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BET365 -½ +135 SportInteraction -½ +108 888sport -½ +125

Odds posted at 2:30 PM EST and are subject to change.

Western Conference Quarterfinal

Game 3

St. Louis -½ +135 over Minnesota

9:30 PM EST. Regulation only. No Nick Leddy for the Blue Notes? Don’t care. No Robert Bortuzzo? Don’t care. No Marco Scandella? Again, don’t care. While most of the market will report that Minnesota bounced back with a big win after getting whacked in Game 1, the truth is Minnesota was horrible in Game 2. HORRIBLE. They got lucky.

We’ll continue to insist that hockey is the most luck-driven sport in the world. Final scores in hockey are grossly misleading. Only in hockey can a team do basically nothing for 10 minutes, spend most of that time chasing the puck in its own zone, muster not even one shot on goal — and then a stick breaks and boom, a pot of gold. One busted stick, one shot, one goal and suddenly the Wild had new life and a new outlook against its nemesis.

The underlying stats of Game 2 are embarrassing to the Wild. Scoring chances were 21-9 in favor of the Blue Notes. Puck possession time in the offensive end during five-on-five was hugely in favor of St. Louis to the tune of close to 64%, an off the charts number. Corsi For was 46-27 for St. Louis.

The media reports that Minnesota bounced back with a thumping when the trust of the matter is Minnesota was outclassed the same way Colorado outclassed Nashville in its two wins. Colorado was more dominant in its 2-1 OT victory last night than they were in its 7-2 win in the opener. Incidentally, the three aforementioned defensemem that might be out tonight for the Blues were all out last game too.

Do not be influenced by the media or the final score of the last game. St. Louis got extremely unlucky and deserved to win 8-1 and not lose 6-2. They are a beast in their own building while Minnesota is a meek opponent outside of their own building. Oddsmakers, media and public have this series and individual games priced wrong and we’re going to try and take full advantage. By the way, did we mention that the Blue notes have a huge edge in net? Let’s f**ing go!