The St. Louis Blues, currently sporting a record of 3-4-1, will take on the Pittsburgh Penguins, who have begun their season strongly with a 6-2-1 record, on Monday at 7 p.m. ET at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This matchup marks the third meeting between the two teams this season, with their series currently tied at 1-1.
The Blues’ performance has been hindered by slow starts, often requiring them to play catch-up. This issue was evident in their last game against the Detroit Red Wings, where they built up a 4-0 lead only to concede six consecutive goals, losing the game 6-4 while being favored at -111. Compounding their troubles, the Blues may be without their top player, center Robert Thomas, who left Saturday’s game early due to an upper-body injury. Forward Jake Neighbours, the team’s leading scorer with six goals, also faced some adversity when he was struck by a powerful shot to the knee, but he managed to continue playing despite showing signs of strain.
Meanwhile, the Penguins are also dealing with injuries, losing prolific right winger Rickard Rakell, who scored 35 goals last season, for a period of 6-8 weeks due to a hand injury. Pittburgh’s last game saw them fall short in a shootout against the Columbus Blue Jackets, ending a four-game winning streak. Nonetheless, winger Bryan Rust found the net for the first time this season, and defenseman Kris Letang scored his first power-play goal of the year.
Looking at the odds from BetMGM Sportsbook, the Blues are slightly favored with a moneyline of -120, meaning a bet of $120 would yield a $100 profit. Conversely, a bet of $100 on the Penguins would break even at +100. The puck line shows the Blues at -1.5 (-190) and the Penguins at +1.5 (-235), while the over/under is set at 6, with the over at -120 and the under at +100.
In terms of goaltending, the Blues are expected to start Joel Hofer, despite his struggles, including a recent outing where he allowed six goals on three shots before being pulled. In contrast, Tristan Jarry is confirmed for the Penguins and is coming off solid performances, including a shutout against the San Jose Sharks.
Predictions for the game suggest a high-scoring affair, with anticipated outcomes indicating a 5-3 win for Pittsburgh. The analysis points to a favorable bet on the Penguins at home and over 2.5 shots on goal for Jordan Kyrou, who has demonstrated offensive capability against the Penguins in past matchups.
With both teams facing adversity yet taking calculated risks, this game may turn out to be a thrilling encounter, highlighting the unpredictable nature of hockey while showcasing emerging talents. Fans can look forward to seeing how these dynamics unfold as each team seeks to turn their season fortunes around.