The St. Louis Blues find themselves just one game away from winning their Stanley Cup as they lead the Boston Bruins 3-2 in their best of seven series. This came after the Blues defeated the Bruins in Boston, 3-2, in Game 5.
St. Louis jumped out to a 2-0 lead in this contest. After a scoreless first period, Ryan O’Reilly gave his team the lead with his sixth playoff goal just 55 seconds into the second. It remained 1-0 into the third when David Perron would net his seventh goal of the postseason a little over 10 minutes into the third. Just three minutes later, Jake DeBrusk would cut the deficit for the Bruins in half with his fourth goal, but Boston could get no closer.
Featured Game
Boston Bruins (-103) vs. St. Louis Blues (-120)
Boston Notes
After scoring 55 points through the first 20 games of the playoffs, the No. 1 line of Brad Marchand, David Patrnak, and Patrice Bergeron has been held to just two points in the last two contests. Not coincidentally, these have both been losses for the Boston Bruins.
Equally as concerning is the fact that the Boston power-play is 0-5 combined over the last two games. This after they had scored a goal in each of their previous seven contests.
St. Louis Notes
Jordan Binnington tied an NHL playoff record for victories in the postseason for a rookie with 15 and is also tied with nine road victories. He has been a huge difference in the turnaround for St. Louis, going 24-5-1 since being called up in January.
Blues forward Ivan Barbashev is suspended for Sunday’s game for an illegal check.
St. Louis is 7-1 this postseason in Games 5, 6, 7 and have outscored opponents 25-10 and these such games during the 2019 run.
Goaltending Matchup:
Tuukka Rask stopped in 19 of 21 shots in Game 5, but he is simply being outplayed right now. The two goals allowed in the last contest continued his streak of allowing three goals or less in 18 straight games now. The Boston goaltender has allowed 12 total goals through the first five games. Rask has a 1.97 goals-against average and a .937 save percentage through 22 playoff games this season.
Binnington is building an impressive legend, stopping 38 of 39 shots faced in Game 5. He has been unbelievably impressive since giving up five goals in Game 3, stopping 59 of 62 shots faced. Binnington has allowed 13 total goals in the five Stanley Cup games. He has a 2.46 goals-against average and a .913 save percentage in 24 games.
Stat Pack:
Bruins:
Goals For: 3.22
Goals Against: 2.09
Power-Play: 33.3%
Penalty Killing: 87.7%
Blues:
Goals For: 2.92
Goals Against: 2.767
Power-Play: 17.1%
Penalty Killing: 75.0%
Trends to Know
Boston Bruins are:
5-1 in their last six games on the road.
2-6 in their last eight games in the Stanley Cup finals.
36-18 in their last 54 games.
St. Louis Blues are:
20-8 in their last 28 games at home.
39-19 in their last 58 games.
7-1 in their last eight in Game 5, 6, and 7 of the playoffs.
Prediction
There is one rule when it comes to the Stanley Cup playoffs. The team that has the hot goaltender is the one you go with. After getting absolutely blitzed in Game 3, Binnington has been nothing short of brilliant. He is on his way to being the Conn Smythe Trophy and nothing would be better than to accept that award on his own home ice.
Boston look like they were unstoppable, but now they are vulnerable. Rask has played extremely well but would know offensive support, especially from the team’s No. 1 line, there is really nothing he can do. St. Louis is about to hoist the cup.
The total is set at 5.0 for this contest. Three of the first four games went over that total with Game 2 coming in at five with St. Louis winning, 3-2. We look for Game 6 to be very much like Game 5, as the tension is going to be high and neither team is willing to make a mistake that will cost them the Cup. Go with St. Louis to win 3-1.
Giants vs. Eagles TNF Prediction NFC East foes meet on Thursday Night Football this week, as the Eagles host the Giants at 8:20 p.m. ET. The Eagles are laying 4.5 points but are just 1-4-1 to start the season while the rebuilding Giants aren’t any better at 1-5 entering play tonight. So what’s the best play for bettors?
South Carolina vs. LSU Prediction The national champs have started the season 1-2 and their defense struggled mightily in their two losses. Will LSU rebound on Saturday night when it hosts SEC rival South Carolina at 7:00 p.m. ET?
Kentucky vs. Missouri Prediction The last time we saw Missouri the Tigers were upsetting the national champs but they also haven’t played in two weeks after back-to-back COVID-19 related postponements. Will Mizzou pick up a win and a cover on Saturday when it returns to action versus Kentucky at 4:00 p.m. ET?
Arkansas State vs. App State Prediction The Sun Belt Conference will have the all the attention in the college football world on Thursday night when Arkansas State visits Appalachian State at 7:30 p.m. ET. With the home team laying 13 points and the total sitting at 68 points, what’s the best play for bettors in this stand alone matchup?
Iowa vs. Purdue Week 8 Prediction The Big Ten opens its season this weekend and one of the conference tilts will feature Iowa traveling to West Lafayette, IN to take on Purdue at 3:30 p.m. ET. With the total sitting at 54.5 and the Boilermakers listed as a small home dog, what’s the optimal play for bettors in this matchup?
Baylor vs. Texas Week 8 Prediction A pair of .500 teams from the Big 12 will meet in Austin on Saturday afternoon when 2-2 Texas hosts 1-1 Baylor as a 9-point favorite. What’s the best bet on the board for bettors looking to cash in on this conference matchup?
Florida State vs. Louisville Prediction ACC rivals square off at Cardinal Stadium on Saturday afternoon when unranked Louisville hosts 2-3 Florida State at 12:00 p.m. ET. With the total sitting at 61 points, is that number too high for these two teams to cash the over for bettors?
Rays vs. Dodgers Game 2 Prediction The Dodgers took Game 1 of the 2020 World Series 8-3 and cashed as a large favorite over the underdog Rays. The over also hit easily as L.A.’s bats came alive in the fourth and fifth inning to help push the final score over. Will the combination of the Dodgers and the over also hit in Game 2 tonight?
Oklahoma vs. TCU Week 8 Prediction Big 12 rivals clash on Saturday in Fort Worth where the unranked TCU Horned Frogs host the Oklahoma Sooners at 12:00 p.m. ET. Which side has the edge with the Sooners laying seven points as a road favorite?
Auburn vs. Ole Miss Week 8 Prediction SEC foes meet in Oxford on Saturday where 1-3 Ole Miss hosts 2-2 Auburn at 12:00 p.m. ET. As of this writing, the total sits at 68.5 and the Rebels are a 3-point home dog. What’s the best play for bettors based on the trends between these two teams?
