The Scottrade Center will be the site for an East-West showdown as the St. Louis Blues take on the visiting Boston Bruins. It’s the last time that these two clubs will meet in the regular season. This one gets underway at 8 p.m. ET on Wednesday, March 21 and it is being televised live on NBC Sports Network.
Boston Bruins at St. Louis Blues Odds
Boston is 45-26 straight up (SU) and has earned 7.8 units for moneyline bettors this season. 37 of its games have gone under the total, while 33 have gone over and just one has pushed. This 2017-18 Bruins team is 20-14 SU on the road.
Boston has converted on 22.3 percent of its power play opportunities this season, a figure that’s good enough for seventh-best in the NHL. Its penalty kill is ranked 10th overall, and the team’s successfully killed off 82.1 percent of its penalties.
The Bruins, as a collective unit, have been sent to the penalty box 3.8 times per game this season, 3.6 per game over its last five contests total, and 4.2 per game over its last five games as the visiting team. The team has been forced to kill penalties 11.0 minutes per game over their last five road outings.
Boasting a .916 save percentage and 25.1 saves per game, Tuukka Rask (30-17-5) has been the best option in goal for Boston this year. If head coach Bruce Cassidy decides to rest him, however, Boston may turn to Anton Khudobin (15-12-4 record, .917 save percentage, 2.50 goals against average).
The visiting Bruins have relied on Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak this season. Marchand has 75 points via 31 goals and 44 assists, and has recorded multiple points in 22 different games. Pastrnak has 28 goals and 42 assists to his credit, and has logged at least one point in 46 games.
Over on the other bench, St. Louis is 39-33 straight up (SU) and has lost 1.3 units for moneyline bettors thus far. 42 of its games have gone under the total, while 29 have gone over and just one has pushed. It’s 21-15 SU at home this year.
The Blues have converted on just 15.9 percent of their power play opportunities this season, a mark that places them in the bottom 5 overall among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 16th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 80.4 percent of all opponent power plays.
St. Louis skaters have been sent to the penalty box only 3.4 times per game in total this season, and 2.0 per game over their past five outings. The team’s been forced to defend opponent power plays just 7.0 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Jake Allen (24.9 saves per game) has been the primary choice in goal for the Blues. Allen has 23 wins, 27 losses, and two overtime losses to his name and has registered a pedestrian 2.79 goals against average and a subpar .905 save percentage this year.
Brayden Schenn (25 goals, 35 assists) will lead the offensive counter for the Blues.
Boston Bruins at St. Louis Blues Free Picks
Prediction: SU Winner – Blues, O/U – Over
Notes
Betting Trends
Six of St. Louis’ last ten contests have been decided by two or more goals, and the team is 2-4 overall in those games.
Power-play opportunities may play a key role in tonight’s game. The Bruins are 14-16 in games where they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 25-15 when they serve fewer than 10 total penalty minutes. The Blues are 18-13 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than the opposition and 29-21 when total penalty minutes are in the single digits.
Boston is 3-2 in games decided by a shootout this season while St. Louis is 3-0 in shootouts.
The total has gone over in four of St. Louis’ last five games.
St. Louis skaters have averaged 4.6 giveaways over its last five home games, an improvement from its season average of 6.0 giveaways per game (the 2nd-fewest in the league).
Boston is ranked 15th this season with 9.6 giveaways per game. That figure’s trended down lately, however, as the team’s averaged 8.4 giveaways over its last 10 games and 6.8 giveaways over its last five.
This game features two of the tougher defenses in the league. Boston skaters have accounted for the eighth-most hits in the league (23.9 per game) while the Blues have recorded the 10th-most (22.8).
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