Rangers’ Lundqvist draws road test vs. Blues
Carter Hutton waited patiently as Jake Allen started the first two games of the Blues’ campaign. Tonight, though, the team’s newest netminder gets his chance to shine.
St. Louis welcomes the Rangers to town at 8 p.m. ET, and oddsmakers continue to feel the home club. Online sports book Bovada.lv endorses the Note, whereas New York represents a +110 underdog. The over/under goal total sits at five.
As Pekka Rinne’s backup in Nashville, Hutton rarely received a heavy workload. The same will probably apply in the Gateway City, where Allen’s viewed as a potential star in the making. Yet the 30-year-old will set up shop for this evening’s challenge against Alain Vigneault’s crew. New York aims to improve to 2-0 after downing the Islanders earlier in the week.
The Blues, of course, looked downright dominant in back-to-back triumphs over Chicago and Minnesota. Paul Stastny, who centers dynamic wingers Alex Steen and Robby Fabbri, already boasts a goal and three helpers. The former Avalanche standout also owns a point in five consecutive meetings with the Blueshirts.
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Nonetheless, the Rangers’ Henrik Lundqvist tends to thrive when running into understudies. Look for the visitors to get off to a fast start, particularly if Rick Nash can establish his formidable presence in front of the net. St. Louis may ultimately rally, but we’re still looking at a one-score type of tilt.
SATURDAY NHL FREE PICK: RANGERS +1.5