Two clubs that are facing each other for the final time this season, the Detroit Red Wings and the St. Louis Blues meet at the Scottrade Center for an East-West showdown. NBC Sports Network will broadcast the game, and the action gets underway at 8 p.m. ET on Wednesday, February 28.
Detroit Red Wings vs. St. Louis Blues Odds
St. Louis (-145) is currently favored over Detroit (+125) and the Over/Under (O/U) has been set at 5 goals (-140 over, +120 under).
St. Louis is 34-30 straight up (SU) and has lost 2.6 units for moneyline bettors this year. That early-season winning percentage isn’t too far off from to what the team managed during the 2016-17 season (46-36). 38 of its 64 games have gone under the total, while 24 have gone over and just one has pushed. This season, the team is 19-14 SU at home.
The Blues have converted on just 15.9 percent of their power play opportunities this year, a mark that places them in the bottom-5 overall among NHL teams. On the other hand, their penalty kill is ranked 15th overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 81.1 percent of all penalties.
As a collective unit, the Blues have been penalized just 3.5 times per game overall this season, 4.0 per game over their last five outings total, and 4.0 per game over their last five home outings. The team has been forced to stave off opposition power plays for 8.6 minutes per game over their last 10 matchups, in total.
Averaging 24.8 saves per game with a .904 save percentage, Jake Allen (19-25-2) has been the top option in goal for St. Louis this year. Allen did just play last night, however, so the team might opt to give him a rest and roll with Carter Hutton instead (16-12-12 record, .933 save percentage, 2.03 goals against average).
Brayden Schenn and Vladimir Tarasenko will both lead the offensive attack for the Blues. Schenn (56 points) has tallied 24 goals and 32 assists and has recorded two or more points on 13 different occasions this year. Tarasenko has 26 goals and 29 assists to his credit and has notched a point in 35 contests.
Detroit is 26-36 straight up (SU) and has lost 7.5 units for bettors taking the moneyline this year. A total of 37 of its outings have gone under the total, while 24 have gone over and just one has pushed. As the away team, the Red Wings are 13-15 SU.
The Red Wings have converted on just 18.7 percent of their power play opportunities this year, a figure that places them in the bottom-10 overall among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 24th overall and it’s successfully killed off 78.1 percent of all penalties.
Detroit’s skaters have been penalized 3.6 times per game in total this season, and 2.4 per game over their last five games. The team has had to defend opponent power plays just 7.7 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Jimmy Howard (26.6 saves per game) has been the primary option in goal for Detroit. Howard has 18 wins, 28 losses, and seven overtime losses to his credit, while registering a .912 save percentage and 2.77 goals against average this year.
Dylan Larkin (nine goals, 38 assists) has been one of the top offensive facilitators for the visiting Red Wings.
Detroit Red Wings at St. Louis Blues Betting Predictions
Free NHL Tip: SU Winner – Blues, O/U – UnderBetting Notes
- Over St. Louis’ last ten outings, seven of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 2-5 in those games).
- Power plays and penalty kills could be critical tonight. The Red Wings are 9-12 in games where they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 18-25 when they serve fewer than 10 total penalty minutes. The Blues are 16-11 when the team serves fewer penalty minutes than the opposition and 24-19 in games where they’re in the box for less than 10 minutes.
- Detroit is 4-1 in games decided by a shootout this season while St. Louis is 3-0 in shootouts.
- St. Louis may hold the upper hand if it’s a close one late. The team’s 13-11 in games decided by one goal, while Detroit is just 9-18 in such games.
- The total has gone under in three of St. Louis’ last five games.
- St. Louis has averaged 2.8 goals per game overall this year, but is averaging 1.4 goals per matchup over its seven-game losing streak.
- St. Louis skaters have averaged 6.2 giveaways over its last five home games, right in line with its season average of 6.0 giveaways per game (ranked 2nd).
- Detroit skaters have averaged 8.2 giveaways over its last five home games, an improvement from its season average of 10.9 giveaways per game (ranked 24th).
- The Blue Notes this season have recorded the 10th-most hits in the league (22.5 per game).
