Contesting Stanley Cup Playoffs: Betting Odds and Game 3 Forecast for Blues vs Stars
The Western Conference semifinal series between the St. Louis Blues and Dallas Stars continues on Monday, with Game 3 set to take place at American Airlines Center at 8 PM ET. The Stars currently hold a 2-0 lead in the series, and are home favourites to extend their advantage to 3-0.
In Game 2, the Stars secured a 3-2 victory, with Roope Hintz and Miro Heiskanen scoring goals for Dallas. Jaden Schwartz managed to score a goal for the Blues, but it wasn't enough to prevent the loss. Colton Parayko contributed a goal and an assist in the defeat.
Parayko's assist came on Schwartz's goal, helping to narrow the deficit to 3-2. Schwartz has been in fine form recently, with five goals in his last four outings and six points in eight contests this postseason. Heiskanen, meanwhile, scored his second goal of the playoffs in Game 2, joining Curt Giles as the second Stars/North Stars rookie defenseman to score multiple goals in a postseason.
The Blues' defense has been solid this season, allowing 2.43 goals per game, with 31.80 shots, and a power play/penalty kill percentage of 16.09. However, Jordan Binnington, who made 31 saves in Game 2, allowed three goals in the first period, which proved costly for the Blues.
Binnington has been chosen as a finalist for the Calder Trophy, which goes to the NHL's top rookie. The Blues' offense averages 2.60 goals per game, with 30.91 shots, and a power play/penalty kill percentage of 20.83.
The underdog is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings between the Blues and Stars, and the total has gone under in 5-2-1 in the last 8 meetings between the two teams. The game will be broadcast on NBC Sports Network.
The Dallas Stars have several top forwards who have scored a significant number of goals in recent years, including Jamie Benn and Alexander Radulov. Hintz, however, has been a standout performer in these playoffs, leading all rookies with seven points. He became the second Stars/North Stars rookie in the last 37 years to record three points in a postseason game.
According to Bishop, Heiskanen is a "sure-fire Hall of Famer" and one of the best defensemen he's ever played with. With the series now moving to Dallas, the Blues will be hoping to mount a comeback and avoid being swept in the semifinal series.
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