NHL Playoffs: St. Louis Blues at Winnipeg Jets odds, picks and predictions
The St. Louis Blues take on the Winnipeg Jets in Game 2 of this best-of-7 series in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs Monday. Puck drop from Canada Life Centre is set for 7:30 p.m. ET (ESPN2). Let's analyze BetMGM Sportsbook's NHL odds around the Blues vs. Jets odds and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
Season series: Jets lead 1-0 after 5-3 Game 1 win Saturday
The Blues had it in their grasps, but rookie mistakes that led to shifted momentum gave Winnipeg the opening it needed to break through. The Blues were up 3-2 before RW Zach Bolduc was called for a cross-checking penalty during a power play in the third period. That really gave the Jets some steam, and they tied the game a few minutes later and went ahead 4-3 with about 90 seconds to go. The Blues had an astounding 53 hits and were the better team for the first half of the game, but they failed to close it out. RW Jordan Kyrou and C Robert Thomas each scored on the power play, but the Blues only had 1 SOG in the final period.
LW Kyle Connor is a Blues killer and had 1 goal and 2 assists in Game 1. G Connor Hellebuyck is going to need to tighten up, though, as he allowed 3 goals on 17 shots. Granted, 2 of them were on the power play, but that showed a weakness in what is arguably the best goalie in the sport. Structurally, though, the Jets really tightened up later in the game, and they took advantage of St. Louis' inexperience. You have to wonder how much the Blues' 53 hits took out of them, though.
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Blues at Jets odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 1:21 p.m. ET.
Moneyline (ML) : Blues +160 (bet $100 to win $160) | Jets -190 (bet $190 to win $100)
: Blues +160 (bet $100 to win $160) | Jets -190 (bet $190 to win $100) Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS) : Blues +1.5 (-165) | Jets -1.5 (+140)
: Blues +1.5 (-165) | Jets -1.5 (+140) Over/Under (O/U): 5.5 (O: +118 | U: -140)
Blues at Jets projected goalies
Jordan Binnington (28-22-5, 2.69 GAA, .900 SV%, 3 SO in regular season) vs. Connor Hellebuyck (47-12-3, 2.01 GAA, .925 SV%, 8 SO in regular season)
Binner stopped 21 of 25 in the Game 1 loss, and MoneyPuck didn't grade his performance well as he is a -1.8 in goals saved above expected. His defense didn't play very well in front of him as D Colton Parayko showed signs of rust in just his third game back from injury. Regardless, his back is against the wall in this one as they'll need a monstrous performance to even it up.
Hellebuyck was also a -1.2 goals saved above expected in Game 1. He'll need to shore things up as the Blues were expected for 1.82 goals and netted 3. He is getting beat top shelf on both sides. The first period will be a huge litmus test for a goalie that has playoff ghosts.
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Blues at Jets picks and predictions
Prediction
Blues 4, Jets 3
This is Game 7 for the Blues. They need to steal one of these to make it a series, and the books have also accounted for that. Winnipeg was -210 in Game 1, and it's -190 here. I look for the Blues to continue making Winnipeg black and blue with hits and finding a way to get this done in overtime.
Take the BLUES (+160).
We cashed a +135 puck line for the Jets here in Game 1, but this one will be a slugfest I see ending within a goal.
So we're going with JORDAN KYROU OVER 2.5 SHOTS (-110). He has 4, 4, 5 and 5 the last 4 games, and his confidence is on another level right now. The Blues shifted LW Jake Neighbours down to his line and put rookie winger Jimmy Snuggerud on the top line. Neighbours is more of a net-front presence, and they'll be looking to feed Rouzy.
I was a little surprised we had 4 goals in the first period of Game 1. This feels like an Under kind of series with the 2 netminders. For Game 2, I love the OVER 5.5 (+118). This is going to get messy early on. I could see a fight breaking out within the first 5 minutes as the Blues try to get into the Jets' heads to capitalize. The Over feels safe at plus-money here.
For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.
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