The Western Conference final is now a best-of-three – and that suits the San Jose Sharks just fine as they host the St. Louis Blues in Game 5 on Sunday afternoon.
The Blues drew even for the second time in the best-of-seven set, pulling ahead early and holding on for a 2-1 triumph behind a 29-save performance from Jordan Binnington. But while San Jose struggled to do much in Game 4, it hasn't lost consecutive games since midway through its first-round series victory over the Vegas Golden Knights.
St. Louis Blues at San Jose Sharks (-140, 5.5)
QUICK-HITTER
Early scoring has been a trademark of the Sharks' playoff performance, for better or worse. San Jose has allowed a goal in the first minute of the game on three separate occasions this postseason – the most since the Boston Bruins surrendered four opening-minute goals during their successful Stanley Cup run. Three of the first four games have featured goals within the opening four minutes, and we like one of these teams to get on the scoresheet early enough in Game 5 to convert this prop.
PREDICTION: Time of 1st score: Before 9:30 elapsed (-140)
PERIOD BET
It's worth sticking with the opening period here, since it has seen the most consistent output. The second period had been an incredible Over play heading into Game 4, but the teams went scoreless in the middle frame after scoring 13 times over the previous three games. And they've done little in the final frame, with just five total goals through four games. The opening period has gone O1.5 in three of four games – including Game 4 – and we favor that trend continuing Sunday afternoon.
PREDICTION: Over 1.5 first-period goals (-110)
TEAM/PLAYER BET
It might seem like low-hanging fruit, but when you're looking for player prop options at this point in the postseason, you can't do much better than going with the guy who leads the Stanley Cup playoffs in goal-scoring. Logan Couture has been sensational so far, piling up 14 goals – four more than runner-up and teammate Tomas Hertl – and has been particularly prolific at SAP Center, with eight goals in 10 postseason contests. Take the hottest player on NHL ice to keep his impressive streak alive.
PREDICTION: Logan Couture anytime goal (+170)
FULL-GAME TOTAL
Both teams showed impressive defensive prowess in Game 4, but bettors shouldn't expect that to be a prevailing trend over the rest of the series. The sides combined for 24 goals through the first three games, and only some outstanding goaltending on both sides – particularly Binnington and the Blues – kept the score down in Game 4. We expect these teams to find more success in the goal department in Game 5, making the O5.5 the superior play.
PREDICTION: Over 5.5 goals (-110)
FULL-GAME SIDE
These teams have played near dead-even hockey through four games, with both teams winning once on the road and once on home ice. But the Sharks were better than the Game 4 scoresheet indicated, finishing with a 30-22 shots advantage – and now they'll return to SAP Center, where they average a whopping 3.90 goals through their first 10 home playoff games. San Jose has won four consecutive games following a loss, and is a great play to make it five in a row in Game 5.
PREDICTION: San Jose -140
