Blues Given 2-9 Odds To Advance to Stanley Cup Final After Dominating Game 5

• The St. Louis Blues are -450 favorites to win the NHL Western Conference final
• They lead San Jose 3-2 with Game 6 set for Tuesday in St. Louis
• The Blues haven’t reached the Stanley Cup final since 1970

The last time the St. Louis Blues played in the Stanley Cup final, the Amazing New York Mets were reigning World Series champions. The NFL and AFL merged. Willis Reed was leading the New York Knicks to their first NBA title since 1953.

This Eddy hug is everything. #stlblues pic.twitter.com/6dyMrNZs6E

— St. Louis Blues (@StLouisBlues) May 20, 2019

The Blues are on the brink of making it happen, and the odds suggest that they will do so.  Sportsbooks have pegged St. Louis as the overwhelming -450 chalk to eliminate the San Jose Sharks, win the Western Conference title and advance to play for Lord Stanley’s mug for the first time in 49 years.

Updated Blues vs Sharks Series Price

*Odds taken May 20

In the 1969-70 Stanley Cup final, the Blues were swept by the Boston Bruins – the same team they’d face if they get to the final this spring.

Blues Travel Fast

It’s the first time the Blues have sat as favorites to win this series since their Game 2 victory at San Jose. The Sharks were the -120 choice to win the set even after St. Louis pulled even at 2-2 with a Game 4 home-ice victory.

But the Blues took their traveling road show to the SAP Center and improved to 7-2 away from home in the playoffs via a decisive 5-0 verdict in Game 5.

In reality, the Blues have been the better team for the majority of this set since the beginning of Game 2. Their only loss was a heartbreaking Game 3 overtime setback on a goal that should have been disallowed due to a hand pass.

Jordan Binnington became the second @StLouisBlues goaltender in the last 15 years to blank an opponent in the postseason, following Brian Elliott in Game 1 of the 2016 First Round.

More #NHLStats: https://t.co/IRo4Bd4rM9 #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/RLQqwiDtyZ

— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) May 20, 2019

Since that game, St. Louis has outscored San Jose 7-1. Goalie Jordan Binnington and the team itself established new franchise playoff marks by posting 11 wins.

Jaden Schwartz became the second player in @StLouisBlues history to score multiple playoff hat tricks at any point, joining Frank St. Marseille who posted a three-goal outing in 1970 and again in 1972. https://t.co/Vl1Awa2to5 #NHLStats #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/i1xFgJvkP5

— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) May 20, 2019

Forward Jaden Schwartz has two playoff hat-tricks. He’s the second player in team history to record two playoff hat-tricks, joining Frank St. Marseille, a member of the 1970 Blues.

The Blues are 2-0 in Game 6 in these playoffs. They are 3-2 all-time in games when they can advance to the Stanley Cup final.

Sharks Tank

San Jose stormed back from a 3-1 series deficit to beat Vegas in the opening round but the Sharks resemble a team coming apart and running on fumes. They’ve played almost a game-and-a-half more than the Blues in terms of ice time during the playoffs.

Pete DeBoer offered no update on Sharks that didn’t finish Game 5, and wouldn’t indicate if Karlsson, Hertl and Pavelski will travel to St. Louis.

— Greg Wyshynski (@wyshynski) May 20, 2019

Defenseman Erik Karlsson, who’s nursed a groin issue for much of the season, was stapled to the bench for almost the entire third period of Game 5.

Captain Joe Pavelski left after being hit along the boards by St. Louis captain Alex Pietrangelo. It’s the third time he’s departed a game due to injury in the postseason.

Summary of today and the entire #StanleyCup playoffs for Joe Pavelski. pic.twitter.com/cxdrS4g9B3

— Brodie Brazil (@BrodieNBCS) May 19, 2019

The line of Pavelski, Tomas Hertl and Evander Kane are pointless five-on-five in this series.

The Sharks are cooked. Bet the Blues to win Game 6 and the series.