Betting news, trends, odds and predictions from various handicappers and websites for Saturday 5/11/19
The Western Conference finals get underway on Saturday after both of these teams own Game 7s to advance. The St. Louis Blues earned an impressive 2-1 victory over the Dallas Stars in double overtime of Game 7 to advance. The San Jose Sharks earned a 3-2 victory over the Colorado Avalanche in their Game 7 to reach the Western Conference finals.
Featured Games
Louis Blues (+105) vs. San Jose Sharks (-125)
About St. Louis
The St. Louis Blues defeated the Winnipeg Jets in six games in the first round to advance. St. Louis then took on the Dallas Stars, splitting the first six games of this series to force a Game 7. Both teams scored a first-period goal. Vince Dunn gave the Blues the lead with his first goal of the playoffs, but Mats Zuccarello tied the score about two minutes later. This was then an incredible goaltending battle as neither team could earn the goal ahead goal. That forced the game into overtime where neither team scored, sending the contest to a second overtime. That is when Pat Maroon scored his third playoff goal at the 5:50 mark to send the St. Louis Blues on to the next round.
Blues center Ryan O’Reilly has scored three points in his last two games. This after scoring no points in his previous five contests.
About San Jose
It took seven games for the San Jose Sharks to defeat the Vegas Golden Knights to advance to the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. That set them up against the Colorado Avalanche, who would force a Game 7 in their series as well. The deciding contest saw San Jose jump out to a 2-0 lead in the first period, thanks to goals by Joe Pavelski and Tomas Hertl. Colorado would cut the deficit in half, but Joonas Donskol restored the Sharks to goal lead with his first goal of the playoffs. Colorado would make this a one-goal game on a goal by Tyson Jost less than a minute into the third, but they could not earn the equalizer, giving the San Jose Sharks the 3-2 victory.
Goaltending Matchup:
Jordan Binnington has had an outstanding playoff run for St. Louis, posting a 2.39 goals-against average and a .915 save percentage through the first 13 games. He finished the second round by allowing a single goal in each of the last two contests and allowing four total goals over the final three games. Binnington finished the regular season with a 24-5-1 mark and an impressive 1.89 goals-against average and a .927 save percentage.
Martin Jones enters this series with a 2.72 goals-against average and a .910 save percentage in 14 games this postseason. After giving up four goals in Game 6, he responded by allowing just two of the 29 shots he faced in Game 7 to get by. Jones finished the regular season with a 36-19-5 record, a 2.94 goals-against average, and a .896 save percentage.
Stat Pack:
Blues:
Goals For: 2.62
Goals Against: 2.54
Power-Play: 17.1%
Penalty Killing: 75.0%
Sharks:
Goals For: 3.07
Goals Against: 3.07
Power-Play: 18.5%
Penalty Killing: 80.8%
Trends to Know
St. Louis Blues are:
5-1 in their last six games on the road.
16-7 in their last 23 games.
1-4 in their last five conference finals games.
San Jose Sharks are:
5-1 in their last six games at home.
7-3 in their last 10 games.
4-1 in their last five conference finals games.
Prediction
Both these teams are coming off exciting series, and one has to wonder how drained they are going to be after such an intense second round. However, no time to waste, as both teams looked to jump out in front in this series. This contest presents an interesting dynamic, as St. Louis is 5-1 in their last six games on the road and San Jose is 5-1 in their last six games at home. It makes it a difficult choice, but we look to a trend that really stands out here. The home team has won the last five contests between these two teams and we expect that trend to continue here.
The total is set at 5.5. Both Binnington and Jones looked exceptional in the Game 7 victories, and we expect them to be the biggest factors in this contest. San Jose is going to win, but it is not going to be an easy contest. Take the San Jose Sharks, 3-1.
NHL Western Conference Finals: Blues vs Sharks series preview, odds and best bets
Rohit Ponnaiya
Jordan Binnington and the St. Louis Blues are underdogs for their Western Conference Finals series against the San Jose Sharks.
The San Jose Sharks and St. Louis Blues have seen their share of struggles this season but will face each other in the Western Conference Finals with the winner advancing to play for the Stanley Cup.
The Sharks open as the series favorite thanks to a deep lineup filled with playmakers but the Blues are riding red-hot rookie netminder Jordan Binnington. We break down the series odds and give you in-depth trends and notes so you can make the best bets on the road to the Stanley Cup.
