The Minnesota Wild try to stave off elimination against the St. Louis Blues Thursday in Game 6 of their 1st-round Western Conference playoff series. The Blues lead the series 3-2. Puck drop from Enterprise Center is scheduled for 9:30 p.m. ET (TNT). Below, we look at the Wild vs. Blues odds and lines, and make our expert NHL picks, predictions and bets.
We went against the grain and nailed it in Game 5 as the Blues took down the Wild 5-2 on the road. The Blues scored first, but the Wild answered and led 2-1 after the 1st period. St. Louis tied it late in the 2nd before RW Vladimir Tarasenko took over in the 3rd period with 3 goals to seal the deal.
Wild LW Kirill Kaprizov continued his dynamic play with 2 power-play goals. “Kirill the Thrill” has 7 goals and an assist in the series. Minnesota will bring everything they have Thursday trying to force a Game 7 back home.
Wild at Blues odds and lines
- Money line: Wild -110 (bet $110 to win $100) | Blues -110 (bet $110 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Wild +1.5 (-280) | Blues -1.5 (+195)
- Over/Under (O/U): 6.5 (O: -102 | U: -122)
Wild at Blues projected goalies
Marc-Andre Fleury (28-23-5, 2.90 GAA, .908 SV%, 4 SO – regular season) vs. Jordan Binnington (18-14-4, 3.13 GAA, .901 SV%, 2 SO – regular season)
Fleury has taken a step back with 4 goals allowed in each of the last 2 games. We mentioned Game 5 was his 14th start in the last 38 days. Do they go to Cam Talbot here, who hasn’t played in more than 2 weeks? Anything is possible, but it’s likely “The Flower” once again. Fleury has a .906 SV% in the series, and he’ll have to keep the Blues under 4 goals to win.
Binnington had another great game, stopping 30 of 32 shots, and Minnesota didn’t score at even strength. Binner has a .935 SV% and has only allowed 2 goals in each game. However, it has been his movement of the puck that has been the biggest difference. He has corralled rebounds and limited the Wild’s chances.
Money line
The books have this one as a pick ’em, but they really have underrated the Blues this entire series. When St. Louis has lost, it lost its way — traveling too far for hits or because a defenseman was injured in each of the first 4 games.
D Torey Krug (knee) is out, and D Marco Scandella (lower body) is iffy, too. However, the reinforcements of D Nick Leddy and D Robert Bortuzzo lifted them in Game 5. I picked the Blues in 6 before the series, and that’s where we stand BLUES -110 is the play, and according to Pregame.com, 70% of the cash is on that outcome.
Against the spread
The team that has scored first has won every game in the series, and every result has been by at least 3 goals. If you’re taking the Blues to end the series Thursday, we’re going with BLUES -1.5 (+195). They have been one of the better puck line teams in hockey all season.
Over/Under
The O/U is 3-2 in the series, 7-2 in the last 9 meetings and 4-1 in the last 5 in St. Louis. It’ll take 4 or 5 goals to win this one. If you’re more comfortable taking the Blues money line and puck line, then passing on the O/U makes sense. However, because of the firepower both offenses possess, we’ll LEAN OVER 6.5 (-102).