Bruins Open as Favorites Over Blues in 2019 Stanley Cup Final

• Sportsbooks list the Boston Bruins as -160 favorites to win the Stanley Cup final over the St. Louis Blues
• This is the Blues’ first trip to the Cup final since 1969-70
• St. Louis was swept by Boston in the 1970 Stanley Cup final

The last time the Boston Bruins and St. Louis Blues met in the Stanley Cup final, one streak of heartbreak was guaranteed to end. The Blues had lost the two previous Cup final series in consecutive sweeps handed them by the Montreal Canadiens.

The Bruins, meanwhile, hadn’t won the Cup in 29 years.

Last time the Bruins and Blues played in the Stanley Cup Final: 1970

The result: pic.twitter.com/8GCeBcOR7o

— Spittin' Chiclets (@spittinchiclets) May 22, 2019

Boston emerged with the win, dishing out another sweep to the Blues. St. Louis, which went to the Cup final in each of its first three seasons from 1968-70, is finally back for another shot.

The sportsbooks aren’t expecting the outcome to be any happier for the Blues, though. They have established the Bruins as the -160 favorites to win the Cup final series in their Stanley Cup odds.

St. Louis Blues vs Boston Bruins Stanley Cup Final Odds

*Odds taken 05/22/19

Sportsbooks also think the Bruins will make short work of the Blues. They’ve set the total games for the Cup final series at 5.5.

Bruins Have Been There, Done That

Boston most recently played in the Cup final in 2013 and won the Cup in 2011. Patrice Bergeron, Zdeno Chara, David Krejci, Brad Marchand, and Tuukka Rask all won Stanley Cup rings. Four Bruins have played 100 NHL postseason games – Chara (173), Bergeron (127), Krejci (123),  and Marchand (101).

There isn’t a single Blues player with a Stanley Cup title. The Cup final series is a different animal than the other playoff rounds and first-timers are often overwhelmed initially on that big stage.

From Worst to First?

On January 3rd, the Blues sat last overall in the NHL. They’re the first team to reach the Cup final after being in the basement since 1967-68. The other six teams to go from worst to the postseason all lost in Round 1.

Craig Berube of the @StLouisBlues became the 11th head coach in NHL history to reach the #StanleyCup Final after taking over midseason. #NHLStats pic.twitter.com/jUntAqFq6i

— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) May 22, 2019

St. Louis also changed coaches during the season when Craig Berube replaced Mike Yeo. Six teams have won the Cup after an in-season coaching change. Most recent team to do so were the 2015-16 Pittsburgh Penguins (Mike Johnson to Mike Sullivan).

Sweeping Indictment?

The Bruins reached the Cup final by sweeping the Carolina Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference final. But teams that sweep teams in this spring’s playoffs are a combined 2-12 in the next round.

The @StLouisBlues and @NHLBruins are set for their third all-time playoff meeting, and second in the #StanleyCup Final. #NHLStats pic.twitter.com/tcaWPQIHFh

— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) May 22, 2019

Idle since May 16th, Bruins GM Don Sweeney reached out to the New England Patriots to get some advice on how that team deals with the two-week layoff prior to the Super Bowl.

Teams that sweep teams in this spring’s playoffs are a combined 2-12 in the next round.

Boston also swept Chicago in the 1970 semifinals prior to sweeping the Blues. And Boston has swept St. Louis in both previous playoff meetings between the two teams.

Bruin Up a Championship

The Bruins are simply too deep and too experienced. The Marchand-Pastrnak-Bergeron line is the best two-way unit in the NHL.

"We're looking for compete and we're looking for pace…We've had good practices, but this will be a little bit different."

?#NHLBruins head coach Bruce Cassidy discusses the Intrasquad Scrimmage on Thursday. Get your tickets: https://t.co/gPBLG0LkIo pic.twitter.com/CRrXS9nkgx

— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) May 21, 2019

They may not sweep the Blues, but they will win the Stanley Cup.

Pick: Boston Bruins (-160)