The St. Louis Blues (4-7-2) face the Washington Capitals (6-5-1) Wednesday. Puck drop from Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C., is set for 7:30 p.m. ET (TNT). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s NHL odds around the Blues vs. Capitals odds and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
2024-25 season series: Tied 1-1
The Blues snapped a 7-game skid with a 3-2 home win over the Edmonton Oilers Monday as we cashed a +110 ticket. C Robert Thomas returned from injury and had a goal and an assist. What was even more impressive was what the team did to the Oilers. C Connor McDavid, C Leon Draisaitl and winger Ryan Nugent-Hopkins all were held without a shot on goal. That trio has played 631 regular-season games and 96 playoff games together, and it was the first time they were all held without a shot. This was the Blues team we saw late last season in desperation mode to get in the playoffs. Can it continue? They continue to play without top-goal-scoring LW Jake Neighbours (leg).
The Caps lost a big piece of their own as LW Pierre-Luc Dubois (lower body) went down. The Capitals have lost 4 straight after a 4-3 shootout loss to the Buffalo Sabres Saturday. LW Alex Ovechkin has been kept off the scoresheet for 4 straight and has just 2 goals on the season. Surprisingly, the Caps are 27th in the NHL with a 15% power play. They have lost 7 of 10 to St. Louis.
Blues at Capitals odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 1:16 p.m. ET.
Moneyline (ML): Blues +120 (bet $100 to win $120) | Capitals -145 (bet $145 to win $110)Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Blues +1.5 (-200) | Capitals -1.5 (+165)Over/Under (O/U): 6 (O: -110 | U: -110)Blues at Capitals projected goalies
Jordan Binnington (3-4-2, 3.08 GAA, .868 SV%) vs. Logan Thompson (5-3-0, 1.51 GAA, .935 SV%)
Binner was great Monday, surrendering 2 goals on 26 shots. One of them came on the power play, and another was a backdoor tap-in thanks to a missed coverage. He had a rough outing against Washington last year, allowing 8 goals on 27 shots. It was a rough patch for the Blues, who eventually fired their coach and went on a run.
Thompson’s numbers are sparkling — he just isn’t getting a lot of support on the scoreboard. He has not allowed more than 2 goals in any of his 8 starts. He stopped 20 of 22 in a 3-1 loss to the New York Islanders on Halloween. He was great in his only start against St. Louis last year, stopping 24 of 25.
Blues at Capitals picks and predictionsPrediction
Blues 3, Capitals 2
The Blues should win this one, despite being underdogs here. If they don’t, it’s because the lackidaisical defensive breakdowns. The Caps are sinking and seem like a team that needs a trade to jumpstart their offense.
Take BLUES (+120). It was +130 earlier Wednesday, and the sharps smell the blood we do.
PASS and stick to the ML.
UNDER 6 (-110) is the way to go. Thompson hasn’t allowed more than 2 goals, and the Caps have scored 5 goals in the last 4 games combined.
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