ointer:Well, this year, no surprises.
The Blues will have a target on their back, so, for example, tonight Ottawa will be ultra-jacked up to beat the Stanley Cup Champs in front of the home crowd, it would give them credibility. Not saying to take Ottawa, just pointing it out.
Hockey is maybe the hardest sport to repeat because of this dynamic, all through the year, lower / mediocre & bad teams will be fired up at home for The Blues, some upsets will occur that may not have, last year.
Overall The Blues should be solid, they return almost everybody and picked up a perfect addition in Justin Faulk, an All Star multi purpose defenseman; he can play some D but also help a lot with the power play. They lost the colorful banger Maroon, but he is a 60 foot player and there is plenty of young talent to take his spot.
SO I will not be commenting on The Blues nearly as often as last year, so, everybody, play them cautiously as the favorite they usually will be, no opportunities like last year when the juice mostly favored The Blues, even till the last game.
GL!
Just checking in, with an update. Not playing much hockey with football ongoing.
The Blues are leading the Western Conference, have had some shaky outings but are now playing solid the last several weeks. They've been fortunate, too, with several overtime wins. Or clutch, depending how you want to characterize it.
The big thing, IMO, is that Binnington is the real deal, not as hot as last year but so far he has been solid, .921, last year .927.
Last night he was under attack and made numerous spectacular saves, he won the game for The Blues. Maybe he will falter with the long season but there was concern that he was in a zone last year and it was random, a streak. So far, so good.
The whole team is back, unusual but they only lost a player or two (Maroon, a 60 foot player is gone) and they added All Star D Justin Faulk, a perfect fit. Bad news with Tarasenko, a key cog, he is lost with shoulder surgery, he might be back in 5 months...
There is still a bit of added value with them, they still are a tad underrated by the public and Vegas.
I am not going to make plays on them on this board, at least for now, though I had them small last night +115 ML.
Not going to play them tonight, back to back road game, and Allen will be in goal...
GL!
The Blues are leading the Western Conference, have had some shaky outings but are now playing solid the last several weeks. They've been fortunate, too, with several overtime wins. Or clutch, depending how you want to characterize it.
The big thing, IMO, is that Binnington is the real deal, not as hot as last year but so far he has been solid, .921, last year .927.
Last night he was under attack and made numerous spectacular saves, he won the game for The Blues. Maybe he will falter with the long season but there was concern that he was in a zone last year and it was random, a streak. So far, so good.
The whole team is back, unusual but they only lost a player or two (Maroon, a 60 foot player is gone) and they added All Star D Justin Faulk, a perfect fit. Bad news with Tarasenko, a key cog, he is lost with shoulder surgery, he might be back in 5 months...
There is still a bit of added value with them, they still are a tad underrated by the public and Vegas.
I am not going to make plays on them on this board, at least for now, though I had them small last night +115 ML.
Not going to play them tonight, back to back road game, and Allen will be in goal...
GL!
"[FONT="]Similarly to the great run we had taking the Blues last year in January and February when they were underpriced consistently, to begin this campaign they have not played to the same level. I know this is something I have harped on about for weeks, but it is true. Of course good teams find ways to win games that they shouldn't, however we don't want to bet on those good teams playing bad hockey if they are not priced as such."
[/FONT]https://www.sportsbookreview.com/picks/nhl/nhl-pick-of-the-day-moneyline-totals-puckline/92764/
[/FONT]https://www.sportsbookreview.com/picks/nhl/nhl-pick-of-the-day-moneyline-totals-puckline/92764/
Blues have some key injuries (espcially Tarasenko) but the Bereube system has prevailed, almost the entire team from last year is back... and they are playing very good hockey, no Stanley Cup hangover, are in first place in the West.
After I saw that they had the right attitude, I have played them on occassion... they are in a road-trip-mini-slump so I am taking them to be fired up, right the ship, back at home tonight, regulation -1/2, -125.
GL!
After I saw that they had the right attitude, I have played them on occassion... they are in a road-trip-mini-slump so I am taking them to be fired up, right the ship, back at home tonight, regulation -1/2, -125.
GL!
2021, The Blues suffered massive injuries this year, at some points 7-8 players that would be on the ice were out. A lot of them are finally back, look 100% for the most part though Tarasenko is an enigma as usual.
They are better than their record, and Binnington is showing signs of getting back to previous form.
I do not like the series matchup, Colorado is clearly one of the best 3 teams in the NHL:
-Colorado is the fastest team in the NHL and has 4 days rest, speed teams do well early in the playoffs but slow down later after getting hit and playing every day
-Refs establish their control the first series, lots of penalties, Avs have best PP in hockey
BUT playoff hockey is a different game, so I am putting a small-medium play on the Blues for the series +300, Blues started to jell as they got healthier, +300 is good value, IMO. But nothing big!
GL!
Binnington has been terrible last 15 games, something like (didn't look it up) 88% save %, 3.88 goals/game. lost most of the games, definitely the stats for the last 8 games = 4.53 goals a game, save 87%.
Meanwhile Husso has been outstanding, in 15 games spread over all of this year: 1.90 goals and 94.1% save %.
I think Husso goes tonight.
Binnington may have lost his mojo, got hammered Thursday night after the break, I think tonight it'll be Husso, if so tonight I am going with the Blues -1.5 +130 or whatever it is when they announce the starting goalie. A lot of us have been fading Binnington, betting on Husso for awhile it has been extremely successful.
Ex NHL players are even pointing out Binnington's changed fundamentals from his past form, that now his glove is usually too low, he is favoring his glove side thus exposing his blocker side, and is a tad further out than in the past. Yes I realize Binnington and the goalie coach know this, but still it is a ?????
Blues will be focused and fired up at with Berube's new 3 yr deal and at home after being embarrassed lately, they are slipping and need a win, I advise laying the 1.5 in this spot with Husso.
GL!
Meanwhile Husso has been outstanding, in 15 games spread over all of this year: 1.90 goals and 94.1% save %.
I think Husso goes tonight.
Binnington may have lost his mojo, got hammered Thursday night after the break, I think tonight it'll be Husso, if so tonight I am going with the Blues -1.5 +130 or whatever it is when they announce the starting goalie. A lot of us have been fading Binnington, betting on Husso for awhile it has been extremely successful.
Ex NHL players are even pointing out Binnington's changed fundamentals from his past form, that now his glove is usually too low, he is favoring his glove side thus exposing his blocker side, and is a tad further out than in the past. Yes I realize Binnington and the goalie coach know this, but still it is a ?????
Blues will be focused and fired up at with Berube's new 3 yr deal and at home after being embarrassed lately, they are slipping and need a win, I advise laying the 1.5 in this spot with Husso.
GL!
