Squaring off for the final time this season, the New York Rangers and the St. Louis Blues take the ice at the Scottrade Center in an East-West tilt. MSG Network will broadcast the game, which gets going at 8 p.m. ET on Saturday, March 17.
New York Rangers vs. St. Louis Blues Odds
St. Louis enters the game as the obvious favorite with a moneyline of -200. The line for New York sits at +170 and the Over/Under (O/U) has been set at 6 goals. The line for betting the total stands at -115 for the over and -105 on the under.
St. Louis is 37-33 straight up (SU) and has lost 3.3 units for moneyline bettors this year. That early-season winning percentage is fairly close to what the team managed during last year’s regular season (46-36). Through 70 regular season contests, 42 of the team’s games have gone under the total, while 27 have gone over and just one has pushed. The team is 20-15 SU at home this year.
The Blues have converted on just 15.0 percent of their power play chances this season, a figure that places them in the bottom- overall among NHL teams. On the other hand, their penalty kill is ranked 13th overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 81.1 percent of all penalties.
The Blues, as a collective unit, have been whistled for penalties just 3.4 times per game overall this season, and 2.4 per game over their last five games. The team has been forced to kill penalties for just 7.5 minutes per game over their last 10 outings, overall.
Averaging 25.1 saves per game with a .907 save percentage, Jake Allen (21 wins, 27 losses, and two OT losses) has been the best option in goal for St. Louis this season. If St. Louis decides to give him the night off, however, the team might turn to Carter Hutton (17-13-13 record, .934 save percentage, 2.02 goals against average).
Brayden Schenn and Vladimir Tarasenko will both lead the way for the Blues. Schenn (58 points) is up to 24 goals and 34 assists and has recorded multiple points on 13 different occasions this year. Tarasenko has 27 goals and 31 assists to his name and has recorded a point in 38 games.
On the other side of the rink, New York is 32-39 straight up (SU) and has lost 6.3 units for moneyline bettors this year. A total of 38 of its contests have gone over the total, while 31 have gone under and just two have pushed. As the visiting team, the Rangers are 12-22 SU.
The Rangers have converted on 21.1 percent of their power play opportunities this season, a figure that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked fifth overall and it’s successfully killed off 82.9 percent of all penalties.
New York’s skaters have been whistled for penalties 3.5 times per game in total this season, and 2.8 per game over their last ten games. The team has had to defend opponent power plays just 6.5 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Henrik Lundqvist (29.2 saves per game) has been the primary choice in goal for New York. Lundqvist owns a 25-33-6 record, while registering a .916 save percentage and 2.92 goals against average this year.
For the visiting Rangers, the offense will run through Mats Zuccarello (14 goals, 34 assists) and Vladislav Namestnikov (22 goals, 25 assists).
New York Rangers vs. St. Louis Blues Free Picks
Free NHL Pick: SU Winner – Blues, O/U – Under
Notes
Betting Notes
St. Louis is 3-0 in games decided by a shootout this season while New York is 3-5 in shootouts.
The under has hit in three of St. Louis’ last five games.
Seven of St. Louis’ last ten games have been decided by two or more goals. The club is 2-5 overall in those games.
The Blue Notes this season have recorded the 11th-most hits per game (22.5), but the club has averaged 25.4 over their last five games as the home team.
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