Two teams that both played last night, the Anaheim Ducks and the St. Louis Blues meet at the Enterprise Center in a Western Conference showdown. The action gets going at 7 p.m. ET on Sunday, October 14 and it is being shown live on Prime Ticket.
Anaheim Ducks vs. St. Louis Blues Odds
Anaheim is 3-2 straight up (SU) and has earned moneyline bettors 2.1 units this year. That SU win percentage, the best in the Pacific Division so far in this young season, isn’t too far off from to what the team posted last season (44-38). Through five regular season matches, two of its games have gone under the total, while one has gone over and one has pushed. The Ducks are 2-1 SU as a road team in 2018-19.
Anaheim has converted on 23.1 percent of its power play chances thus far. That’s a noticeable step forward from last season, when it was ranked 24th in the league by converting on 17.3 percent of its extra-man opportunities. Its penalty kill has fallen off noticeably year-over-year, however, as the team’s gone from successfully defending 82.3 percent of opponents’ power plays (ranked fifth overall last season) to 80.0 percent this year.
Anaheim, as a collective unit, has been penalized just 3.0 times per game this season. Last year, that figure was the third-highest mark in the league at 4.3 penalties per game. After serving an average of 10.2 penalty minutes per game a year ago, the team’s been forced to kill penalties for only 6.0 minutes per outing this season.
Averaging 33.6 saves per game with a .944 save percentage, John Gibson (3-2-1) has been the top option in goal for Anaheim this season. Gibson did just play last night, however, so head coach Randy Carlyle may opt to rest him and instead turn to Ryan Miller (0-1 record, .1,000 save percentage, 0.00 goals against average).
Jakob Silfverberg and Max Comtois will both spearhead the attack for the visiting Ducks. Silfverberg (six points) is up to two goals and four assists this season; Comtois has two goals and two assists to his credit through the early phase of the regular season.
On the other side of the rink, St. Louis is 1-3 straight up (SU) and has lost 1.8 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through four regular season outings, two of its games have gone over the total, while zero have gone under and one has pushed. It’s 1-2 SU as the home team this season.
St. Louis has scored on 30.0 percent of its extra-man advantages this year after converting on 15.4 percent (ranked 30th in league) last season. It has killed off an impressive 84.6 percent of its penalties, a few points up from the 79.6 percent the team recorded a year ago (when it was ranked 17th in the NHL).
St. Louis players have been whistled for penalties only 3.3 times per game this season. Last year, that number was at 3.3, the third-best mark in the NHL. After serving an average of 7.7 penalty minutes per game a year ago, the team has been forced to kill penalties for 6.5 minutes per matchup this season.
Jake Allen (30.5 saves per game) has been the primary option in goal for St. Louis. Allen has one win, three losses, and two overtime losses to his credit and has maintained a pedestrian 4.13 goals against average and a subpar .878 save percentage this year.
The Blue Notes will be led on offense by Brayden Schenn (two goals, three assists).
Anaheim Ducks at St. Louis Blues Betting Predictions
Free NHL Tip: SU Winner – Blues, O/U – Over
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Notes
Betting Trends
Anaheim has managed 20.0 shot attempts per game over its last five road games while St. Louis is averaging 34.7 shots per game over its last five at home.
After posting a 4-7 record in games decided by a shootout last year, Anaheim is off to a 1-1 start in shootouts this season. St. Louis went 3-0 in shootouts last year and has yet to participate in one this time around.
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