NHL Friday (8/21) night Single

Game 6 is coming up as the two remaining series of the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs are still about to get decided. The Western Conference battle between St. Louis Blues and Vancouver Canucks has been one of the most interesting series so far, the outcome is difficult to predict but I believe the Canucks’ reliable goal production will make the difference in the end.

09.45 PM ET, Friday, August 21

Vancouver Canucks are up 3-2 in the Western Conference first round series against the defending Stanley Cup champions St. Louis Blues after winning 4-3 in game 5.

Tyler Motte scored twice to put the Blues on the edge of elimination as game 6 awaits. The Canucks won the first two games of the series, 5-2 and 4-3. but were defeated 3-2 and 3-1 in game 3 and game 4. The Vancouver team has been sharp in their attacking play throughout the postseason and now they are one game from advancing to the second round of the playoffs.

St. Louis Blues nearly tied the game in the final seconds on Wednesday but a video review could confirmed that the puck crossed the goal line after time had expired. The reigning champions does now have a do-or-die game coming up.

However, the Blues are an experienced team with players used to handle situations like this one and the series has been tight and two of the five games have been decided on overtime.

Conclusion and betting play: Only two of the first-round series are still alive and this one has been one of the most entertaining and well-played of them all. The strengths of the teams are equal and in that sense, the most logical would be that it will be decided in game 7.

But the Canuck’s offensive play has been impressive throughout the postseason and their goal production has been very solid. They have scored 3 goals or more in 6 out of their 9 games and in the 3 winning games against the Blues they have scored 13 goals in total. From that point of view, they are the better team in this series.

The outcome of this series is obviously hard to prediction but my sense is that these attacking skills that the Canucks possess will take them to the next round. St. Louis Blues are a physical and very solid team but the Canucks have proved in the previous games that they have the keys to break through their strong defense.

Game 6 could go either way but I am quite confident that the Canucks will be able to score at least 2 goals as they have done in 7 out of their 9 posteason games.

Vancouver Canucks – Over 2 goals (60 Mins) @ -162