Could Friday be the Blues’ final game in St. Louis this season? It depends what happens in Game 4 of their Western Conference Finals against the San Jose Sharks. If the Blues lose it could be as they would be down 3-1 in the series. The Blues are favored, though, on the NHL Odds before the series shifts back to San Jose on Sunday.
How to Bet Sharks vs Blues 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs Odds & Game 4 Info
- When: Friday, 8 PM ET
- Where: Enterprise Center
- TV: NBC Sports Network
- 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs Odds: St. Blues -145 (Total 5.5)
Why Bet on San Jose?
The Sharks have been almost unbeatable in odd-numbered games in these playoffs and that continued on Wednesday with a 5-4 overtime win in St. Louis to take a 2-1 series lead. The Sharks own a 2-1 lead in a best-of-seven playoff series for the 16th time in franchise history and own an all-time series record of 11-4 in the 15 previous instances. San Jose is up 2-1 in the Conference Finals for the second time in franchise history – they also led 2-1 in the 2016 Western Conference Final against St. Louis before reaching the Stanley Cup Final for the first time.With the Sharks down 4-3 in Game 3, Logan Couture scored with just 1:01 remaining to it to overtime. Couture has 14 goals and 20 points in 17 playoff contests this year. The goals and points lead the NHL, and he’s on a three-game goal-scoring run. Defenseman Erik Karlsson scored a pair of goals in Wednesday’s win. Karlsson opened the scoring at the 13:37 mark of the first period. The Sharks defender also added the game-winning goal just over five minutes into overtime.
There was major controversy on the winner, as it appeared if the referees missed a hand pass from Timo Meier to Gustav Nyquist seconds before the goal. The officials huddled to see if anyone saw the play because it wasn’t reviewable, but it was determined that the goal would stand. Karlsson has two goals and 15 points in 17 postseason games. Karlsson became the second defenseman in NHL history to record a multi-goal game in the Conference Finals/Semifinals which included the overtime winner. He hadn’t scored a goal since Dec. 29, 2018.
Joe Thornton scored two goals with one assist on Wednesday. The 39-year-old future Hall of Famer entered Game 3 with one point in his previous eight contests. Thornton, a veteran of 21 NHL seasons, became the oldest player in League history to post his first career multi-goal playoff game – doing so in his 176th career postseason contest. Thornton (39 years, 317 days) also became the seventh-oldest player in Stanley Cup Playoffs history to record three or more points in a game.
Martin Jones allowed four goals on 32 shots in Game 3. The Sharks had 2-0 and 3-1 leads before trailing 4-3 late in regulation. Jones now owns a 10-6 record with a 2.89 goals-against-average and a .904 save percentage this postseason.
Team Stats
Offense- Goals: 3.48
- Shots: 32.68
- PP/PK Percentage: 22.67
Defense
- Goals: 3.18
- Shots: 28.76
- PP/PK Percentage: 19.11
Why Bet on St. Louis?
Bad news for the Blues, who are down 2-1 in a series for the first time in these playoffs: When a best-of-seven series is tied 1-1, the winner of Game 3 owns an all-time series record of 215-104 (67.4%) – including a 54-17 mark in the Conference Finals/Semifinals (76.1%).St. Louis scored four second-period goals to overcome deficits of 2-0 and 3-1 in Wednesday’s loss. It was the first time in 19 years that they scored at least that many goals in a playoff period. Their last such instance also came against San Jose, when they scored five times in the middle frame of a 6-2 victory to stave off elimination in Game 6 of the 2000 conference quarterfinals.
David Perron scored a pair of goals in the loss. Perron managed to score back-to-back goals in the middle period to tie the game and to give the Blues a one-goal lead. The 30-year-old now has five goals and five points in 16 games this postseason.
Vladimir Tarasenko and Alexander Steen had the other goals. Steen cut the Sharks’ lead to 2-1 early in the second period. The 35-year-old has two goals and two assists in 16 games this postseason. The Blues were down 3-1 in the second period when Tarasenko cut their deficit to one goal. It was only his second even-strength tally of the playoffs. Overall he has six goals and two assists in 16 games this postseason.
Colton Parayko assisted on three straight goals to match the franchise record for points in a playoff period. Parayko also became the 10th player in franchise history – and first defenseman – to record three points in a game during the Conference Finals/Semifinals.
Jordan Binnington allowed five goals 32 shots. The rookie netminder owns a 9-7 record with a 2.67 goals-against-average and a .904 save percentage this postseason. Defenseman Vince Dunn left the game after taking a Brenden Dillon wrist shot to what appeared to be the jaw area and didn’t return. Not clear yet if Dunn can play Friday.
Team Stats
Offense- Goals: 2.98
- Shots: 31.71
- PP/PK Percentage: 20.28
Defense
- Goals: 2.74
- Shots: 28.64
- PP/PK Percentage: 19.03
Sharks vs Blues 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs Betting Trends
- Home team is 6-2 in the last 8 meetings
- Under is 6-2-3 in the last 11 meetings
- Sharks are 4-1 SU in their last 5 games against St. Louis
- The total has gone OVER in 4 of San Jose’s last 5 games this season
- Blues are 10-5 SU in their last 15 games at home
- The total has gone OVER in 6 of St. Louis’ last 9 games against an opponent in the West conference
