St. Louis Blues at Detroit Red Wings odds, picks and predictions
The St. Louis Blues (30-24-2) take on the Detroit Red Wings (30-20-6) in a Saturday matinee at Little Caesars Arena. Puck drop is set for noon ET (ABC). Below, we analyze BetMGM Sportsbook's lines around the Bluesvs. Red Wingsodds, and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
The Blues come to town after a 4-0 shutout as +114 home underdogs over the New York Islanders Thursday. G Jordan Binnington was awesome, stopping all 38 shots fired his way. LW Pavel Buchnevich had a natural hat trick as the team broke a franchise record for scoring 3 goals in 32 seconds. The Blues are 4-3 following the All-Star break, and they're clinging to the final Wild Card spot in the West. The Blues embark on a journey that will feature 8 of 9 on the road leading up through the trade deadline.
Detroit also holds a Wild Card spot in the East. The Wings won a gritty 2-1 game in overtime as +120 underdogs against the Colorado Avalanche Thursday. They've won 3 in a row, and they were dogs in all of them. RW Patrick Kane, who had the game-winner Thursday, has points in 6 straight games. C Dylan Larkin also lit the lamp. He has points in 3 straight games.
The Wings punked the Blues in a 6-4 victory at Enterprise Center Dec. 12. The Blues took a 4-3 lead going into the 3rd period, and Detroit just mopped the ice with them the rest of the game. It's difficult to put a lot of stock in that game, though, because that was the final game Craig Berube coached before he was dismissed by the Blues.
Stream the NHL all season on ESPN+, with your team's out-of-market games, exclusive games, originals and more. Get ESPN+ now!
Blues at Red Wings odds
BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Friday at 5:01 p.m. ET.
Blues at Red Wings projected goalies
Joel Hofer (10-9-0, 2.80 GAA, .914 SV%, 1 SO) vs. Alex Lyon (16-8-2, 2.75 GAA, .914 SV%, 2 SO)
Some places project Binner for this one, but after 38 saves Thursday and a crucial divisional game in Winnipeg Tuesday, I look for the Blues to go with Hofer here.
The 23-year-old has been rock solid in a backup role. He was credited with 34 saves on 34 shots in a 3-1 victory as the only one that got by him went off a skate Feb. 10 against Buffalo. He stopped 25 of 28 against the Toronto Maple Leafs Monday in a 4-2 loss in his last start.
Lyon has been confirmed, and the Wings will likely go with James Reimer on the back end of a back-to-back Sunday. Lyon showed up and showed out, stopping 30 of 31 shots against the Avs Thursday. That snapped a rough patch for him where he allowed 17 goals in 4 games. He had allowed 3+ in 5 straight before Thursday.
Play our free daily Pick’em Challenge and win! Play now!
Blues at Red Wings picks and predictions
Prediction
Blues 3, Red Wings 2
These teams have alternated wins and losses against one another in the last 6 meetings. The Blues won in Detroit last season after they started tearing down at the trade deadline, and they've won 3 of the last 5 in Detroit.
The Blues also need this game more. I would wait until closer to puck drop to bite here because if/when Hofer is announced as the starter, their odds should ripen.
Otherwise, take the BLUES (+120).
Half of the last 10 meetings have finished within a goal. So there's no play here.
When player props become available, take a look at David Perron's shots on goal. If he's at Over 1.5 shots at a reasonable price, I would be all over that. Perron is facing his former team, and he was suspended in the earlier meeting this season. He didn't leave very happily, and he'll have a chip on his shoulder against his former mates.
I'm going a little against the grain here, but here's my rationale. If the Blues win this game, as I'm projecting, it's because of their goaltending. They aren't a very good 5-on-5 team, and they don't have the firepower to win many track meets. That said, there have been 7 goals in 7 of 10 meetings. The Blues have had 3 games with 7 goals in the last 8, and the Wings have hit the number in 4 of 9.
If this falls to a flat 6, stay away.
