Pinnacle +254 BET365 +240 Sportsinteraction +240 888Sport +240

Posted at 11:00 AM EST. Odds are subject to change.

St. Louis +240 over Florida

7:07 PM ET. OT included. The Panthers return home after a grueling stretch of games that included a five-game Western road trip, which capped off an absolutely brutal travel schedule. Since mid-November, the Panthers have been living out of suitcases and logging miles like a touring rock band. Over their last 11 games, they’ve gone from Sunrise to Carolina, back to Sunrise, then to Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, back to Sunrise, and finally out West for a punishing swing through Seattle, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, and Minnesota. That’s coast-to-coast and back again.

Sure, Florida finished their road trip with a convincing 6-1 victory over a reeling Minnesota Wild team, but let’s not overreact to that result. The Wild are in disarray, and Florida was gifted a lifeless opponent at the end of their trip. Prior to that, they were shut out in back-to-back games against Vancouver and Calgary, looking every bit like a team running on fumes.

The reality is this: teams returning home after extended road trips often struggle, creating a potential letdown spot we hope to capitalize on. The Panthers may feel relief being back in Sunrise, but that same comfort often leads to mental and physical lapses. After weeks of intense travel, it’s difficult to just flip the switch and regain peak focus and energy.

Meanwhile, the Blues come into this game under the radar. They’re playing the second half of a back-to-back after a 3-1 loss to Tampa Bay last night, but the Bolts did not outclass them in that game. Playing last night also means the market is undervaluing the Blue here. Goaltending could be a wild card here, as Joel Hofer is likely to get the nod after Jordan Binnington started last night. Hofer has been sharp this season and provides the Blues with a chance to stay in any game. Meanwhile, the Cats have Sergei Bobrovsky, who is up and down at best.

This play is all about the spot. The Panthers are coming off an exhausting travel stretch, and the emotional high of finally being home could easily lead to a flat performance. The underrated Blues are catching Florida in a prime letdown situation and offer tremendous value at this grossly inflated price.

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