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The Vegas Golden Knights (38-25-7) take on the St. Louis Blues (38-30-3) Monday at Enterprise Center. Puck drop is set for 8 p.m. ET (NHL Network). Below, we analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Golden Knights vs. Blues odds, and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
The Knights beat the Columbus Blue Jackets, 4-2, to finish a 4-game homestand up 3-1 Saturday. C Jack Eichel had 2 goals and now has 4 in the last 4 games as the team navigates through injuries. They’re playing without captain Mark Stone (upper body), G Adin Hill (undisclosed) and newly acquired C Tomas Hertl (knee), and D Alex Pietrangelo (illness) is questionable. VGK sits in the final Wild Card spot, but it trails the LA Kings by 2 points for the 3rd spot in the Pacific Division. So it can make it into the playoffs in multiple ways.
The Blues likely have 1 way to make it in, and that’s in the final Wild Card spot, which Vegas is sitting in and the Blues trail by 4 points. The Blues are playing desperate hockey, winners of 6 of their last 7 after a 5-4 OT win in Minnesota Saturday. RW Jordan Kyrou had a hat trick, and LW Brandon Saad tucked the game-winner behind the goalie in overtime to win it and stave off a charging Wild team. With only 2 games on the docket tonight, this will be must-see TV.
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Golden Knights at Blues odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 9:10 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Golden Knights -145 (bet $145 to win $100) | Blues +120 (bet $100 to win $120)
- Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Golden Knights -1.5 (+165) | Blues +1.5 (-200)
- Over/Under (O/U): 6 (O: -115 | U: -105)
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Golden Knights at Blues projected goalies
Logan Thompson (19-12-5, 2.77 GAA, .905 SV%, 1 SO) vs. Jordan Binnington (25-19-3, 2.85 GAA, .912%, 3 SO)
Thompson came on in relief of Hill, who departed Saturday with another injury. Thompson stopped 8 of 9 shots he saw and was good in his previous 2 starts as well. He stopped 41 of 43 fired his way. Thompson is 1-0-1 against the Blues this year and stopped 51 of 56 in the 2 games.
Binnington’s numbers are back in line with where they were after a couple of down years with some suspect defense in front of him. He’s tied for 6th in saves above expected, according to MoneyPuck.com. He has given up 4 goals in each of his last 2 starts, but he has a 2.46 GAA and .926 SV% this month. He faced VGK twice this season and allowed 5 goals on a blistering 48 shots and just 1 goal on 34 shots in the other.
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Golden Knights at Blues picks and predictions
Prediction
Blues 3, Golden Knights 2
Moneyline
Both teams are playing well as STL has won 6 of 7 and VGK has won 5 of 7. What sets the teams apart is Vegas’ size and STL’s goaltending. The Knights’ defensemen are massive, and the Blues’ goaltending has been just as massive.
VGK is opening a brutal road trip here before it goes to Nashville, Winnipeg and Minnesota. St. Louis is coming off an emotional OT win on the road and is the healthier bunch. I look for a low-scoring affair, because frankly, that’s the only way STL can win. And I’m taking the upset with BLUES +120.
Puck line/Against the spread
There’s no play here on the PL with the lines juiced. There is a prop that sticks out, though.
JORDAN KYROU OVER 2.5 SHOTS (-130).
Rouzy has 4 goals in 2 games, and a switch has been flipped where he is looking to score instead of trying to make plays. He has 3+ shots in 3 straight and 4 of 5.
Over/Under
This one has shifted to 6.5 at other places, and I would wait to see if BetMGM follows suit. Then I would nail the Under. This is playoff hockey, and if it gets into an offensive barrage, the Blues don’t stand a good chance. The Blues are 3-4-3 O/U over their last 10, and VGK is 5-5.
LEAN UNDER 6 (-105).
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For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.
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