The first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs between the St. Louis Blues and the Winnipeg Jets will take place on April 27 at the Enterprise Center. The series score is 2-1 in favor of Winnipeg. St. Louis vs. Winnipeg: prediction and betting odds, statistics.
St. Louis Blues
Jim Montgomery's team closed the gap in the series by winning the last home game 7-2. Notably, the team scored three times on the power play. Cam Fowler was the standout performer for St. Louis, earning five points (1 goal, 4 assists). Following their recent victory, the club has solidified its position as one of the highest-scoring teams in the current Stanley Cup edition, with 11 goals to their name.
- St. Louis has not scored more than three goals in regular time in 8 of their last 9 NHL home games against this opponent.
- The club has won 13 consecutive home games in the league (3 in overtime).
- At least seven goals have been scored in regular time in the last four NHL games held at St. Louis.
Winnipeg Jets
The team ended a three-game winning streak, including regular season games, with a loss in the last encounter. Notably, in the current Stanley Cup, Winnipeg ranks among the worst for penalty-killing efficiency (60%) and is also one of the poorest in power play conversion (20%).
- Winnipeg has scored at least three goals in regular time in 7 of their last 9 NHL games at St. Louis.
- The club has not won in regular time in 8 of their last 10 away league games (3 draws, 5 losses).
- No more than five goals have been scored in regular time in 11 of Winnipeg's last 14 NHL matches.
St. Louis vs. Winnipeg: Match Prediction
Ultimately, penalties were the downfall for Winnipeg in the last match, and since penalty-killing is one of the club's weakest areas, the opponent capitalized on it. In this series, St. Louis has managed to score on the power play at least once in every match and remains consistent in this regard. On the other hand, their opponent struggles on the road, rarely making mistakes at home, and currently boasts a 13-game winning streak (3 in overtime), which suggests confidence in another home victory. Moreover, Winnipeg has not been performing well in recent away games: the club failed to win in regular time in 8 of their last 10 NHL matches (3 draws, 5 losses).
Considering St. Louis's home game statistics and their main weapon, the power play, it seems likely that the team will level the series or at least attempt to. In the last two home games against this opponent, the team did not lose in regular time, so my pick is in favor of the hosts (1 win, 1 draw).
My prediction: St. Louis Blues with handicap (0)
