Two clubs that are squaring off for the third and final time this season, the St. Louis Blues and the Anaheim Ducks clash at the Honda Center for a Western Conference showdown. The opening face-off takes place at 10 p.m. ET on Monday, March 12, and you’ll be able to catch it live on Fox Sports Midwest.
St. Louis Blues vs. Anaheim Ducks Odds
Anaheim heads into the matchup as the heavy favorite with a -170 moneyline. The line for St. Louis sits at +150 and the oddsmakers have put the Over/Under (O/U) at 5 goals. The line for betting that total stands at -130 money on the over and +110 on the under.
St. Louis is 36-32 straight up (SU) and has lost 3.1 units for moneyline bettors thus far. 41 of its games have gone under the total, while 26 have gone over and just one has pushed. The Blue Notes are 16-18 SU on the road in 2017-18.
St. Louis has converted on just 15.2 percent of its power play opportunities this year, a mark that places them in the bottom- overall among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 15th overall, and it has successfully killed off 80.9 percent of its penalties.
The Blue Notes, as a collective unit, have been penalized just 3.5 times per game this season, 3.8 per game over its last five matchups total, and 3.4 per game over its last five games as the visiting team. The team has had to kill penalties 9.4 minutes per game over their last five road outings.
Sporting a .907 save percentage and 25.3 saves per game, Jake Allen (20-26-2) has been the best option in goal for St. Louis this year. If it chooses to rest him, however, head coach Mike Yeo might go with Carter Hutton (17-13-3), who has a .934 save percentage and 2.02 goals against average this year.
The visiting Blues have relied on Vladimir Tarasenko and Brayden Schenn heavily this season. Tarasenko (58 points) is up to 27 goals and 31 assists, and has recorded two or more points 16 times. Schenn has 24 goals and 33 assists to his name (and has registered at least one point in 37 games).
On the other bench, Anaheim is 34-35 straight up (SU) and has lost 2.6 units for moneyline bettors thus far. 42 of its outings have gone under the total, while 26 have gone over and just one has pushed. The team is 19-14 SU at home this year.
The Ducks have converted on just 17.9 percent of their power play chances this season, a mark that’s ranked 25th in the NHL. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 10th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 82.5 percent of all penalties.
Ducks players have been whistled for penalties 4.4 times per game in total this season, and 3.6 per game over their past ten games. The team’s had to stave off opponent power plays just 8.4 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
John Gibson (29.6 saves per game) has been the top selection in goal for the Ducks. Gibson has 26 wins, 24 losses, and seven OT losses to his credit and has recorded a 2.49 goals against average and a .926 save percentage this year.
Rickard Rakell (30 goals, 29 assists) will pace the offensive attack for the Ducks.
St. Louis Blues at Anaheim Ducks Free Picks
Free Pick: SU Winner – Ducks, O/U – Over
Notes
Betting Trends
Two of Anaheim’s last ten games have gone to a shootout. The team is 1-1 in those games and 4-7 overall in shootouts this season.
The over has hit in three of Anaheim’s last five outings.
Over St. Louis’ last ten games, five of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 1-4 in those games).
This game features two of the tougher teams in the league. St. Louis skaters have accounted for the league’s 11th-most hits per game (22.4) while the Ducks have handed the sixth-most (24.2).
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