It doesn’t matter what sport you talk about, winning back to back titles is never an easy task. It’s not uncommon to see championship teams lose some players to free agency during the offseason, while others experience a little bit of a hangover as they try to get back to the level that they achieved the previous season. You also need to consider the fact that every single team in the league paint a giant target on the backs of the champs, bringing their best effort when they go head to head. I make is sound like an impossible chore for the defending champions, but it is possible to get back to the top. It all begins with a solid regular season, which is what we are seeing out of the St. Louis Blues this year. That said, they have been a little sloppy of late and are clinging to the lead in the Central Division. The Dallas Stars are hot on their heels, so this is a game with some serious divisional and playoff implications. The Stars are favored by 1 ½ on home ice for the NHL Odds, with the goal total for this one set at 5 ½.
Blues at Stars 2020 NHL Game Preview & Betting Odds
- When: Friday, February 21 at 8:30 PM EST
- Where: American Airlines Center, Dallas
- TV: ESPN+
- NHL Odds:
Why bet on the St. Louis Blues
The St. Louis Blues have been at the top of the Central Division for quite some time now, but a poor run of recent form has seen them slip back towards the pack. They are on a run that has seen them go just 3-5-2 in their last 10 games, although they are coming into this one on the heels of back to back wins, so perhaps they are getting ready to pull out of this downward slide. The Blues are now sitting at 34-17-10 on the season, good for 78 points and a 2-point lead on the Dallas Stars in the Central Division. On the road this season, St. Louis is 14-11-5, while also going 16-14 ATS in those games. The Blues have taken 2 of 3 from Dallas this season, including a win in their last trip to the Lone Star State.
Why bet on the Dallas Stars
The Dallas Stars have been slowly but surely chopping away at the Blues lead in the Central, and while they have had some help from the slumping Blues, they have also helped themselves, going 7-1-2 in their last 10 games. The Stars are now at 35-19-6 on the season and in the thick of a race for the division title that also includes the Colorado Avalanche, who are just a single point back in 3rd. The Stars are getting the job done by playing great defensive hockey, with 11 of their last 16 games at home going UNDER. It has been the same story in games against the Blues, with 5 of the last 6, including all 3 meetings this season, going UNDER the goal total.
Blues vs Stars Expert Pick and Final Score Prediction
As I just mentioned, this is not a matchup that ever seems to deliver a lot of goals. With that in mind, I think the best way to go here is to take the Blues against the spread, although I also like them to win.
St. Louis Blues 3 Dallas Stars 2
