NHL Playoffs Prediction: Will the Blues best the Wild in Game 1? 4/26/17
The second round of the NHL Playoffs begin today when the St. Louis Blues host the Nashville Predators in Game 1 of their series at 8PM ET.
GAME 1 ODDS
According to the latest oddsmakers, the Blues are favored at home in Game 1 of this NHL Playoffs series, as they are getting odds of -115 to win, while the Predators are getting a money line of -105 to win. The over/under total for the game is listed at 5 goals.
SERIES HISTORY
These two met five times during the season, with Nashville winning three of the five meetings. The home team won four of the five meetings as well.
THE PREDATORS
The Predators are coming into this series with plenty of momentum after sweeping the top-seeded Blackhawks in the first round of the NHL Playoffs. Nashville is now 45-29-12 on the season and 19-20-4 on the road. They are now averaging 2.92 goals per game while allowing 2.59.
Ryan Johansen recorded six points in the first series while five different players scored two goals. Pekka Rinne stopped 97.6 percent of the shots he faced against Chicago and had a 0.70 GAA in the series.
THE BLUES
St. Louis picked up a five-game series win over the Minnesota Wild in the first round. The Blues have now won seven of their last eight games to get to 50-30-7 overall and 25-13-5 at home. They average 2.8 goals per game while allowing 2.57.
Jaden Schwartz led the Blues in the first series with five points. Three different players racked up two goals as well. Jake Allen stopped 95.6 percent of the shots he faced and his GAA for the series was 1.47.
NHL PLAYOFFS PREDICTION
It’s hard to know where to go when two teams are playing as well as they are. The Predators probably wish there wasn’t a week off for them, as they were absolutely rolling along. The Blues haven’t had quite as long of a break and they are at home. In a close game, my tendencies are to go with the home team.
NHL Playoffs Prediction – St. Louis Blues -115