St. Louis Blues vs San Jose Sharks
Series Winner Odds: San Jose -175/St. Louis +120 @ Sports Interaction
Stanley Cup Winner Odds: San Jose +225/St. Louis +330 @ Sports Interaction
Regular Season Head to Head: San Jose 2-1
SCHEDULE
Game 1: SAP Center, San Jose, CA - Saturday, May 11, 8:00 p.m. ET
Game 2: SAP Center, San Jose, CA - Monday, May 13, 9:00 p.m. ET
Game 3: Enterprise Center, St. Louis, MO - Wednesday, May 15, 8:00 p.m. ET
Game 4: Enterprise Center, St. Louis, MO - Friday, May 17, 8:00 p.m. ET
*Game 5: SAP Center, San Jose, CA - Sunday, May 19, 3:00 p.m. ET
*Game 6: Enterprise Center, St. Louis, MO - Tuesday, May 21, 8:00 p.m. ET
*Game 7: SAP Center, San Jose, CA - Thursday, May 23, 8:00 p.m. ET
* If necessary
BACKGROUND
Both teams are coming off a grueling seven-game series, with the Blues coming off a 2-1 double overtime win against the Stars while the Sharks held off the Avalanche 3-2 in Game 7.
The Sharks were on the ropes to Vegas in Round 1, down three games to one after three straight losses where they allowed at least five goals. Since then their defense and goalie Martin Jones have played much better.
The Blues have been led by backstopper Binnington. The Calder Trophy candidate went 24-5-1 with a 1.89 GAA and .927 save percentage during the regular season, and saved 51 of 53 shots in the last two games against Dallas.
The regular season matchups between these two sides don't tell us much. Each team won 4-0 at home back in November (well before Binnington got his first start) and then the Sharks squeezed out a 3-2 overtime victory at home in March.
SWEATING BETTORS
The Blues have played a ton of close games, with eight of their last 10 games being decided by a single goal. The Sharks have played three consecutive games that were decided by just one goal. Taking the puckline on the underdog could prove to be a profitable play.
VULNERABLE BETWEEN THE PIPES?
I mentioned that Jones has played much better in the net lately, but that uneven play earlier in the playoffs has to worry Sharks backers. San Jose has easily allowed the most even strength and overall goals during the playoffs and their goals allowed per game of 3.07 is the highest of any team to make it past the first round.
FURIOUS FINISHES
St. Louis has scored more goals in the third period (18) than in the first two periods combined (15). The Sharks have allowed 16 goals in the final period, compared to 11 in the opening period and 15 in the second. Taking the third period to be the highest scoring might be a sharp bet.
ANOTHER PERIOD TREND
The Blues have scored just six postseason goals in the second period, while allowing only nine. The second has also been the Sharks lowest scoring period with 11 goals. Lean towards the second period Under.
PLAYER TO WATCH: JADEN SCHWARTZ, ST. LOUIS BLUES
In a series featuring plenty of big-name forwards inluding Logan Couture, Joe Pavelski, and Vladimir Tarasenko, Schwartz might be the hottest one entering Game 1. Schwartz has scored eight goals in his last nine games, and has found the back of the net in four of the last six contests against Dallas. Taking Schwartz to score the most goals in the series pays out at +1850.
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Blues vs Sharks NHL betting picks and predictions: San Jose a good bet to take big bite out of Blues in Game 1
Monty Andrews
Sharks have scored double-digit goals in all three periods this postseason and are averaging a whopping 3.88 goals at home in the playoffs.
It wasn't easy for either team, but you won't hear the St. Louis Blues or San Jose Sharks complain as they prepare for Game 1 of the Western Conference final Saturday night at HP Center. The host Sharks needed seven games to dispatch the Colorado Avalanche, prevailing 3-2 in a thrilling Game 7 at home. The St. Louis Blues had an even more dramatic time of it, with Patrick Maroon's goal in double-overtime lifting the Blues past the Dallas Stars.
San Jose comes in as a -125 favorite to advance to the Stanley Cup final, but it won't be easy against a Blues side (+105) that has routinely saved its best for last.We break the best ways to wager Game 1 of the Western Conference Final.
ST. LOUIS BLUES AT SAN JOSE SHARKS (-130, 5.5)
Series Price: Blues +120/Sharks -175
QUICK-HITTER
It was true in the regular season, and it remains a fact in the Stanley Cup playoffs: The San Jose Sharks are one dangerous team in the opening period. The Sharks scored a league-best 102 first-period goals during the season, and their 14 goals in the first 20 minutes of their 14 playoff games sits tied with the Stars for the most in the league. And while San Jose's defense hasn't been nearly as successful, the team is still plus-3 for the postseason while the Blues, who allowed just 58 first-period goals during the season, are a minus-4. Give us the home team to own a lead after the opening stanza of Game 1.
