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Lightning vs. Blues Prediction and Odds: Fade Fraudulent St. Louis

By Iain MacMillan

The Blues have come back down to earth after a hot start to their season.
The Blues have come back down to earth after a hot start to their season. / Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports
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The Tampa Bay Lightning and St. Louis Blues are set to face-off in a battle between two teams trending in opposite directions.

After getting off to a hot start to their season, the Blues have stumbled as of late, going 3-5-2 in their last 10 games. Luckily for them, the Central Division has been the weakest in the NHL this year, so they still sit in second place despite hitting a recent rough patch.

The Lightning have had a polar opposite season to the Blues. They started off slow, but have since turned things around, going 7-2-1 in their last 10 games. They're currently six points back from the division-leading Toronto Maple Leafs, but Tampa Bay has three games in hand.

The Lightning and Blues will play in a home-and-home this week, with today's game taking place in St. Louis, and then the two teams will meet again in Tampa Bay on Thursday.

Here are the odds for tonight's interconference matchup courtesy of WynnBET.

Lightning vs. Blues Odds and Total

Moneyline:

  • Lightning -105
  • Blues -105

Puck line:

  • Lightning -1.5 (+250)
  • Blues +1.5 (-300)

Total:

  • 5.5 (Over -115/Under -105)

Lightning vs. Blues Prediction and Pick

I've been saying this since St. Louis got off to a hot start to its season, but the Blues are frauds and I will continue to bet against them until the sportsbooks adjust their odds. Statistically, the Blues are an average team at best. They rank 14th in CORSI%, 21st in high danger scoring chances for, and 19th in high danger scoring chances against. Those aren't great numbers.

If you want to see how an actual good team looks statistically, look at how the Lightning rank in those stats. 12th in CORSI%, seventh in high danger scoring chances for, and second in high danger scoring chances against. Sure, their CORSI% could be higher, but that's a result of their slow start to their season. This is a team with an explosive offense and a stout defense.

There's a reason they won back-to-back Stanley Cups.

Give me the Lightning tonight as a pick'em.

Pick: Lightning -105

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