Free Picks: Arizona Coyotes vs. St. Louis Blues

Patrick Trudeau
By: Patrick Trudeau
02/09/2021
NHL Free Picks – Best Bets of the Week
Arizona Coyotes vs St. Louis Blues NHL
St. Louis Blues vs. Arizona Coyotes, NHL, Enterprise Center

The Coyotes have struggled to pick up victories this season. Near the basement of the West Division, Arizona will look to stop St. Louis. The Blues are the highest-scoring team in the division and have flexed their offensive muscles on multiple occasions this season. With that being said, I think we will see the offensive campfire be extinguished in this game, even after two consecutive games of hitting the over in total goals.

The NHL's realignment accomplished one thing this season: rivalries.

For this season, teams face each other multiple times per week and hatred is fueled with consecutive games. Today, the Arizona Coyotes and St. Louis Blues will compete against one another for the third straight game. Due to a cancellation between the Blues and Avalanche and potential other cancellations, the Blues and Coyotes may square off in six consecutive games.

The first thing I notice between these two teams is that they have combined for 7 goals in each of their past 2 games. The outright winner of the game flipped between the two results as well.

The Blues are an interesting team because they have played 3 games where they have allowed just 1 goal. On the opposite end, St. Louis has played 3 games where they have allowed 4 goals. The Blues’ goals against per game ranks in the lower half of the league, which already has the gears turning for this NHL regular season prediction.

I wouldn’t declare Arizona a high scoring team by any means. Like the Blues’ defense, the Coyotes’ offense is rated in the lower half of the standings in terms of total goals. They have been shutout twice this season and while Arizona has tallied 5 goals on two separate occasions, Arizona is an average team in total offense.

This is where it gets interesting. Despite Arizona and St. Louis combining for 14 goals over two games, the O/U total goals is still at 5.5 (888Sport). On the money line, it’s no surprise that St. Louis is the favorite in this contest.

Starting netminders have not been confirmed, but it’s expected that Jordan Binnington and Darcy Kuemper will get the nod for their respective clubs.

It’s incredibly hard to tally 7 or more goals on consecutive nights, even if the two teams are firing on all cylinders. With that being said, I don’t think the Coyotes are giving much help to Kuemper in net. He has a 2.65 GAA and still only has 2 wins on the season.

I think the total goals O/U falls on Arizona. These past two games have been a rare stretch of offense that might be smothered in this contest. We all know on BetPicks that I love goals and betting the over. However, I don’t see these teams lighting the lamp for the third straight game.

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FREE PICK: Total Goals UNDER 5.5
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Stats

  • The Blues are 5-2 SU in last 7 games
  • St. Louis’ 39 goals are the most in the division.
  • The total has gone under in 11 of Arizona’s last 15 games in St. Louis
  • Arizona ranks 23rd in goals for.

have always wanted to be a writer and sports are my favorite thing in the world, so I combined the two to make a career. I have been a long-time gambler and sports betting writer that isn't afraid to look at the underdog or specials. I am covering the NHL, MLB and NCAA Football for BetPicks.ca and am a huge fan of both sports - as well as many others. Follow me on Twitter (@Patrick_Trudeau) so we can talk betting, sports, or why ketchup DOES belong on Poutine.

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TeamWLOT%
1Carolina54208.707
2NY Rangers52246.671
3Pittsburgh462511.628
4Washington442612.610
5NY Islanders373510.512
6Columbus37387.494
7New Jersey27469.384
8Philadelphia254611.372

 

NHL Eastern Atlantic

TeamWLOT%
1Florida58186.744
2Toronto54217.701
3Tampa Bay51238.671
4Boston51265.652
5Buffalo323911.457
6Detroit324010.451
7Ottawa33427.445
8Montréal224911.335

 

NHL - Western Central

TeamWLOT%
1Colorado56197.726
2Minnesota53227.689
3St Louis492211.665
4Dallas46306.598
5Nashville45307.591
6Winnipeg393211.543
7Chicago284212.415
8Arizona25507.348

 

NHL - Western Pacific

TeamWLOT%
1Calgary502111.677
2Edmonton49276.634
3Los Angeles442711.604
4Vegas43318.573
5Vancouver403012.561
6San Jose323713.470
7Anaheim313714.463
8Seattle27496.366

 

2021-22 Season
Regular season beginsOctober 12
All-Star & Winter Games breakFebruary 3-22
Trade deadlineMarch 21
Final day of regular seasonApril 29
Stanley Cup Playoffs beginMay 2
Last possible day for PlayoffsJune 30
2022 NHL DraftJuly 7