The underlying numbers favored St. Louis. The Blues posted 3.39 expected goals versus Anaheim's 3.01—a 53% share. Anaheim won 4-1. Goaltending inverted the result.

V. Husso was exceptional for Anaheim: 21 of 22 saves (0.955 save percentage, +2.39 vs expected). J. Binnington imploded for St. Louis—3 of 5 shots (0.600 save percentage, -1.40 vs expected). J. Hofer, in relief (19 of 20, 0.950 save percentage, +1.41 vs expected), couldn't salvage the game.

Anaheim made inefficiency count. The Ducks scored two low-danger goals and two more off the rush on 23 chances. St. Louis underperformed its expected goals by 2.39, failing to convert despite a 6-5 edge in high-danger looks.

P. Mintyukov drove Anaheim's attack: 1G, 1A in 20:42. L. Carlsson matched him: 1G, 1A in 17:39. R. Thomas posted 1A in 20:36 for St. Louis.

The Blues played better hockey. Binnington played worse, and that mattered more.

The model projects a 2.6-2.6 game with the Ducks at 50% win probability—about as close to a pick'em as you'll find. Anaheim owns the underlying play but is running cold, while St. Louis is outperforming its metrics. Both starters face fatigue, and whoever adjusts faster wins a toss-up.

Anaheim is underwater at −8 goal differential over their last 10 games. That's the narrative drag. But the 5v5 picture tells a different story: the Ducks hold 52.0% expected goals and 52.0% Corsi, meaning they're controlling territory and generating high-quality chances. St. Louis sits at 49.0% and 48.0%, respectively—territorial disadvantage all night. This is a team that's been outplayed most evenings.

The divergence between play and results is the key edge. Anaheim's PDO of 0.981 signals they're underperforming their shot metrics; regression toward 1.000 is likely. St. Louis, at 1.000 exactly, is running hot—unsustainably so. In a toss-up game, the team due for positive variance has the superior case. The Ducks' current cold streak, combined with superior underlying metrics, makes them the sharper play.

Goaltending is the wild card. Both J. Hofer and P. Mrazek are on back-to-backs—a significant factor in a tight game. Either could see a backup start, or both could skate fatigued. Anaheim's offense will center on Beckett Sennecke (1.03 xG/60, 20 goals, 8 high-danger goals, 13.5% shooting) and Cutter Gauthier (0.99 xG/60, 25 goals, 2 high-danger goals, 12.9% shooting). Gauthier's hot hand—25 goals on elite volume—is the momentum play. St. Louis counters with Jimmy Snuggerud (0.86 xG/60, 15 goals, 2 high-danger goals, 11.9% shooting) and Dylan Holloway (0.82 xG/60, 13 goals, 1 high-danger goal, 10.8% shooting), who generate decent looks but haven't converted at Gauthier's rate.

Defensively, Anaheim has a weak link in Mason McTavish. St. Louis's defensive vulnerability runs through Snuggerud. Both teams are anemic in high-danger goal rate and rebound conversion—a wash.

The Ducks' territorial edge and regression advantage give them the slightly better case if Mrazek shows fatigue. That's your angle here—the sharper team is undervalued in a game that could go either way.