Facing each other for the final time this year, the St. Louis Blues and the Pittsburgh Penguins clash at PPG Paints Arena. The first puck will drop at 1 p.m. ET on Saturday, March 16, and fans at home can view this East-West matchup live on AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh.
St. Louis Blues at Pittsburgh Penguins Odds
The Penguins are 39-32 straight up (SU) and have disappointed moneyline bettors to the tune of -9.2 units so far. That early-season winning percentage isn’t too far off from to the 47-35 record the team produced during last year’s regular season campaign. Through 71 regular season matches, 33 of its games have gone over the total, while another 33 have gone under and just five have pushed. The team’s 21-14 SU at home this season.
Pittsburgh currently touts the third-best power-play unit in the NHL, as it’s found the net on 26.3 percent of their extra-man advantages this season. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 17th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 80.4 percent of all penalties.
Pittsburgh, as a collective unit, has been penalized 3.5 times per game overall this season, and 5.4 per game over its last five outings at home. The team’s had to kill penalties for just 7.7 minutes per game over its last 10 matchups, in total.
Averaging 29.5 saves per game with a .917 save percentage, Matt Murray (24 wins, 15 losses, and three OT losses) has been the best option in goal for the Penguins this year. If they, however, choose to rest him, the team may turn to Casey DeSmith (15-20-20 record, .916 save percentage, 2.77 goals against average).
Sidney Crosby and Phil Kessel will both spearhead the attack for the Penguins. Crosby (92 points) has produced 33 goals and 59 assists and has recorded two or more points 29 times this year. Kessel has 24 goals and 48 assists to his name and has recorded a point in 44 contests.
On the visiting bench, St. Louis is 36-34 straight up (SU) and has lost 1.9 units for bettors taking the moneyline this year. Through 70 regular season outings, 39 of its games have gone under the total, while 27 have gone over and just four have pushed. As the away team, St. Louis is 19-17 SU.
St. Louis has converted on 20.1 percent of its power play opportunities this year, a mark that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 10th overall and it’s successfully defended 81.1 percent of all opponent power plays.
St. Louis’ skaters have been penalized 3.5 times per game in total this season, and 2.5 per game over their last ten match ups. The team has been forced to defend opponent power plays just 5.5 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Jake Allen (2.85 goals against average and .904 save percentage) has been the primary option in goal for St. Louis. Allen is averaging 24.8 saves per game and has 18 wins, 25 losses, and six overtime losses to his credit.
Ryan O’Reilly (26 goals, 41 assists) has been one of the top playmaking threats for the visiting Blues.
St. Louis Blues at Pittsburgh Penguins Free Picks
Pick: SU Winner – Blues, O/U – Over
Betting Trends
- Power plays and penalty kills may prove to be key in this game. The Blues are 19-18 in games where they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 25-22 when they serve fewer than 10 penalty minutes, in total. The Penguins are 14-11 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than the opposition and 30-19 when their penalty minutes are in the single digits.
- St. Louis is 1-1 in games decided by a shootout this season while Pittsburgh is 1-2 in shootouts.
- Pittsburgh skaters have created 7.8 takeaways per game over its last five home games, right in line with its season average of 7.9 takeaways per game (ranked 13th).
- St. Louis has scored 2.8 goals per game overall this season, but is down to 1.0 goal per match up over its last three games (0-3 SU over that span).
- St. Louis skaters have created 9.2 takeaways per game over its last five road games, an improvement over its season average of 8.1 takeaways per game (ranked 10th overall).
