The Dallas Stars (3-1-0) visit the St. Louis Blues (2-2-0) in a Central Division clash Saturday. The contest at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis is ticketed for a 7 p.m. ET (ESPN+) puck drop. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s NHL odds around the Stars vs. Blues odds and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
Season series: first meeting; Dallas swept 3 meetings last season
The Stars were -155 when they had a 3-game win streak snapped with a 5-3 (Over 6) loss to the Vancouver Canucks Thursday. The 5 Dallas games have all hit on the Over, and the margin of cover has been multiple goals 4 times.
The Blues played their last game Wednesday when they saw a 2-game win streak stymied in an 8-3 (Over 6) loss to the +203 Chicago Blackhawks. That tilt was on home ice, and St. Louis has allowed 13 goals in 2 games (both losses) at the Enterprise Center.
Stars at Blues odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 11:35 a.m. ET.
Moneyline (ML): Stars -125 (bet $125 to win $100) | Blues +105 (bet $100 to win $105)Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Stars -1.5 (+185) | Blues +1.5 (-225)Over/Under (O/U): 6 (O: -105 | U: -115)Stars at Blues projected goalies
Jake Oettinger (3-0-0, 3.24 GAA, .905 SV%) vs. Jordan Binnington (1-1-0, 3.61 GAA, .860 SV%)
Oettinger last played Tuesday, stopping 39-of-41 pucks in a 5-2 triumph over the Minnesota Wild. The veteran netminder owns a sparkling .937 SV% in 21 career October games. Otter went 2-0-0 with a 1.96 GAA and .931 SV% against St. Louis last season.
Binnington was thrust into action Wednesday in the second period. He stopped 6 of 7 shots fired his way before the team opted to put the backup back in net for the third period. He was a winner Monday, stopping 27 of 29 shots against Vancouver in a 5-2 win. Binner was 0-2-1 with a 2.76 GAA and .897 SV% against Dallas last year.
Stars at Blues picks and predictionsPrediction
Blues 3, Stars 2
The last 7 times St. Louis has been tabbed as a home underdog at +100 to +120, the Blues have gone 5-2.
The Blues had been sharp over a couple wins heading into their Wednesday contest against Chicago. And overall, St. Louis has been a big plus in 5-on-5 scoring chances. And many of the scoring chances at the offensive end have been of the high-danger variety.
The Stars have shot 14.8% so far, and some peel-back can be expected in that department. They have thus far gone a robust 5-of-13 (38.5%) on the power play, but that leverage gets mitigated against a Blues club that does not spend much time in the penalty box.
Binnington owns a career .909 SV% on home ice and a .919 mark against the Stars.
Look for St. Louis, which went 28-10-3 at the Enterprise Center last season, to bounce back in this Saturday-night affair at home. The Blues went 9-5-2 (.625) when playing on 2 days’ rest last season. They have the rest edge here, and Dallas is on a 1-game trip amidst an Oct. 14-25 stretch that has them playing 5 games at home.
BACK THE BLUES (+105).
A solid line for bettors willing to get into this price range, but PASS otherwise.
The Under is 4-1 in the last 5 series meetings.
The expected-goal numbers for each side make for some tightening of scores in the intermediate future. The 5-on-5 chances in recent games for both clubs don’t support big goal outputs. The probable goaltender match-up also plays into a goal-suppressed environment.
In those 16 St. Louis games played on 2-days rest last season, the Blues yielded just 2.56 goals per contest.
TAKE THE UNDER 6 (-115).
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