In a game that promises to be a thrilling spectacle, the St. Louis Blues squares off against the Montreal Canadiens this Saturday night. While the Blues are reeling from the loss of their No.1 centre Robert Thomas, they’ve shown resilience and adaptability, as seen in their recent 5-1 triumph over the Maple Leafs. On the other hand, the Canadiens have shown grit in the face of adversity, and they’ll be hungry for a win after a disappointing 7-2 loss at home to the New York Rangers. Regardless of the circumstances, both teams surely head into this showdown with heightened spirits and an intensified drive for victory.
Team Analysis
St. Louis Blues
Despite recent setbacks, the Blues have showcased sheer determination, with their recent resounding victory over Maple Leafs standing testament to their resilience. However, with Robert Thomas out due to an ankle injury, a shuffle in attack has been warranted, although its success could be instrumental in their forthcoming match against the Canadiens.
Montreal Canadiens
Having had a hard start to the season with a series of losses, the Canadiens will be looking to turn around their fortunes. Initial hiccups aside, the Canadiens have proved time and again their capacity to bounce back, and they will surely bring that spirit come Saturday night.
Key players to Watch
For St. Louis Blues
The absence of Robert Thomas opens avenues for other players. Brayden Schenn has proved worthy of his captain badge, while converted winger Pavel Buchnevich’s play could fill part of the Thomas-shaped hole on the field.
For Montreal Canadiens
Nick Suzuki, captain of the Canadiens, who scored twice in their loss against the Rangers, will be a key player to watch. His leadership can push his team to once again find their winning stride.
Final Thoughts
With dynamics changing for both teams due to recent events, Saturday’s game between St. Louis Blues and Montreal Canadiens is set to be a sizzling spectacle. Fans keenly await to see how the strategies and team changes play out, making this face-off one of the highly anticipated matchups of the season. Keep a close eye on this space for further updates and analysis.
Betting Picks
Moneyline:
The St. Louis Blues currently have a solid track record when compared to the Montreal Canadiens. Their recent performance has demonstrated a strong offensive and defensive prowess that gives them an upper hand in this game. The Blues rank in the top 10 in the NHL for both goals scored and goals allowed, suggesting balance throughout their lineup. Moreover, the Blues special teams are also stronger, with one of the best power play percentages and penalty kill percentages in the league. This could be a major factor if the Canadiens find themselves in penalty trouble during the game.
On the other hand, the Montreal Canadiens have been struggling, particularly offensively, and rank near the bottom of the league in goals scored. Their goal-tending situation is also not as solid, with their backup goalie expecting to start who has been inconsistent this season. However, their strengths lay in their penalty kill, which is one of the best in the league, and could potentially limit scoring chances for the Blues. There doesn’t appear to be any major injuries that could sway the favoritism, but keep an eye on the status of Montreal’s lead forward, as their status is currently uncertain.
Having weighed up these factors, the St. Louis Blues seem to be in a stronger position in this projection. Therefore, the recommended pick for the Moneyline in this game would be the St. Louis Blues given their current form and impressive statistical data.
Our Pick: St. Louis Blues (-125)
Over/Under:
Looking at the matchup, both the St. Louis Blues and the Montreal Canadiens aren’t favoring well in consistent offensive performance this season, which bodes well for an under bet. The Blues have strung together some wins but have struggled with scoring, averaging just 3 goals per game. The team’s strongest point has been their solid defensive line plus an excellent goalie in Jordan Binnington. On the other hand, the Canadiens offense has been quite inconsistent as well, averaging just 2.5 goals per game over their last ten matches.
Moreover, both teams showcase solid goaltending, which lowers the likelihood of a high-scoring affair. Jordan Binnington has been consistently good for the Blues, sporting a 0.914 save percentage. On the Montreal side, Carey Price with a save percentage of 0.911 shouldn’t be underestimated. Special teams also play a huge role in decision-making. Both the Canadiens and Blues have lackluster powerplay units, ranking them towards the bottom of the league in power-play success.
Putting both team’s struggling offense and strong goaltending into account, along with the somewhat subdued power-play of both teams, one can predict this to be a low-scoring affair, most likely below the total set line. This rings especially true as both teams take a conservative, defense-first approach to the game. Therefore, taking the Under is a more favorable option.
Our Pick: Under 6
