Columbus Blue Jackets vs. St Louis Blues

Quick read:

Take the St. Louis Blues moneyline and thank your lucky stars you dodged the Columbus bullet. The Blue Jackets are currently sitting at a 1-1 record, which sounds balanced on paper but feels like a team that's undecided about whether they want to be in the NHL or the amateur rec league down the street. When a team is that early in their season and that evenly split, it usually means they haven't found a rhythm yet, and St. Louis is the team that's more likely to have their helmets zipped and their minds right.

The context here is that Columbus is trying to keep a hot start going, but a 1-1 record is about as 'hot' as a lukewarm cup of coffee. St. Louis, meanwhile, is dealing with the uncertainty of Dillon Dube being doubtful, which adds a layer of chaos to their lineup, but that's a manageable problem compared to a Blue Jackets squad that seems to be still figuring out which way is up. The Blues have the structural advantage of playing at home against a team that looks like it's still warming up its skates.

The main risk is that St. Louis might stumble if Dube's absence disrupts their top line chemistry, but that's a price you pay for betting on a team that actually shows up to play hockey. If you're looking for a sure thing, this is as close as it gets without buying a lottery ticket; just don't expect the Blues to win by five, because the NHL isn't a blowout machine.