The St. Louis Blues and the Dallas Stars will square off in the Western Conference semifinals starting Thursday night up in Missouri. Both teams advanced in six games through the first round, as the Blues eliminated Winnipeg and the Stars knocked out Nashville. In so doing, the Stars joined all of the other wild card teams in eliminating division champions, throwing the Stanley Cup playoffs into chaos. This is the second time in four years that the Blues and Stars have met in the playoffs; two years ago, St. Louis beat Dallas in seven games, winning the final game on the Stars’ home ice. Dallas has won three of the four meetings between the two this season, outscoring the Blues 13-7 in those games. St. Louis finished the season hot, going 24-6-4 down the stretch, including an 11-game winning streak — a streak that Dallas ended. Can the Blues hold off Dallas at home? Or will the Stars win a fourth straight game in these playoffs? We have your sports betting preview here.
Stars vs Blues 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs Odds & Game 1 Preview
IT’S GAME DAY! The first round had plenty of fireworks, but now it’s back to work. Game 1 of Stars vs. Blues in the second round of the #StanleyCup Playoffs is tonight at 8:30 PM! #GoStars pic.twitter.com/fjUf1wzw6D
— Dallas Stars (@DallasStars) April 25, 2019
- When: Thursday, April 25, 2019, 9:30pm ET
- Where: Enterprise Center, St. Louis
- TV: NBC Sports
- Radio: WBAP 820 AM Dallas / ESPN 101.1 FM St. Louis
- Live Stream: ESPN+
- NHL Odds: St. Louis -175 / Dallas +155
Why should you bet on Dallas?
Dallas has a good bit of hunger coming into this playoffs, as they only have two second-round appearances in the last 11 seasons. In their series against Nashville, Dallas won Game 6 at home, prevailing 2-1 in overtime. That meant Dallas had to come back from an early 1-0 deficit as Blake Comeau tied the game in the second period, and then John Klingberg delivered the winner in the first overtime. Ben Bishop stopped 47 shots as he continues to build his Conn Smythe resume.
Dallas is 9-3 straight up in their last 12 road games and has won five of seven overall. In the rivalry with St. Louis, Dallas has won six of the last seven. If you like the Stars here, you see that commitment to defense in front of Bishop continuing in the face of a Blues attack that is fast and tactical. Dallas was not as consistent as St. Louis down the stretch, but they have continued to have the Blues’ number even as St. Louis has climbed the standings.
Team Statistics
Offense- Goals: 2.59
- Shots: 30.89
- PP/PK Percentage: 20.76
- Goals: 2.43
- Shots: 31.91
- PP/PK Percentage: 16.14
Why should you put your money on St. Louis?
St. Louis looked dominant in their Game 6 elimination of the Winnipeg Jets, behind a hat trick from Jaden Schwartz that would give the Blues a commanding 3-0 lead. Winnipeg started a comeback late in the third, getting as close as 3-2, but the empty-netter gave the Blues a fourth goal. Jordan Binnington stopped 18 of 20 shots in the game, showing the degree to which the St. Louis defense kept Winnipeg from generating scoring chances in the game.
St. Louis has been almost unbeatable at home lately, winning eight of their last ten at Enterprise Center, and they have won 12 of 16 overall. Their nemesis lately has been Dallas, though, so it will be interesting to see how the Blues game plan a Dallas team that is playing consistently for once. If you like the Blues, you see them picking apart a Dallas defense that can lose focus, and you see Dallas’ goaltender having a soft game like he had in Game 3 of the first round.
Team Statistics
Offense- Goals: 2.99
- Shots: 31.66
- PP/PK Percentage: 21.40
- Goals: 2.72
- Shots: 28.61
- PP/PK Percentage: 18.62
Stars vs Blues NHL Betting Trends
- Dallas are 5-2 SU in their last 7 games.
- Dallas are 6-1 SU in their last 7 games against St. Louis.
- Dallas are 9-3 SU in their last 12 games on the road.
- The total has gone UNDER in 5 of St. Louis’ last 7 games.
- St. Louis are 12-4 SU in their last 16 games.
- The total has gone UNDER in 5 of St. Louis’ last 6 games against Dallas.
Expert Pick and Final Score Prediction
The rivalry between Dallas and St. Louis has long been an enjoyable one, so if there is a positive element to the NHL’s postseason bracket, which forces you to win through your division before you emerge at the conference finals, it is the renewal of these hostilities. I did not think that Dallas would eliminate Nashville, and I like their consistent team play to this point. I see them heading to St. Louis and swiping Game 1 — and since I can get value on that wager, I’m picking Dallas to win, 3-2.
