Two teams currently on losing skids, the St. Louis Blues and the Vancouver Canucks take the ice at Rogers Arena in a Western Conference matchup. The opening face-off takes place at 10 p.m. ET on Saturday, December 23, and you are able to view it live on CBC Sports.
St. Louis Blues at Vancouver Canucks Odds
Vancouver (+135) is entering this one as the underdog to St. Louis (-155), and the Over/Under (O/U) is set at 6 goals. The odds for betting that total sit at -135 for the under and +115 for the over.
St. Louis is 22-15 straight up (SU) and has netted moneyline bettors 2.6 units this year. 22 of its matches have gone under the total, while 15 have gone over and none have pushed. As an away team this season, the Blue Notes are 10-8 SU.
St. Louis has converted on just 16.7 percent of its power play chances this season, a figure that’s ranked 24th in the NHL. Its penalty kill is ranked 15th out of 31 teams, and it has successfully killed off 81.6 percent of all penalties.
For the team as a whole, the Blue Notes have been sent to the penalty box just 3.6 times per game this season, 3.8 per game over its past five outings total, and 3.8 per game over its last five road outings. The team has had to defend opponent power plays just 7.4 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
With a .911 save percentage and 25.6 saves per game, Jake Allen (17-13-2) has been the primary option in goal for St. Louis this year. If it chooses to give him a rest, however, head coach Mike Yeo could turn to Carter Hutton (6-4), who has a .948 save percentage and 1.67 goals against average this year.
Brayden Schenn and Vladimir Tarasenko will both lead the way for the visiting Blues. Schenn (40 points) has tallied 17 goals and 23 assists, and has recorded two or more points 10 times. Tarasenko has 15 goals and 20 assists to his nameand has registered at least one point in 21 games.
Over on the other bench, Vancouver is 15-21 straight up (SU) and has lost 1.6 units for moneyline bettors this year. 21 of its contests have gone over the total, while 15 have gone under and none have pushed. It’s 6-12 SU as the home team this year.
The Canucks have converted on 22.2 percent of their power play chances this season, a mark that places it in the top-10 among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 27th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 76.9 percent of all penalties.
Vancouver players have been whistled for penalties 4.1 times per game in total this season, and 5.2 per game over their last five at home. The teams had to stave off opponent power plays 12.0 minutes per game over their last five home outings.
Jacob Markstrom has stopped 26.0 shots per game as the primary netminder in goal for the Canucks. Markstrom has nine wins, 16 losses, and four OT losses to his name and has recorded a poor .904 save percentage and 2.80 goals against average this season.
The Nucks offense will be led by Brock Boeser (19 goals, 14 assists).
St. Louis Blues vs. Vancouver Canucks Betting Predictions
Predictions: SU Winner – Canucks, O/U – Over
Betting Trends
- St. Louis is 2-0 in games decided by a shootout this season while Vancouver is 0-2 in shootouts.
- The total has gone over in each of Vancouver’s last five outings.
- St. Louis has managed 26.8 shot attempts per game over its last five road games while Vancouver has been attempting 31.8 shots per game over its last five at home.
- Vancouver has allowed 3.3 goals per game (overall) this season, but has allowed 6.0 goals per matchup over its three-game losing skid.
- Seven of Vancouver’s last ten outings have been decided by two or more goals, and the team is 1-6 overall in those games.
- St. Louis skaters have accounted for the ninth-most hits in the league (22.9 per game).
