Tarasenko eyes another Big Apple show
The Rangers continue to rule the Metropolitan Division without the services of talented forward Chris Kreider. But will his absence be too much to overcome against the Blues?
Two of the NHL’s best teams drop the puck tonight, with Madison Square Garden serving as the backdrop. Online sports book Bovada.lv gives the hosts odds of -130 to prevail. St. Louis, on the other hand, enters the historic venue as a +110 underdog.
Kreider potted three goals in five contests before neck spasms forced him to miss the past four tilts. New York (6-3-0) keeps soldiering onward, though, ranking third in the Western Conference with 12 points. Alain Vigneault’s bunch hasn’t lost in the Empire State since Oct. 19.
As for the Blues (5-2-2), they’re gripping the sticks a bit too lightly at present. Ken Hitchcock’s crew can claims just three scores over the preceding nine periods. Nonetheless, the Note blanked Los Angeles 1-0 on Saturday. Jake Allen made 27 saves for his 12th career shutout.
NHL Quick Links: Free Matchup Reports | Injuries | Odds Comparison | Scoreboard | Betting Trends
These Stanley Cup hopefuls met a mere two weeks ago, with St. Louis eking out a 3-2 victory. Expect a similarly tight matchup shortly. Something tells us, however, that Vladimir Tarasenko (goals in lifetime skates vs. the Rangers) could swing the balance of power late.
TUESDAY NHL FREE PICK: BLUES +1.5