PREDICTION: Sharks -0.5 first-period line (+170)
PERIOD BET
Here are some numbers for you: 23, 17, 34. It's not the combination to our gym locker (though it's probably the combination to someone's gym locker), but rather, the total goals scored by these two teams by period. Notice the outlier? The Blues and Sharks rank 1-2 in third-period goals through the first two rounds of the postseason, while the Sharks have been equally porous on the defensive end with a league-high 16 third-period goals allowed. Once they get past the nerves, expect both teams to bring the scoring chances as the game goes on; we like the third as the highest-scoring period.
PREDICTION: Highest scoring period - Period 3 (+225)
TEAM/PLAYER BET
It's no surprise that Tomas Hertl and Logan Couture have identical odds to score in Game 1; after all, they've had a nearly dead-even postseason so far in terms of offensive production. Both players have nine goals and five assists, and both skaters scored six goals against Vegas in the opening round and three more against Colorado in Round 2. So why are we leaning toward Hertl over Couture? Hertl scored eight more regular-season goals in four fewer games, has eight more shots than Couture in the playoffs, and has scored eight of his nine goals at home. We're leaning toward the Czech dynamo to convert Saturday.
PREDICTION: Tomas Hertl anytime goal (+135)
FULL-GAME TOTAL
After opening their postseason run against two teams who liked to play an up-tempo game, the Sharks will face a very different opponent in the Blues, who have seen five or fewer goals scored in eight of their 13 postseason contests. The teams have also trended toward the under, with each of their previous five games producing five or fewer total goals. We expect things to tighten up as this series moves along, but with the Sharks looking to make a statement and the Blues averaging an impressive 3.17 goals on the road, there could be a little money to be made with the O5.5.
PREDICTION: Over 5.5 (+110)
FULL-GAME SIDE
The Blues were able to overcome early- and mid-game offensive shortcomings in the first two rounds of the postseason by being so prolific in the final period – but that strategy likely won't work against the host Sharks, who have scored double-digit goals in all three periods and are averaging a whopping 3.88 goals at home in the playoffs. It's also notable that the home team has won each of the past five head-to-head meetings between the teams, with three of those contests decided by multiple goals. Neither team has a rest edge, so we're rolling with home-ice advantage here; take the Sharks -1.5 for a nicer payout.
PREDICTION: Sharks -1.5 (+210)
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NHL
Dunkel
Saturday, May 11
St. Louis @ San Jose
Game 3-4
May 11, 2019 @ 8:00 pm
Dunkel Rating:
St. Louis
10.967
San Jose
12.390
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
San Jose
by 1 1/2
6
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
San Jose
-125
5 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
San Jose
(-125); Over
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NHL
Long Sheet
Saturday, May 11
ST LOUIS (53-32-0-10, 116 pts.) at SAN JOSE (54-32-0-10, 118 pts.) - 5/11/2019, 8:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
ST LOUIS is 38-20 ATS (+10.0 Units) second half of the season this season.
ST LOUIS is 16-10 ATS (+26.4 Units) in road games revenging a loss versus opponent this season.
ST LOUIS is 32-21 ATS (+10.3 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
ST LOUIS is 20-9 ATS (+10.4 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record in the second half of the season this season.
Head-to-Head Series History
ST LOUIS is 5-4 (+1.4 Units) against the spread versus SAN JOSE over the last 3 seasons
ST LOUIS is 5-4-0 straight up against SAN JOSE over the last 3 seasons
6 of 6 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Under=+6.2 Units)
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NHL
Saturday, May 11
Trend Report
St. Louis Blues
St. Louis is 2-6 ATS in its last 8 games
St. Louis is 16-7 SU in its last 23 games
St. Louis is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games on the road
St. Louis is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games on the road
St. Louis is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games when playing San Jose
St. Louis is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games when playing San Jose
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of St. Louis's last 5 games when playing San Jose
St. Louis is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games when playing on the road against San Jose
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of St. Louis's last 5 games when playing on the road against San Jose
San Jose Sharks
San Jose is 7-18 ATS in its last 25 games
San Jose is 7-3 SU in its last 10 games
San Jose is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games at home
San Jose is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 10 of San Jose's last 12 games at home
San Jose is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games when playing St. Louis
San Jose is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games when playing St. Louis
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of San Jose's last 5 games when playing St. Louis
San Jose is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games when playing at home against St. Louis
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of San Jose's last 5 games when playing at home against St. Louis
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