<p>The San Jose Sharks and the St. Louis Blues have battled to a 2-2 series tie heading into Monday's Game 5 of the best-of-seven Western Conference Finals. Game time from the Scottrade Center is set for 8 p.m. (ET) and it will be broadcast nationally on NBC Sports Network.</p>
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<div class="heading">San Jose vs. St. Louis Game 5 Overview</div>
<p>After posting back-to-back shutouts to take a 2-1 series lead, the Sharks got doubled-up in a 6-3 loss in Saturday's Game 4 as -157 home favorites. The total has been set at five for the first four games and this was the first time it went OVER the closing line. San Jose will now go back on the road where it is an even 4-4 in eight previous playoff games. The total went OVER or ended as a PUSH in five of those eight road games.
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<p>The Sharks fell behind early in Game 4 and their first goal did not come until early in the third period when Joe Pavelski scored with an assist from Joe Thornton. These two have led the way through most of the postseason with a combined 13 goals and 19 assists. Logan Couture leads the team in assists (13) and total points (20) through 16 playoff games. Martin Jones once again got the start in goal, but he was replaced by James Reimer after allowing four goals on just 19 shots.
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<p>The Blues battled their way back inti this series with an offensive outburst that had been absent in the first three games. They averaged over three goals a game in series wins against Chicago and Dallas in the first two rounds of the playoffs before beating San Jose 2-1 in Game 1 of this clash as -139 favorites at home. St. Louis is 4-5 in nine previous home games in the playoffs and the total went OVER or ended as a PUSH in six of those nine games.
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<p>Saturday's win could have come at a very steep price after center David Backes left the game with an undisclosed lower body injury. He is currently listed as day-to-day, but head coach Ken Hitchcock remains optimistic that he will be ready to go on Monday night. Backes is one of three players with seven goals in the postseason and he second behind Robby Fabbi in total points with 13. Look for Jake Allen to once again get the start in goal for St. Louis after replacing Brian Elliott in Game 4.
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<div class="heading">San Jose Sharks at St. Louis Blues Betting Trends</div>
<p>The Sharks are 20-7 in their last 27 games against a team with a winning record, but they are 1-4 in their last five road games against a team with a winning record at home. The total has gone OVER in seven of their last nine Monday games.
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<p>The Blues are 25-10 in their last 35 games against a team from the Pacific Division, but they fall to 2-5 in their last seven games following a win. The total has gone OVER in four of their last six games played on a Monday.
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<p>Head-to-head in this matchup, the road team has won five of the last seven meetings and the total has stayed UNDER in 15 of the last 22 meetings in St. Louis.
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