Welcome to NHL Predictions! Wow, it is hard to believe we are in the final few days of the regular season. Teams will be playing their final of 82 games. For some, that will be it until next training camp. Teams will salute their home fans. Some players will play their final game with their current team. Some players may even be playing in the final game of their career. For other teams, their season will not end this week. The Stanley Cup Playoffs are beginning. 16 teams will battle for the next two months. However, who those 16 teams are is not yet determined. That is where today’s installment takes us. We have a big game in the Western Conference. The St. Louis Blues are hosting the Utah Hockey Club in a pivotal season finale.
Time: 8:00 P.M. EST
TV: FanDuel Sports Network Midwest, Utah16
Utah looks to end their first season in their new home with a season-series victory over the Blues. For the Blues, they have not win a season series with Utah/Arizona Coyotes since the 2021-22 season. At best, they can earn a split in this year’s series.
Of course, the Blues are playing for much more than a season series on Tuesday night.
The Blues playoff-clinching scenario is simple. A regulation win and they are in. What happens elsewhere will not matter. However, the Blue Note are coming off a rough week. They have lost three games in a row and have earned just a point in those three. The Blues went into last week needing three points to clinch. Three games and three missed opportunities later, it comes down to game 82 for the Blues with the following clinching scenarios:
There are certainly a lot of paths to the playoffs for the Blues. However, the easiest thing to do would be to win in regulation and have the luxury of ignoring what happens around the league.
Utah will not make the playoffs in their first season in their new home. However, that does not take away from the special season that Utah fans got to enjoy. Utah remained in the playoff hunt for the majority of the season. The path was difficult, but the team refused to quit. Forwards, defencemen, and goaltenders all rose to the challenge to keep Utah in the mix. While Utah may not be headed to the playoffs, there is plenty to be excited about for next season.
Utah concludes their season with games back-to-back nights. It will be interesting to see what lineup they use to close out the season on Tuesday. Matt Villalta got the start in goal for Utah on Monday. As a result, they may give Tuesday’s start to their regular starter, Karel Vejmelka, whose 23-consecutive start streak ended on Monday.
The Blues losing streak has taken place on the road. The team returns to the familiar confines of the Enterprise Center. Furthermore, Utah is playing on consecutive nights and has been on the road since Thursday. That combination favours the Blues. It has not been easy, but the Blues will win in regulation and will return to the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Blues win, 3-1.
The over/under is set at 5.5 goals. We are taking the under with four goals.
For prop bets, we are choosing Clayton Keller as an anytime-scorer for Utah. For the Blues, we are picking Jordan Kyrou. In fact, we think Kyrou lights the lamp twice.
Main Photo: Chris Nicoll
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