Blues vs. Sharks Game 1 Prediction: NHL Playoffs Betting Odds
We will have a first-time winner of the Stanley Cup if it’s the Western Conference champion. While both East finalists, the Boston Bruins and Carolina Hurricanes, have won a Cup, neither the St. Louis Blues nor San Jose Sharks have. They play Game 1 of the West Finals in northern California on Saturday night. The Sharks are game and series favourites at Sports Interaction.
Blues vs. Sharks Western Conference Finals Betting Analysis
The Blues are the oldest team to not win a Cup as they entered the NHL as an expansion franchise in 1967-68. They actually reached the Stanley Cup Finals each of their first three seasons but lost each time and haven’t won a conference title since. St. Louis last reached the conference finals in 2016, losing in six games to San Jose. That’s the last time the Sharks reached the West Finals and only time they won it. San Jose would lose in six in the Stanley Cup Finals to Pittsburgh.
The Sharks were 2-1 vs. the Blues during the regular season, winning both in San Jose. On the Sports Interaction series line, San Jose is -146 and St. Louis +118. The Sharks are +200 to win the Cup and Blues +330 – both behind the Bruins (+187)
St. Louis Blues
The Blues were down 3-2 to the Stars in the semifinal round but won Game 6 in Dallas by a 4-1 count and then took Game 7 at home on Tuesday, 2-1 in double overtime. Patrick Maroon’s third goal of these playoffs at 5:50 of double OT was the winner in a fabulous game; Maroon is a St. Louis native, which isn’t exactly a hotbed for future NHL players. Before Maroon, the only other player to score an overtime goal in a Game 7 in or near his hometown was Yvon Lambert in 1979 for Montreal against Boston.
Blueliner Alex Pietrangelo and winger Jaden Schwartz lead the Blues with 11 points each in these playoffs. Rookie netminder Jordan Binnington – the Calder Trophy finalist taking over as the No. 1 goaltender early in January turned the Blues’ season around — has a 2.39 GAA and .915 save percentage this postseason.
San Jose Sharks
San Jose won a Game 7 at home in the first round against Vegas in Round 1, and did so again on Wednesday night in the semifinals over Colorado, 3-2. That victory improved Sharks head coach Pete DeBoer to 4-0 in his career in Game 7s and goaltender Martin Jones to 3-0. Jones wasn’t great the first four games of this series but terrific the final three.
The biggest takeaway from Wednesday’s win for San Jose was the return of captain Joe Pavelski. He hadn’t played since Game 7 vs. Vegas due to a head injury but had a goal and assist vs. the Avs. It was Pavelski’s 47th career Game 7 goal, which is sixth all-time among American-born players. Brent Burns had two assists and his 14 points are tied for first among all players this postseason and tops among blueliners.
STL
SJ