Join Daily Faceoff’s Andy MacNeil as he handicaps Friday’s matchup between the St. Louis Blues and Anaheim Ducks.
Blues vs. Ducks Odds
- St. Louis Blues Moneyline: -155
- Anaheim Ducks Moneyline: +130
- Puck Line: Blues -1.5 (+165), Ducks +1.5 (-200)
- Game Total: 5.5 (Over -120, Under +100)
Game odds via Sports Interaction.
Handicapping the Blues (30-33 SU, 36-27 ATS, 25-33-5 O/U)
St. Louis will aim to keep Anaheim on its heels in the Western Conference wild-card race on Friday. The Blues are currently two points back of the Calgary Flames, but Anaheim has started to close the gap and is now just five points behind St. Louis. This is the second of three meetings between the teams this season. The Blues won the first game, 6-2, on Jan. 9 and have also won eight of the past 10 meetings against Anaheim.
The Blues suffered a big loss earlier this week when it was announced that defenseman Colton Parayko will undergo a scope on his knee and be re-evaluated in six weeks. That means Parayko almost certainly won’t play again in the regular season but could return if the Blues qualify for the playoffs.
I’m not sure if the Blues have what it takes to make up the ground needed to get into the playoffs, with or without Parayko, but they’ve been giving it their best shot. Since Feb. 8, St. Louis has won six of eight games, including five of its last six, and according to Evolving Hockey, they’ve posted some of the best metrics at five-on-five.
Since the start of February, St. Louis ranks fourth in expected goals percentage, and its scoring rates are among the best in the league. The Blues rank third in goals and eighth in goals against per 60 minutes at five-on-five. Additionally, they’ve done a great job suppressing shots, ranking seventh in that category over the last month and change. That said, St. Louis has only been a road favorite three times this season.
Handicapping the Ducks (27-34 SU, 42-19 ATS, 20-36-5 O/U)
Anaheim is back from its two-game road trip through Western Canada, where the Ducks pulled off a huge 6-2 upset win over the Oilers in Edmonton before losing 3-2 to the Vancouver Canucks the next night. Now, Anaheim will kick off a three-game homestand against the Blues.
The Ducks suffered another loss on the road trip, though, as goaltender John Gibson left Wednesday’s game versus the Canucks after a collision in the crease. If the injury proves significant, it could derail Anaheim’s playoff push, as goaltending has been a driving factor behind the Ducks even being in the race. However, Lukas Dostal remains the club’s top goaltender, and he will have a chance to prove himself again on Friday.
Offensive production continues to be a weakness for Anaheim. Only one team has scored fewer goals per 60 minutes than Anaheim this season. The Ducks have been better over the last five weeks, but they remain too hit or miss to instill confidence in bettors. Additionally, Anaheim continues to be one of the weakest teams at five-on-five. According to Evolving Hockey, the Ducks ranked 26th in expected goals and shot attempts since Feb. 1.
Best bet for Blues vs. Ducks
- Jake Neighbours Over 0.5 Points (+115) at Sports Interaction
The line of Dylan Holloway, Brayden Schenn, and Jordan Kyrou had been carrying the Blues offensively, but something has started to click for the top line, which consists of Robert Thomas, Pavel Buchnevich, and Jake Neighbours. Thomas is on an 11-game point streak, and Buchnevich has registered at least one point in nine of his last 11 games. However, Neighbours has also started to find his scoring touch, with three goals and three assists in his last five outings.