The Scottrade Center will play host to a Western Conference showdown as the San Jose Sharks square off against the St. Louis Blues. The match gets underway at 8 p.m. ET on Tuesday, February 20, and fans at home can see the game live on NBC Sports California.
San Jose Sharks at St. Louis Blues Odds
St. Louis is 34-26 straight up (SU) and has earned moneyline bettors 1.3 units this year. That early-season winning percentage is right in line with what the team produced during the 2016-17 season (46-36). Of its 60 regular season contests, 36 have gone under the total, while 24 have gone over and none have pushed. The team’s 19-12 SU at home this season.
The Blues have converted on just 16.3 percent of their power play opportunities this season, a mark that puts them in the bottom-5 overall among NHL teams. On the other hand, their penalty kill is rated 14th overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 81.8 percent of all penalties.
The Blues, as a collective unit, have been penalized just 3.5 times per game overall this season, 4.0 per game over their last five matchups total, and 3.2 per game over their last five home outings. The team’s had to kill penalties for just 7.7 minutes per game over their last 10 matchups, in total.
Averaging 25.2 saves per game with a .908 save percentage, Jake Allen (19-22-2) has been the primary option in goal for St. Louis this year. If head coach Mike Yeo chooses to rest him, however, the team may go with Carter Hutton (16-10-10 record, .940 save percentage, 1.81 goals against average).
The Blue Notes will continue relying on offensive production from Brayden Schenn and Vladimir Tarasenko. Schenn (55 points) has tallied 24 goals and 31 assists and has recorded two or more points on 13 different occasions this year. Tarasenko has 23 goals and 29 assists to his name and has notched at least one point in 33 contests.
On the other side of the rink, San Jose is 32-27 straight up (SU) and has lost 1.1 units for moneyline bettors thus far. A total of 36 of its matches have gone under the total, while 22 have gone over and just one has pushed. The Sharks are 15-15 SU as a road team this season.
The Sharks have scored on 22.8 percent of their power play chances this season, a figure that’s good enough for fifth-best in the NHL. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked first overall and it’s successfully killed off 84.6 percent of all penalties.
San Jose’s players have been penalized only 3.5 times per game in total this season, and 2.4 per game over their last five on the road. The team’s had to kill penalties just 5.4 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Martin Jones (25.9 saves per game) has been the primary choice in goal for San Jose. Jones has 19 wins, 21 losses, and six overtime losses to his credit, and has registered a .915 save percentage and 2.54 goals against average this year.
For the visiting Sharks, the offense will be facilitated through Brent Burns (10 goals, 40 assists) and Joe Pavelski (15 goals, 30 assists).
San Jose Sharks at St. Louis Blues Free Picks
Pick: SU Winner – Blues, O/U – Under
Betting Notes
- Over San Jose’s last ten games, seven of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 5-2 in those games).
- Penalties and power plays may have a critical role tonight. The Sharks are 12-15 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 22-19 in games where they’re in the penalty box for fewer than 10 total minutes. The Blues are 16-9 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than the opposition and 24-17 when they’re in the box for less than 10 minutes.
- Two of San Jose’s last ten games have gone to a shootout. The team is 1-1 in those games and 4-3 overall in shootouts this season.
- The over has hit in three of St. Louis’ last five outings.
- St. Louis has averaged 2.9 goals per game this season, but is averaging 1.7 goals per matchup over its three-game losing skid.
- St. Louis has averaged 5.2 giveaways over its last five home games, an improvement from its season average of 6.0 giveaways per game (the 2nd-fewest in the NHL).
- San Jose is ranked 25th this season with 11.3 giveaways per game. That figure’s trended lower, however, as the team’s averaged 6.2 giveaways over its last 10 games and 6.0 giveaways over its last five.
- The Blue Notes this season have registered the 12th-most hits in the NHL (22.4 per game).
