2019 NHL Playoffs Stanley Cup Finals - St. Louis Blues vs Boston Bruins Game 7: Predictions, Odds and Betting Lines

Where: TD Garden – Boston, MA.

When: Wednesday, June 12, 8 PM EST

How (TV/Radio): CBC, Sportsnet, TVAS, NBC | WFAN

St. Louis Blues (Away)

Head Coach: Craig Berube {All-Time 113-77-34 STL, PHI}

Home-ice doesn’t always carry an advantage when it comes to the NHL’s game-seven history, but for the St. Louis Blues, it may be beneficial to be playing in Boston as they have lost two of their three home games in this series against the Bruins. Another promising stat is that the Blues managed to outperform the Bruins in the faceoff dot throughout game six. The Blues have struggled throughout the playoffs to get the upper hand in puck possession due to their poor play in the faceoff circle.

Sadly, the Blues do continue to struggle on the power play, going 0-for-2 in game six and having only a 16.3 power play percentage (Boston has a power play percentage of 32.9). Ryan O’Reilly scored the lone goal for the Blues in game six, extending his scoring streak to three games.

Calder trophy candidate Jordan Binnington will once again be between the pipes for St. Louis. Binnington has played 25 games and has a playoff record of 15-10. His goals-against average sits at 2.52 and his save percentage is .911. He has one shutout. He made 27 saves in game six, allowing four goals.

Boston Bruins (Home)

Head Coach: Bruce Cassidy {All-Time 164-99-9-29 BOS, WSH}

The Boston Bruins were put on their heels after a game five loss but they clawed their way back. With some players playing through injury, the Bruins squad showed the Boston grit that the team has become known for and pulled off an almost picture-perfect 5-1 win over the Blues in game six. They will now have an opportunity to claim their second post-lockout Stanley Cup in front of their home crowd Wednesday night.

Many pundits viewed game six as a full team effort by the Bruins. Veterans and rookies alike were contributing in every facet of the game. That’s the mentality that a Stanley Cup-winning squad needs to have. The Bruins were 4-for-4 on the penalty kill and outshot the Blues 32-29.

It should be noted that defenseman Matt Grzelcyk will be a game-time decision come Wednesday and that captain Zdeno Chara will be in the line-up, albeit with a facial mask to protect his injured jaw. It didn’t seem to hinder his performance in game six (he scored Boston’s fifth goal) and should prove to be a non-issue in game seven for the veteran, playing in his record-setting 14th game seven.

Strangely enough, there are five players from the 2011 Cup winning Bruins team still playing for the team today. One of which is goalie Tuukka Rask. However, Rask didn’t see any ice time in the 2011 playoffs as he was backing up Tim Thomas (who ended up winning the Conn Smythe that year). Now Rask has the opportunity to mirror his predecessor in game seven Wednesday night. Rask has played 23 games in the playoffs this year and has registered a goals against average of 1.93 and a save percentage of .938 – leading all goalies. He also has two shutouts. The award for the playoffs most valuable player is all but a lock for Rask.

Series recap (Series tied 2-2) Game one: 4-2 Boston, Game two: 3-2 (OT) St. Louis, Game three: 7-2 Boston, Game four: 4-2 St. Louis, Game 5: 2-1 St. Louis, Game six: 5-1 Boston

Playoff Performers

Center Ryan O’Reilly has been on another level during the Stanley Cup finals. O’Reilly now sits second overall in the playoff scoring race, behind only Boston’s Brad Marchand by two points. O’Reilly has seven goals and 14 assists and only four penalty minutes. He has one power play goal and a total of five power-play points. He also has two game-winners and sits just above 50 percent in the faceoff circle. He has become somewhat of a dark horse candidate for the Conn Smythe award himself.

For the Bruins, Tuukka Rask still remains the standout following a game six performance that saw him garner the first star of the game honors. In game six, Rask allowed only one goal on 29 shots – good enough for a game six save percentage of .966. Rask is a stand out contender for the Conn Smythe award this year and could become the first goaltender since Jonathan Quick in 2012 to hoist the trophy for the playoffs’ most valuable player.

Questions to answer

Even following a dominant win, the Bruins have yet to win back-t0-back games against the Blues in this series. Can they finally pull it off or is this face a tell that weighs in St. Louis’ favor?

Win or lose, Tuukka Rask is almost certainly the favorite for the Conn Smythe award. But will exhaustion give him any issues following a game six victory in which he was named the first star?

Will pressure and exhaustion work against the Blues as well – a young team made up of players who have never been this deep into the playoffs before (including a rookie goaltender)?

What will the referee be like in game seven as both teams have been on the wrong end of some poor calls during these Stanley Cup finals?

St. Louis Blues Injury Report

F Erik Foley – IR (concussion)

Boston Bruins Injury Report

D Matt Grzelcyk – day-to-day (undisclosed)

F Chris Wagner – day-to-day (right arm)

D Kevan Miller -day-to-day (lower-body)

D Urho Vaakanainen – IR (concussion)

St. Louis Blues vs Boston Bruins Odds and Betting Lines

If you are in New Jersey you can bet on the St. Louis Blues vs the Boston Bruins Game 7, with 888Sport and BetStars. Good luck!

Moneyline

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Total Goals

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Puck Line

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