San Jose vs St. Louis Prediction 31 March 2026
🔊 One of the marquee matchups in the final stretch of March in the NHL. Both teams maintain a solid chance of securing a playoff spot, which is noteworthy considering the Blues were recently seen as hopeless underdogs. What will be the outcome of the clash between San Jose and St. Louis? Let's delve into the statistical breakdowns and trends.
Head-to-Head
📊 Over the past three seasons, San Jose and St. Louis have faced each other eight times, with each team securing four wins. At home, the Sharks have managed just one regulation-time victory in 14 meetings against their opponent.
Head-to-head statistics San Jose - St. Louis
San Jose Sharks Team Overview
With a 3-2 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets, San Jose snapped a six-game losing streak. Ryan Warsofsky's team holds onto the 12th spot in the Western Conference standings, trailing the top eight by four points. In terms of points lost, the Sharks miss out on a playoff spot only due to tiebreakers.
At home, the Sharks have dropped their last four games. To stay in the playoff race, San Jose desperately needs to end this losing streak. Their home performance has been quite average, with just 50.0% of games won, averaging 2.94 goals scored per game while conceding 3.41.
For the matchup against the Blues, goaltender Yaroslav Askarov, who was injured in the previous game against St. Louis, is expected to return, as is defenseman John Klingberg. Ty Dellandrea's participation remains questionable.
Match Results: San Jose Sharks
St. Louis Blues Team Overview
Jim Montgomery's squad is making a last-ditch effort to catch the playoff train. The Blues have strung together four consecutive victories against the Vancouver Canucks (3-1), Washington Capitals (3-0), San Jose Sharks (2-1 OT), and Toronto Maple Leafs (5-1). Currently sitting 13th in the Western Conference, they trail by just two points with games in hand, a gap they can close quickly.
On the road, St. Louis have picked up points in 7 of their last 8 outings. However, their overall away record this season is concerning, with only 37.1% of games won and an average of 2.60 goals scored while allowing 3.26 goals per game.
In their last game, forward Robert Thomas returned to action, contributing 0 goals and 2 assists against the Maple Leafs. By the end of this week, defenseman Tyler Tucker is expected to be back in the lineup.
Match Results: St. Louis Blues
⚡️ Leaders
In the upcoming games, potentially even in the next one, Sharks' top scorer Macklin Celebrini is poised to surpass the 100-point mark for the season. The 19-year-old Canadian star currently boasts 98 points (36 goals, 62 assists) and holds fourth place in the NHL scoring chart. Swedish forward Alexander Wennberg has been on a streak, registering points in two consecutive games for the Sharks.
The combined tally of St. Louis' two most productive players falls short of Celebrini's total. Robert Thomas has accumulated 48 points (16 goals, 32 assists) this season and remains the team's primary playmaker, while Pavel Buchnevich has contributed 43 points (16 goals, 27 assists). Three players are currently tied for the lead in the goal-scoring race. Filip Broberg has been on a scoring spree in his last four matches, while Jimmy Snuggerud has found the net in three straight games.
🥅 Goalies
The outcome of the forthcoming match will heavily depend on the goalkeepers' form. In this regard, the home team seems to have little to counter the opponent's strengths. The potential return of Yaroslav Askarov is unlikely to dramatically alter the statistics - the Russian goalie has a save percentage of 88.7% with a goals-against average (GAA) of 3.39 over four games in March. Alex Nedeljkovic has posted an 87.7% save percentage with a GAA of 3.13 across ten games.
St. Louis' goaltending stats are impressive. In March, Joel Hofer recorded two shutouts and allowed only 11 goals in six games. His save percentage stands at 95.9%, the best in the league this spring. Jordan Binnington has stopped 92.1% of shots faced, with a GAA of 1.62.
Editorial Prediction
The goaltending and overall form of the visitors are impressive, with their defensive prowess keeping the Blues in the playoff hunt despite a lackluster offense. Notably, in St. Louis' last 15 games, no team has scored more than six goals, reinforcing a strong trend that leads our editorial team to predict a continuation of this pattern - expect under 6.5 total goals in the match.
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Betting Tips: San Jose Sharks - St. Louis Blues
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