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Sharks Still Favored to Win Western Conference Final As Blues Tie Series 2-2

Chris Amberley

by Chris Amberley in NHL Hockey

Updated Apr 6, 2020 · 9:17 AM PDT

Logan Couture
Despite a setback in Game 4, the Sharks are still just two wins away from reaching the Stanley Cup Final for the second time in franchise history. Photo by mark6mauno (Flickr) [CC License].
  • The San Jose Sharks are still favored to advance to the Stanley Cup Final despite dropping Game 4
  • The Sharks hold home ice advantage, but the Blues are 6-2 on the road this postseason
  • Who is the best bet to advance to the Stanley Cup Final

The San Jose Sharks have gone the distance in each of their first two series this postseason, and it appears the Western Conference Final is headed that way as well.

The Sharks dropped Game 4 to the Blues Friday night, squaring the series at 2, and setting up a best-of-three to determine who will face the Bruins in the Stanley Cup Final.

St. Louis Blues vs San Jose Sharks Playoff Series Odds

Team Odds
St. Louis Blues EVEN
San Jose Sharks -120

*Odds taken 05/17/19

San Jose and St. Louis have alternated wins and losses in each of the first four games of the Western Conference Final, causing the series odds to shift drastically after each contest. San Jose was a -250 favorite to advance to the Cup Final following Game 3, but those odds have now been lengthened to -120.

San Jose has Superior Firepower

The Sharks were a far superior offensive team in the regular season and that has proven to be true in this series as well. They’ve outscored the Blues 14-10, and have gotten major contributions from their star players.

Logan Couture has scored five times already this series and leads the playoffs with 14 goals and 20 points. Brett Burns and Erik Karlsson have combined for six points in four games against St. Louis, and each have 16 points this postseason, three more than anyone on the Blues roster.

St. Louis’ top five regular season scorers have combined to score just four times against the Sharks, and if weren’t for goaltender Jordan Binnington, they’d likely be on the verge of elimination.

Binnington is Carrying the Blues

Binnington was an integral part of the Blues midseason turnaround and he’s carried his stellar play into the postseason. He’s allowed two goals or fewer in 59% of his playoff starts, and now holds the franchise record for most wins a single postseason.

He was especially brilliant in the second period of Game 4, weathering a furious San Jose attack and stopping all 11 shots he faced.

He’s just the 10th rookie goalie in NHL history to win 10 games in his first postseason, and he’s now 11-2 with a 1.81 goals against average in games following a loss. Great goaltending has stolen many playoff series in the past, and it’s hard to bet against Binnington at this moment.

Continue to Back the Blues

Following Game 3, our very own Daniel Coyle recommended grabbing the Blues at plus money and I see no reason to deviate from that recommendation. It’s concerning that their primary offensive threats have gone cold, but their stellar goaltending has more than made up for it.

They showed great resiliency in Game 4, bouncing back from a horrible beat in Game 3, and the fact that they’re 6-2 on the road this postseason should inspire bettors to believe they can steal at least one more game in San Jose.

Pick: Blues (EVEN)

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