NHL Game Postponed After Jay Bouwmeester Suffers Cardiac Episode

The NHL match-up between the St. Louis Blues and the Anaheim Ducks had to be postponed during the first period after Blues defenseman Jay Bouwmeester collapsed after completing his shift on the ice.

The game was tied at 1-1 when Bouwmeester, aged 36, was on his way to the bench where he slumped slowly to the floor, to much alarm both in the stadium and to those watching on television.

The veteran, who was drafted back in the 2002 NHL Draft, was a key member of the Blues’ Stanley Cup winning side from last term, the success being very much against the NHL betting odds.

Medical trainers and team physicians were quickly on the scene and were able to stabilize Bouwmeester, who appeared alert and conscious throughout. Some reports suggest a defibrillator was used also.

Blues general manager Doug Armstrong has subsequently stated that Bouwmeester is in a stable condition and doing well, and in ‘high spirits’, but remains in hospital following the incident.

The remainder of the Blues vs Ducks encounter will be completed at a later date.

NHL Stanley Cup 2020 Odds from Intertops Sportsbook

Tampa Bay Lightning +600

Boston Bruins +700

Colorado Avalanche +700

Washington Capitals +900

St. Louis Blues +900

Pittsburgh Penguins +1000

Last season the St. Louis Blues performed against the odds to pick up their very first Stanley Cup triumph, at NHL odds of above 250-1 and are, perhaps unsurprisingly, not leading the favorites in 2020. After all, lightning doesn’t tend to strike twice.

Tampa Bay leads the betting with most US Sportsbooks, with the Bruins of Boston and Colorado Avalanche not far behind. 

A winning bet on the Blues repeating the miracle of 2019 isn’t going to net you a king’s ransom, so it’s probably best to aim for the shorter odds in 2020.