A game between two teams that have put themselves squarely in the playoff picture, the St. Louis Blues and the Toronto Maple Leafs clash at Air Canada Centre for an East-West tilt. The match will get underway at 7 p.m. ET on Tuesday, January 16, and you can view it live on Fox Sports Midwest.
St. Louis Blues at Toronto Maple Leafs Odds
St. Louis (+125) is currently the underdog to Toronto (-145), and the oddsmakers have set the Over/Under (O/U) at 6 goals. The odds for betting the total stand at -110 money on the over and -110 for the under.
St. Louis is 26-20 straight up (SU) and has earned moneyline bettors 0.8 units this year. Through 46 regular season matches, 27 of its games have gone under the total, while 19 have gone over and none have pushed. This 2017-18 Blues team is 11-11 SU on the road.
St. Louis has converted on just 15.0 percent of its power play chances this year, a mark that places them in the bottom- overall among NHL teams. Additionally, its penalty kill is ranked 15th in the league, and it has successfully killed off 81.4 percent of all penalties.
For the team as a whole, the Blue Notes have been sent to the penalty box just 3.5 times per game overall this season, 3.2 per game over its last five outings total, and 3.8 per game over its last five on the road. The team’s had to stave off opponent power plays just 8.6 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Averaging 25.7 saves per game with a .908 save percentage, Jake Allen (18-17-2) has been the primary option in goal for St. Louis this year. If St. Louis chooses to rest him, however, they could roll with Carter Hutton (9-7-1 record, .940 save percentage, 1.84 goals against average).
Vladimir Tarasenko and Brayden Schenn will both be relied on to produce for the visiting Blues. Tarasenko (44 points) has tallied 19 goals and 25 assists, and has recorded multiple points 12 times. Schenn has 17 goals and 27 assists to his name, and has registered a point in 26 games.
On the other side of the rink, Toronto is 25-20 straight up (SU) and has lost 1.4 units for moneyline bettors thus far. Through 45 regular season contests, 22 of its games have gone over the total, while 20 have gone under and just three have pushed. It’s 13-8 SU at home this year.
The Maple Leafs have converted on just 20.9 percent of their power play opportunities this year, a mark that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked sixth overall, and it’s successfully killed off 83.8 percent of all opponent power plays.
Toronto players have been penalized only 3.7 times per game in total this season, 3.4 per game over their past five outings total, and 3.4 per game over their last five at home. The team’s had to defend opponent power plays just 8.5 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Frederik Andersen (31.4 saves per game) has been the top selection in goal for the Maple Leafs. Andersen has 22 wins, 15 losses, and two overtime losses and has registered a .921 save percentage and 2.69 goals against average this year.
The Leafs offense will be led by Auston Matthews (19 goals, 14 assists).
St. Louis Blues at Toronto Maple Leafs Free Picks
Predictions: SU Winner – Maple Leafs, O/U – Over
Notes
Betting Trends
Two of Toronto’s last ten games have been decided by a shootout. The team is 2-0 in those games and 4-1 overall in shootouts this year.
The total has gone under in four of Toronto’s last five games.
Toronto’s attempted 31.2 shots per game overall this season (ranked 19th in the NHL), and 35.4 in their last five home games.
Over St. Louis’ last ten games, four of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 1-3 in those games).
St. Louis skaters have accounted for the 12th-most hits in the league (21.8 per game).
