Blues vs. Sharks Game 5 Prediction: NHL Playoffs Betting Odds
For the second straight game San Jose and St. Louis battled hard in a one-game goal with the Blues getting the decision this time around tying the series at 2. Now, it’s back to California for game five, in what is now a best of three series.
Blues vs Sharks Stanley Cup Betting Analysis
On the updated Sports Interaction series line, the Sharks are -125 favourites to win the series, with the Blues coming in at +105. Digging deeper into the numbers, the Sharks are paying +275 to win the series in six games, and +225 to win the series in seven. Meanwhile, the Blues are on the books for +275 to win the series in six games, and +300 to take it in seven, which would mean winning in California in the final game of the series.
Of note, the Blues are 1-4 in their last five games in San Jose, while the under is 4-1-1 in the last six games played in San Jose between these two teams.
Also, if you are considering either one of these teams to knock off the Boston Bruins in the Stanley Cup final there is great value now at Sports Interaction. The Sharks (+320) and Blues (+340) are well priced to win, but which team will it be?
St. Louis Blues
Goaltender Jordan Binnington was the front page story in game four making 29 saves to register yet another playoff victory and also made some team history in the 2-1 win.
It was playoff win number 10 for Binnington, moving him past Brian Elliott (2016) and Roman Turek (2001) for the most wins by a Blues goalie in a single playoffs year. He is the 10th rookie netminder to win at least 10 games in a single postseason in league history.
The Blues power-play scored for a second straight game (in game four) and that’s a good sign, as the team that had gone 0-for-18 with the man advantage prior to scoring in game three.
San Jose Sharks
Game four did not start off well for the Sharks, as Ivan Barbashev gave the Blues the lead just 35 seconds into the game.
Tomas Hertl scored the team’s only goal of the game. It was his 10th of the post season, which is the second most goals scored by a play this post season. Team mate Logan Couture leads with 15.
Ironically, Hertl’s goal snapped the Sharks’ scoreless streak of 226 minutes, 48 seconds in Game 4’s this postseason after being shut out in the first two rounds (Vegas/Colorado).
Keep an eye out on defenceman Erik Karlsson in this game. At the end of game four Karlsson was in obvious discomfort midway through the third period. He missed a handful of shifts late in regulation time before he was able to come back for the final two minutes, when the Sharks pulled goalie Martin Jones and made one final push.
STL
SJ