Edmonton (7-11-2) at St Louis (15-5-1)
When: Tuesday, November 21st 2017
Where: Scottrade Center, St Louis, MO
Time: 8:05 ET | TV: NBC Sports Network
Opening Odds: St Louis -135/5.5
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The St. Louis Blues have a habit of putting together terrific regular seasons, but falling flat when it comes to the postseason. They’re doing the same thing so far in 2017-18 with the best record in the Western Conference and they’ll begin a five-game homestand on Tuesday night against the Edmonton Oilers on NBC Sports Network. St. Louis is getting huge contributions from offseason acquisition Brayden Schenn – formerly of the Flyers – to the tune of five goals and 10 assists on his career-best seven-game point streak for a Blues team that has 31 points, four better than the next best Western team. Schenn continued his hot stretch with two goals and an assist in St. Louis’ 4-1 win at Edmonton on Thursday before scoring the overtime winner two nights later in a 4-3 victory in Vancouver. While the Blues have won nine of 12 overall and earned points in 11 of their last 13 home meetings with the Oilers, Edmonton fell for the fourth time in five games with a 6-3 setback to Dallas on Saturday in the opener of a five-game trip. Reigning Hart Trophy winner Connor McDavid scored a goal and set up two others to give him 17 points (seven goals, 10 assists) in his past 13 games, although he was held off the scoresheet and finished with a -2 rating in last week’s encounter with the Blues.
The Edmonton offense, which is ranked 27th in the league, isn’t the main concern for head coach Todd McLellan. It’s the 23rd-ranked defense that’s giving him headaches. “It’s beyond goaltending. It’s team-wide and it’s something we need to fix,” McLellan told reporters. Goaltender Cam Talbot allowed all four goals to the Blues in the first meeting last week after surrendering that total – on 88 shots – en route to a 3-0 record against St. Louis last season. The Oilers will move on to Detroit for the second of a back-to-back tomorrow night.
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Two-time All-Star defenseman Jay Bouwmeester is expected to make his season debut on Tuesday after sustaining a fractured left ankle while blocking a shot during training camp. Bouwmeester will be looking to aid Jake Allen, who stopped 29 of 30 shots on Thursday to snap a personal three-game skid to the Oilers. Center Paul Stastny has aided the St. Louis offense lately with assists in his last three games. Schenn’s line consisting of RW Vladimir Tarasenko and LW Jaden Schwartz has combined for 74 points (28 goals, 46 assists) and a +44 rating this season.
These are two teams that have been going in opposite directions all season and I have to stick to that trend in this one. The Blues are a terrific all-around team, while the Oilers are struggling offensively – something they didn’t go a year ago.
Pick: Blues -140
- Oilers are 6-1 in their last 7 vs. a team with a winning record.
- Oilers are 19-39 in their last 58 games following a loss of 3 or more goals.
- Oilers are 101-209 in their last 310 road games.
- Oilers are 16-38 in their last 54 after allowing 5 goals or more in their previous game.
- Oilers are 32-93 in their last 125 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
- Oilers are 14-41 in their last 55 Tuesday games.
- Oilers are 1-4 in their last 5 overall.
- Oilers are 1-10 in their last 11 games playing on 2 days rest.
- Blues are 5-1 in their last 6 vs. Pacific.
- Blues are 5-1 in their last 6 vs. Western Conference.
- Blues are 9-2 in their last 11 home games.
- Blues are 42-12 in their last 54 vs. a team with a winning % below .400.
- Blues are 66-19 in their last 85 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of less than .400.
- Blues are 6-2 in their last 8 games following a win.
- Blues are 36-15 in their last 51 overall.
- Blues are 36-16 in their last 52 games playing on 2 days rest.
- Under is 5-1 in Oilers last 6 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
- Under is 8-2 in Oilers last 10 road games.
- Over is 6-2 in Oilers last 8 following a loss of 3 or more goals.
- Under is 11-4-1 in Oilers last 16 games playing on 2 days rest.
- Over is 5-2 in Oilers last 7 after allowing 5 goals or more in their previous game.
- Under is 4-1 in Blues last 5 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of less than .400.
- Over is 4-1 in Blues last 5 when their opponent allows 5 goals or more in their previous game.
- Under is 20-5-3 in Blues last 28 vs. a team with a winning % below .400.
- Under is 5-2 in Blues last 7 Tuesday games.
- Over is 7-3 in Blues last 10 vs. Western Conference.
- Under is 9-4-2 in Blues last 15 vs. Pacific.
- Under is 15-7 in Blues last 22 games following a win.
- Under is 27-13-4 in Blues last 44 games playing on 2 days rest.
- Under is 4-0 in the last 4 meetings.
- Oilers are 7-20 in the last 27 meetings.
- Oilers are 3-10 in the last 13 meetings in St. Louis.
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