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St. Louis Blues vs Vancouver Canucks: Betting Preview and Prediction

The St. Louis Blues are currently sitting at a 13-13-2 record after suffering a 4-2 loss to the Edmonton Oilers in their most recent game. Despite outshooting Edmonton 31-21, the Blues couldn’t overcome a slow start and failed to convert on enough opportunities in the third period. After trimming the deficit to 3-2, they were unable to find the tying goal. Jordan Binnington had a tough night in net, stopping just 17 of 21 shots.

Before that defeat, the Blues had back-to-back wins, first beating Calgary 4-3 and then downing Winnipeg 4-1, showing they can be competitive when playing at their best. On the season, the Blues are averaging 2.57 goals per game and giving up 3.11 goals per game, ranking them near the middle of the pack in both categories. Their special teams have been average, with a 16.9% success rate on the power play and a 78.1% penalty kill.

Jordan Kyrou has been the standout player for St. Louis, leading the team with 9 goals and 14 assists, while also firing 81 shots on goal. In net, Binnington has had an up-and-down season with an 8-10-2 record, a 2.93 GAA, and a .897 save percentage, which is reflective of the Blues’ inconsistent play.

Vancouver Canucks: A Strong Offense, But Defensive Woes

The Vancouver Canucks are currently 14-8-4 on the season, though they suffered a 4-2 defeat to Tampa Bay in their last game. Despite taking a 1-0 lead and later tying the game at 2-2, they allowed the Lightning to score two unanswered goals and lose the game. Vancouver struggled with discipline, going 0-3 on the power play, while being outshot 33-25. In goal, Juuse Saros made 29 saves on 32 shots, but it wasn’t enough to prevent the loss.

Prior to this, Vancouver had been rolling, securing a 5-2 win over Columbus, although they did suffer a 3-2 loss to Minnesota in the game before that. Vancouver’s offense has been impressive, averaging 3.27 goals per game, which ranks among the higher marks in the league. However, their defense has been leaky, allowing 3.15 goals per game. Special teams have been a strength, with a 23.1% power play and an 80% penalty kill.

Quinn Hughes has been the star of the team, leading the Canucks with 7 goals, 25 assists, and a team-high 84 shots on goal. Goaltender Thatcher Demko is expected to start in this matchup, and he will need to bounce back after a somewhat inconsistent start to the season. His performance could be key to whether the Canucks can find success in this matchup.

Conclusion

In this matchup, the Vancouver Canucks come in with a solid overall record but have shown vulnerability, particularly at home, where they have struggled with a 4-6-3 record this season. In contrast, the St. Louis Blues have been stronger on the road, posting an 8-7-1 record, and they come into this game with some recent momentum after winning 2 of their last 3 games and 4 of their last 6.