NHL Betting: Wild vs Blues First Round Game 4 – 05/08/2022

The Minnesota Wild haven’t just beaten the St. Louis Blues over the last two games, they’ve beaten them up. The Blues enter Sunday’s Game 4 missing three of their top six defensemen, and another blueliner isn’t close to 100 percent. This betting guide will deliver some of the best value plays for Game 4 of this series. St. Louis is trying to overcome some injuries while Minnesota attempts to bring the Blues season to the brink.

Minnesota Wild (-105) vs St. Louis Blues (-115)

The moneyline for this series opened almost a dead heat, but the Wild have to be licking their chops. Minnesota got shut out in Game 1, but bounced back over the next two games to outscore St. Louis 11-3 in Games 2 and 3. The Wild are taking advantage of St. Louis’ decimated defensive corps, and that puts the moneyline value on the side of the Wild (-105).

Kirill Kaprizov Minnesota Wild
Kirill Kaprizov, Minnesota Wild (Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)

Minnesota’s offense is clicking, and everyone is helping. Nine Wild players have recorded a point, including six different goal scorers. St. Louis is running out of time, and they’re going to have to put their foot on the gas pretty soon, too. Expect a great pace in Game 4, and lean toward the over (O6.5, -105). A banged up defense against a rocking offense is already a recipe for goals. Adding in St. Louis’ desperation, and there could be fireworks.

Props

Ryan O’Reilly Points (Over 0.5, -135)

St. Louis is struggling to score, but this is nearly a must-win game for the Blues. Whenever St. Louis has needed a boost over the past few seasons, in seems like Ryan O’Reilly is in the thick of it. He has a pair of goals through the first three games, and has piled up 11 shots on goal. The Blues are up against it, thanks to some injuries on the blue line, meaning the offense is going to have to pick up the slack. O’Reilly should manage at least a point (-135) with his role and chances they create.

O’Reilly is playing around 20 minutes per game, and is in the midst of things during the power play. He’s going to get opportunities, and he’s going to create them for others, too. If the Blues are going to get back in this series and make it competitive again, O’Reilly’s probably going to be the engine that drives it. There are going to be goals scored in Game 4, and O’Reilly isn’t going to let St. Louis fall down 3-1 in the series without a fight.

Joel Eriksson Ek Shots (Over 2.5, -140)

Joel Eriksson Ek has really ramped up his involvement in the offense. Closing out the regular season, he piled up 33 shots on goal in the final 10 games, and had five goals and three assists in the final five games before the postseason. After the Blues shutout in Game 1, Eriksson Ek has three goals and two assists in the last two games, and is averaging four shots on goal per game in the series. It’s a modest price (-140), but the forward has cleared that number in his last 10 games.

Joel Eriksson-Ek Minnesota Wild
Joel Eriksson-Ek, Minnesota Wild (Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)

With St. Louis’ banged up defensive corps, the top remaining pairing of Colton Parayko and Justin Faulk will spend the most of its ice time against Minnesota’s high-power top line trying to contain Kirill Kaprizov. That leaves opportunity for Eriksson Ek to keep things rolling. His line’s playing with confidence, and they have the green light to push the pace. Expect him to keep firing shots in Game 4.

Odds via FanDuel and BetMGM

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