The St. Louis Blues are just one win away from a return to the Stanley Cup Finals, and the city of St. Louis is feeling it. The Blues will host the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday night in front of a raucous home crowd that absolutely loves their home team. St. Louis was able to steal home-ice advantage away from the Sharks with a 5-0 win in Game 5 and will look to close out the Sharks in Game 6.
San Jose looked to have control of this series after the first three games, but they are in desperation mode now. The Sharks have figured out a way to win a pair of Game 7s already in this postseason, and they are hoping to get to play in one again. St. Louis knows that winning in St. Louis is their best chance if they are going to reach the Finals. The St. Louis Blues are -155 over the San Jose Sharks in Game 6 of the series.
Binnington Has Been Sharp of Late
The Blues have relied on a rookie goaltender throughout the playoffs, and he keeps getting better each time out. Jordan Binnington has been the star of the last two games and made 21 saves to earn the shutout in Game 5. Binnington has allowed just one goal in the last two games and is one win away from delivering the Blues a trip to the Stanley Cup Finals. The young goalie has already set a Blues franchise record for wins by a rookie.
Jaden Schwartz has been the leader for the Blues on offense, and he might win himself a Conn Smythe Award. Schwartz notched a hat trick in the Game 5 victory and has tallied 12 goals and 16 assists in these playoffs. Vladimir Tarasenko also got into the scoring in Game 5 with an impressive penalty-shot goal. The Blues are scoring goals like crazy, and they show no signs of slowing down.
Sharks Must Find Offense Again
If the San Jose Sharks are going to force a decisive Game 7, they are going to have to find some offense again. The Sharks have 11 total goals in their two wins in this series but have tallied just three goals in their losses in the series. San Jose scored 3.52 goals per game during the regular season but would love to get at least two goals in this one.
Part of the reason that the Sharks struggled to score in Game 5 was that some of their best players were injured. San Jose will likely be without Erik Karlsson in Game 6 and could be without Tomas Hertl and Joe Pavelski. Center Logan Couture leads the team with 14 goals and 20 points in the playoffs, but he can’t do it alone.
Sharks Force a Game 7
San Jose does a huge advantage in experience, and that should give them a fighting chance in this game. The Sharks are a little banged up, but they have plenty of depth to overcome it. St. Louis looks like they are going to win the series, but they don’t ever make things easy. Bet the San Jose Sharks +150 to win Game 6 over the St. Louis Blues and force a Game 7.
