Posted on
12/28/2007 2:54:04 PM
Bet On NHL - San Jose Sharks vs. St. Louis Blues
By Robby Maddux
Tonight, the San Jose Sharks (-120) try to extend a franchise-record seven-game road winning streak when they meet the St. Louis Blues (Even) for the first time this season, making for a spectacular NHL betting contest.
San Jose improved to 13-3-2 away from home with a 3-2 victory against last-place Los Angeles on Wednesday, tying Ottawa for the league's best mark. The Sharks have outscored opponents 22-10 during the seven-game streak, which surpassed the previous club record set Nov. 30-Dec. 19, 2001.
- Sharks are 0-4 in their last 4 after allowing 2 goals or less in their previous game.
- Sharks are 0-4 in their last 4 games playing on 1 days rest.
The Sharks have dominated the Blues in recent years, going 8-1-1 in the past 10 meetings. San Jose has scored 24 goals during five straight wins at St. Louis since a 4-2 loss on Dec. 18, 2003.
Net keeper Evgeni Nabokov, who has started all 36 games this season, has limited the Blues to one goal or less in three of his last four starts against them. He's 5-7 in his career versus St. Louis with a 2.77 GAA (goal-average allowed).
Star center Joe Thornton leads the team with 41 points but has only one goal in his last 10 games. Thornton has five goals and 12 assists in his career against the Blues with 17 points.
- Sharks are 2-6 in their last 8 vs. Central.
- Sharks are 5-1 in their last 6 vs. a team with a winning record.
- Sharks are 4-0 in their last 4 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
The Blues were shut out for the fifth time this season, 5-0 by league-leading Detroit on Wednesday. Manny Legace was replaced by Hannu Toivonen at 7:37 of the second period after allowing four goals on 16 shots.
- Blues are 15-36 in their last 51 games following a loss of 3 or more goals.
- Blues are 11-27 in their last 38 after allowing 5 goals or more in their previous game.
- Blues are 1-4 in their last 5 games playing on 1 days rest.
St. Louis dropped to 2-4-2 in its last eight games in front of a crowd of 19,250 -- the largest of the season at Scottrade Center.
Paul Kariya leads the Blues with 31 points, but has gone a season-high eight games without a goal. He does, however, have five goals in his last eight games against San Jose.
St. Louis will be without physical defenseman Barret Jackman for at least the next three games after he was placed on injured reserve Thursday.
- Blues are 9-4 in their last 13 vs. Pacific.
- Blues are 1-4 in their last 5 vs. Western Conference.
- Blues are 5-2 in their last 7 Friday games.
- Blues are 1-5 in their last 6 home games.
- Blues are 2-6 in their last 8 overall.
NHL odds list San Jose the -120 money-line favorites and -1½ +220 on the spread with a game total of 5 under -120.
- Sharks are 1-4 in their last 5 games as a favorite.
- Sharks are 1-4 in their last 5 games as a favorite of -110 to -150.
- Sharks are 25-9 in their last 34 games as a road favorite.
- Sharks are 5-0 in their last 5 games as a road favorite of -110 to -150.
Analysis: The Sharks are 5-1 in their last six meetings with the Blues and have come away victorious in their last five trips to the Gateway City. There's no reason the Sharks can't bite the Blues yet again in this one.
NHL Free Picks: San Jose Sharks (-120)
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