He has won seven of his past eight outings, allowing three or fewer goals in six of the contests.

Place a sports bet on this hockey action or other games at BetMGM.

Sabres at Blues: Odds, picks and betting tips

Odds courtesy of BetMGM; access them at USA TODAY Sports for a full set of today’s betting odds. Odds last updated at 11 a.m. ET.

Prediction

Blues 5, Sabres 2

Moneyline (ML)

The Blues (-209) will cost you more than double your investment, and my rule is always to go only as low as -160 or -170, or AVOID. The Sabres (+170) also can’t be counted upon to pull the upset, as they’re just 3-6-1 in the past 10 overall.

New to sports betting? Every $10 wagered on the Blues ML will profit $4.80 if they win.

Puck Line/Against the Spread (ATS)

The BLUES (-1.5, +135) are worth a roll of the dice. Ullmark gives the Sabres a better chance than Carter Hutton would  but back the home side to win by at least 2 goals.

The Blues are 6-0 in their past six at home, 9-1 in the past 10 as a favorite and 26-9 in the past 35 against losing sides.

Over/Under (O/U)

The OVER 5.5 (-125) is a bargain. While there is some concern if the Sabres can solve the red-hot Binnington, the Blues should be able to handle the bulk of the scoring Thursday.

Want some action on this matchup? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @JoeWilliamsVI and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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St. Louis Blues at Vegas Golden Knights odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Saturday’s St. Louis Blues at Vegas Golden Knights sports betting odds and lines, with NHL matchup analysis, picks and tips.

The St. Louis Blues (26-10-6) visit the Vegas Golden Knights (23-15-6) Saturday in a battle of first-place teams at T-Mobile Arena for a 4 p.m. ET puck drop. We analyze the Blues-Golden Knights odds and lines, while providing NHL betting tips and picks around this matchup.

Following an eight-game win streak, the defending Stanley Cup champion Blues have dropped the first two games of a three-game road trip. Most recently, they lost at the Colorado Avalanche 7-3 Thursday.

The Golden Knights edged the Philadelphia Flyers 5-4 Thursday for a third consecutive win – all at home.

Blues at Golden Knights: Projected starting goalies

Jordan Binnington vs. Marc-Andre Fleury

Binnington is 19-7-4 with a 2.55 goals against average (GAA) and a .916 save percentage. The loss at Colorado snapped a personal six-game win streak. He was in net for a 4-2 win over the Golden Knights Dec. 12 in St. Louis, stopping 27 of 29 shots. He is 7-4-1 with a 3.07 GAA and .905 SV% on the road this season.

Fleury is 17-8-3 with a 2.76 GAA and .912 SV%, including wins in his last three starts – all at home, allowing 7 goals on 94 shots. He is 12-6-2 at home with a 2.96 GAA and .905 SV%. He took the loss in the Dec. 12 game at St. Louis, finishing with 25 saves on 29 shots.

Place a sports bet on this hockey action or other games at BetMGM.

Blues at Golden Knights: Key injuries

Blues

  • D Carl Gunnarsson (upper body) injured reserve (IR)
  • RW Vladimir Tarasenko (shoulder) IR, out until April

Golden Knights

  • C Cody Eakin (head) out
  • C Jonathan Marchessault (lower body) questionable
  • LW Tomas Nosek (personal) probable

Blue at Golden Knights: Odds, picks and betting tips

Odds courtesy of BetMGM; access them at USA TODAY Sports for a full set of today’s betting odds. Odds last updated at 11:50 a.m. ET.

Prediction

Golden Knights 5, Blues 2

Moneyline (ML)

The GOLDEN KNIGHTS (-154) are the STRONGEST PLAY. They’re in a nice groove with three straight wins and feeling comfortable, reaping the benefits of a seven-game homestand, their longest of the season. Despite dropping their last two, the Blues (+125) are one of the better NHL road teams at 13-6-3. But let’s face it, the “Vegas flu” is no joke. Do you think St. Louis’ players were 100% focused and not taking in Sin City the night before?

New to sports betting? Every $1.54 wagered on a Vegas win would profit $1 if it prevails.

Puck Line/Against the Spread (PL/ATS)

PASS. But if you’re willing to double down and make two Golden Knights bets, a puck line play (-1.5, +180) isn’t terrible as it will pay 1.8 to 1. However, the Blues (+1.5, -222) are 12-10 vs. the PL on the road, while the Golden Knights are 9-14 vs. the PL at home.

Over/Under (O/U)

The OVER 5.5 (-115) is worth a small wager. The Blues average 3.12 goals per game, while the Golden Knights score 3.09 per game. Plus, Vegas is 4-1 O/U in its last five games.

Want some action in this one? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Johnny’s record since Dec. 1: 23-13-1. Strongest plays: 12-4.

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