St. Louis Blues vs. Pittsburgh Penguins Prediction, Preview, and Odds
The St. Louis Blues face the Pittsburgh Penguins with both teams looking to improve on rocky starts to the season. The Blues have an 18-15-1 record and are near the bottom of the Central Division. The Penguins have a 16-13-4 record which is the second worst in the Metropolitan Division. Both teams look to climb out of the bottom of their divisions and the upcoming game should be a good one.
Don’t go ice-cold this hockey season, our NHL Picks are sure to leave you a winner.
Blues hope defense improves
The Blues are having a rough season with their offense struggling, scoring only 2.97 goals per game. Robert Thomas, Pavel Buchnevich, and Jordan Kyrou have scored 34 goals and 56 assists to lead the top two lines but the rest of the offense has struggled. The hope is that Brandon Saad and Kevin Hayes can remain hot as they have combined for 18 goals and have added depth to the offense recently.
The offense has struggled but the defense has let the Blues down, allowing 3.26 goals per game. Justin Gaulk, Nick Leddy, and Colton Parayko have combined for 4.7 defensive point shares but the rest of the unit has struggled, allowing opponents to find open shots on the net with ease. The one bright spot has been the play of goaltender Joel Hofer who has a .912 save percentage and a 2.73 goals-against average on 331 shots with 3.2 goals saved above average.
Penguins hope defense turns season around
The Penguins are having a rough season with their offense letting them down, scoring only 2.97 goals per game. Sidney Crosby, Jake Guentzel, and Evgeni Malkin have scored 48 goals and 54 assists but the rest of the offense has struggled. Only four active skaters have scored seven goals or more and opponents can limit the top-heavy offense.
The offense has struggled but the defense has stepped up, allowing only 2.70 goals per game with only six goals in the last three games. Marcus Pettersson and Erik Karlsson have combined for 5.3 defensive point shares and 92 blocked shots while Kris Letang and Ryan Graves have combined for 4.5 defensive point shares to give the Penguins two great defensive pairings. In addition, goaltender Tristan Jarry has struggled with a .916 save percentage and a 2.49 goals-against average on 628 shots with 8.0 goals saved above average.
Friday's Top Plays
Today's Top Plays
Brick Haus Sports - 10-3 NBA Run - Snag Brick's Friday Night NBA Slam Dun For Just $29 -
Will Rogers - 11-4 CBB Run - Grab Will's PAC-12 Game Of The Year For $45 -
David Hess 13-6-1 NHL Totals Run - Grab David's NHL Totals Dominator for Just $25 -
Best Bets for this Game
Full-Game Side Bet
Insiders Status:
Rating:
The Blues are looking to pull off the upset but the Penguins are coming off a statement win and look to take over this game from the first period. The Penguins look to build off a seven-goal game and find the back of the net at will against the Blues, who allow 3.26 goals per game, with Sidney Crosby, Jake Guentzel, and the rest of the forward unit carrying the puck into the offensive zone and creating open shots with centering passes. The Penguins, who allow only 2.70 goals per game, should limit the Blues offense with Marcus Pettersson, Erik Karlsson, and the rest of the defensive unit creating turnovers in the defensive zone and limiting shots on the net, allowing goaltender Tristan Jarry to make plenty of big saves. The Penguins should win the game and cover the spread in a dominant win at home.
Prediction: Penguins -1.5 (+110)
Full-Game Total Pick
Insiders Status:
Rating:
Both offenses have struggled and the upcoming game should reflect that with both defensive units stepping up and controlling this game. The Blues should limit the Penguins offense, which averages only 2.97 goals per game, with Justin Faulk, Nick Leddy, and the rest of the defensive unit creating turnovers in the defensive zone and limiting shots on the net, allowing goaltender Joel Hofer to make plenty of big saves. The Penguins, who have allowed six goals in their last three games, should eliminate and potentially shut out the Blues, who average 2.97 goals per game, with Marcus Pettersson, Erik Karlsson, Kris Letang, and the rest of the defensive unit forcing turnovers in the neutral zone and defensive zone while goaltender Tristan Jarry blanks the shots on the net. The Under should cover in a low-scoring game with both defenses stepping up.
Take the Under on 6 goals.
Prediction: Under 6
Mike Fink is a sports writer and a passionate football fan. After graduating from college, Fink picked up the passion he had since being a young child in following and covering all things sports and we are very excited to have him as a part of the StatSalt team. In recent weeks, Mike started a podcast which you can find on Spotify, called "The Mike and Grover Show" and it discusses all things football. He covers all forms of sports betting and also bets on all of the plays he gives out. Mike would advise hockey betting since the odds give you great payouts "Hockey is built to bet the Money Line Underdogs. Be sure and follow him on a daily basis.
