BEST LINES: Pinnacle -1½ +282 Bet365 -1½ +265 SportsInteraction -1 +142  5DIMES -1½ +280

BEST LINES: Pinnacle +104 Bet365 -105 SportsInteraction -110 5DIMES +100

Posted at 2:45 PM EST 

Before we begin and until further notice, we’re going to be splitting up our NHL underdogs into two bets. We’re playing them straight up for 1 unit and we’ll be playing them on the reverse puck line (-1½) for 1 unit, thus making up our traditional 2 unit bet. The thinking is that if the dog loses, we lose our bet anyway. If the game goes into OT, which is a coin-toss anyway, we lose our -1½ bet but have a chance to profit a pork-chop if we happen to get lucky and win it in the extra time. If our team is winning by a goal, we know for sure we’ll get a crack at an empty netter and there is also a good chance that if our team is ahead, it might be by more than one goal anyway. Therefore, our bet for this game and every dog we play will be -1½ for 1 unit and straight up for one unit.

-------------------------------------------

7:35 PM EST. OT included. Make no mistake that the Carolina Hurricanes are a tough team that was built to take that next step this season. The ‘Canes have done some nifty drafting and have brought along their kids slowly but surely in a well-thought out plan that was orchestrated by some very good hockey people. What the ‘Canes lack in scoring ability, they more than make up for with their system, hard work and attention to details. Carolina is the NHL’s second best possession team, just behind the Oilers. In its eight games thus far, Carolina has been outshot just one time and out-Corsied one time too. The ‘Canes went into Toronto last night, jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead and never gave up that lead en route to a convincing 6-3 victory. For three years prior, we have been big time supporters of the Hurricanes because they’ve been so undervalued but the market is slowly catching up. We cashed plenty of tickets with them but also ripped up plenty when they were the better team on the ice but their goaltending couldn’t hold up. That takes us to tonight’s starter, Cam Ward. Playing their third game in four days after a resonating win in Toronto last night, the ‘Canes are a big risk playing a non-rival with Ward in net. They have been a big risk for the past five years with Ward in goal and that doesn’t change here. In fact, it makes it worse because Ward is a year older, a year slower and probably worse than ever.   

The Blues are coming off a 5-2 win in Calgary. They have picked up seven out of a possible eight points over their last four games and are getting outstanding goaltending from both Jake Allen and Carter Hutton. With more pieces becoming part of the equation for the Blues, things are coming together. Alexander Steen is coming off a four-point performance (one goal, three assists), clearly shaking off the rust from missing the opening six games of the season with a broken thumb. Steen’s strong training camp put him in good position to make key contributions. Blues left winger Jaden Schwartz holds a five-game point streak also. The Blues arrived here on Thursday and will be playing on one full day of rest, which is the ideal situation for any team. They are 7-2-1 overall and playing with grit, confidence and aggressiveness. The end result is that the Blue Notes are a tough out and you'll want more than Cam Ward and home ice in your pocket to warrant getting behind the ‘Canes when giving up a price. Cam Ward is another “finished” goaltender and the game has passed him by.

The bets are as follows:

St. Louis -1½ +282 for 1 unit

St. Louis +104 for 1 unit

Open an account today at Pinnacle Sports and take advantage of their -104 style pricing on sides and totals, which is 60% better than other sportsbooks.