Sharks Bite Back-to-Back Blues in St. Louis

The Blues are gassed, and the Sharks smell blood in the water. St. Louis limps into Thursday night on a back-to-back, their third game in four nights, having dropped two straight while San Jose rolls in fresh off a day's rest. That scheduling edge alone is worth the price of admission, but the goaltending mismatch seals the deal.

Jordan Binnington has been a disaster through one start—.833 save percentage, 6.00 GAA—and now he's staring down a Sharks offense that's averaging three goals per game. Meanwhile, Yaroslav Askarov has been solid in the San Jose crease with a .862 save percentage across three starts. Not Vezina numbers, but compared to Binnington's early-season train wreck? It's night and day.

The Sharks are 2-1 and generating offense. The Blues are 1-2, can't score (2.33 GPG), and their legs are cooked. DarkHorse likes the Sharks at +125, and frankly, it's hard to argue. You're getting plus-money on the rested team with the better goalie against a home squad running on fumes. St. Louis might eventually sort things out, but Thursday night isn't the night. Take the visitors and cash the dog ticket.