Penguins vs Blues

Given how Sidney Crosby and the Penguins have surged down the stretch after winning five of six to clinch a playoff berth, I like Pittsburgh to carry that momentum into St. Louis and steal two points on the road despite the Blues’ desperation factor. The Penguins’ recent goal-scoring burst, combined with the fact that their offensive core has historically produced well against Jordan Binnington, makes the underdog price of 110 appealing even with Pittsburgh already assured of a postseason spot. St. Louis has been better of late but still profiles as a middling five-on-five team that leans heavily on Robert Thomas and Jordan Kyrou, and with no major injury advantage beyond Pittsburgh’s depth absences, the gap in top-end talent and recent form slightly favors the visitors. Playoff seeding still matters for the Pens, and their veteran core has a long track record of showing up in these tune-up games, so I’m grading this Pittsburgh moneyline play a B+ for a solid blend of win probability and plus-money value. Odds and availability are subject to change. This bet was made at 14/04/2026 09:46

With Pittsburgh playing wide-open hockey of late—piling up goals while also trading chances in their own end—and the Blues forced to push the pace to keep their faint playoff hopes alive, this sets up as a game where both attacks can get rolling and the Over 6.5 at -105 has my slight preference. The Penguins’ power play remains a major threat with Crosby, Malkin and Karlsson on the ice, and St. Louis’ top unit centered around Thomas, Kyrou and Buchnevich has been one of the few consistent strengths for the Blues, which matters against a Penguins team that has leaned on multiple goaltenders and is not fully healthy in net. Binnington’s career results versus Pittsburgh suggest he’s unlikely to completely shut the door, while the Blues’ more aggressive offensive approach in recent weeks introduces extra volatility that favors a higher-scoring script rather than a tight, grinding affair. Between the offensive ceiling on both sides, the late-season urgency, and modest juice on the Over, I’m grading Over 6.5 as a B play—worth a standard stake but not a premium position. Odds and availability are subject to change. This bet was made at 14/04/2026 09:46

While I’m backing Pittsburgh on the moneyline, the more conservative puckline angle of Penguins +1.5 at -210 is about banking on this staying a one-goal game in either direction, which fits with how both teams have played tight, high-leverage contests down the stretch. St. Louis’ desperation, home ice, and cleaner injury report argue against a routine blowout for either side, and Binnington is capable of elevating just enough at home to keep things close even if the Blues ultimately fall short. On the other hand, Pittsburgh’s veteran core and recent hot streak make it difficult to envision them getting run out of the building, especially with their top line historically generating well versus this goalie and matchup, so taking the goal-and-a-half provides significant protection at the cost of heavy juice. Because the price is steep and offers limited return for the risk compared to the straight moneyline, I grade Penguins +1.5 a B-; it’s a reasonable safety-first option for parlays or larger positions but less attractive as a standalone wager. Odds and availability are subject to change. This bet was made at 14/04/2026 09:46