It is no big surprise that the two best teams in this season’s Stanley Cup Playoffs have battled each other to a 2-2 series tie through the first four games of this year’s NHL Finals. The series is down to a best-of-three clash starting on Thursday night with Game 5.

The Boston Bruins drew first blood with a 4-2 victory in Game 1 as -165 home favorites. The St. Louis countered with a 3-2 overtime victory in Game 2 as a +150 road underdog. The series shifted to St. Louis for the next two games and Boston regained the edge in impressive fashion with a 7-2 pounding as an even-money +100 underdog. The Blues quickly regrouped for Monday’s Game 4 at home with a 4-2 victory as -115 favorites.

Stanley Cup Final’s Preview and Predictions – St. Louis Blues vs. Boston Bruins

The total has gone OVER in three of the first four games. Boston has averaged 3.43 goals per game through 21 postseason games and it has scored at least four goals in seven of its last 11 contests. The Blues have tallied 68 goals in 23 playoff games for an average of 2.96 goals a game.

NHL Finals Updated Betting Odds

The Bruins are listed as -155 home favorites for Thursday’s slated 8 p.m. start on NBC and the total line for Game 5 has been set at 5.5 goals. Betting this game on the puck line, you can get Boston -1.5 at +175 with the Blues +1.5 set at -210.

The betting consensus heading into Thursday night’s game leans towards Boston at 62 percent. The public also favors the OVER at a higher 68 percent. The way this series has played out so far, betting Boston appears to be the best way to go. Given that the Bruins have won each of their games by two goals or more, the puck line at +175 becomes an attractive play. If you do bet in that direction, a parlay with the OVER might make sense.

America’s Bookie is that all American sports book that sports bettors love.

The betting prop for a score by either team in the first 10 minutes of play in Game 5 favors YES at -130 odds. The betting odds that neither team will score in the first 10 minutes are set at an even money +100. St. Louis scored seven minutes into Game 1 at Boston and each team tallied a goal in fewer than 10 minutes in Game 2.

The more interesting betting options deal with the updated series price odds. This bet has been a roller-coaster ride given the alternating wins through the first four games. Boston remains the favorite to win the series at -160 odds with St. Louis now listed as a +135 underdog.

If this series follows suit through the full seven games, betting Boston now makes the most sense since that number will go way up with a win on Thursday. A Blues’ loss would bump their number up quite a bit as well. This could be a great value bet depending on your confidence in their ability to win the final two games. Anything can happen in a Game 7 showdown, so the reward would be worth the risk.

10 Star Picks – Betting Hockey Props – NHL Playoffs

Betting the exact series result, the best odds on the board are +200 for Boston in seven games. The odds St. Louis wins in seven are the longest of the four possible choices at +330. Once again, if you believe the Blues can win this series, the higher odds on seven games offers the best value.

Best Stanley Cup Odds | Stanley Cup Betting Odds & LIVE Lines

The odds that Boston wins the next two games to take the series in six are set at +220. The odds that St. Louis gets the win on the road Thursday night and closes things out at home in Game 6 on Sunday are set at +300.