In this article we will formulate a Blues vs Panthers prediction for this NHL game on Thursday, January 29th at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis, Missouri. Let’s take a look at the prediction for this NHL matchup.
St. Louis Blues Betting Preview
The St. Louis Blues are 19-25-9 this season after they lost to Dallas by a score of 4-3 in their last game. St. Louis erased a 3-0 deficit in the third period, but they allowed a goal with 67 seconds left for the loss. The Blues out shot Dallas by a total of 26-24, won 48.1% of the face-offs, and went 0-3 on the power play in the game. St. Louis got goals from Fabbri and Schenn (2), while Binnington stopped 20 out of 24 shots, which was an .833 save percentage.
Prior to that game, St. Louis lost to the Kings by a score of 5-4 and the Stars by a score of 3-2. The Blues have lost five games in a row and they are currently last in the Central standings with 47 points. St. Louis has scored 2.43 goals per game and they have allowed 3.40 goals against per game, while also going 16.9% on the power play and 73.9% on the penalty kill this season. Pavel Buchnevich has led St. Louis with nine goals and 19 assists, while Justin Faulk has added 11 goals and 14 assists. The projected starting goalie for St. Louis is Joel Hofer, who is 11-10-3 with a 2.78 goals against average and a .902 save percentage this season.
Florida Panthers Betting Preview
The Florida Panthers are 28-21-3 this year after they lost to Utah by a score of 4-3 in their last game. Florida was tied at two after the second period, but they allowed the first two goals in the third for the loss. The Panthers out shot Utah by a total of 30-20, won 41.7% of the face-offs, and went 0-4 on the power play in the game. Florida got goals from Schwindt, Verhaeghe, and Vilmanis, while Bobrovsky stopped 16 out of 19 shots, which was an .842 save percentage.
Prior to that game, Florida defeated the Blackhawks by a score of 5-1 and the Wild by a score of 4-3. The Panthers have won three of their last four games and they are currently sixth in the Atlantic standings with 59 points. Florida has scored 3.02 goals per game and they have allowed 3.23 goals against per game, while also going 18.1% on the power play and 82.5% on the penalty kill this season. Sam Reinhart has led Florida with 26 goals and 24 assists, while Brad Marchand has added 25 goals and 25 assists. The projected starting goalie for Florida is Sergei Bobrovsky, who is 20-15-1 with a 3.08 goals against average and an .874 save percentage this year.
Why the Florida Panthers will win
- The road team has won each of the Panthers’ last six games.
- The Blues have lost each of their last five games.
- The road team has covered the puck line in five of the Panthers’ last six games.
- The Panthers have won the second period in each of their last six games as road favorites following a home loss.
Total Goals Facts
- Nine of the Panthers’ last 10 games as road favorites against opponents on a losing streak have gone OVER the total goals line.
- Seven of the Blues’ last eight games as home underdogs following a home loss have gone UNDER the total goals line.
- The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 1′ market has hit in four of the Panthers’ last five games as favorites against opponents on a losing streak.
- The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 2′ market has hit in seven of the Blues’ last eight games following a loss.
St. Louis Blues Player Prop Facts
- Brayden Schenn has scored at least one goal in three of the Blues’ last four home games against the Panthers.
- Robert Thomas has recorded at least one assist in four of his five previous home appearances against the Panthers.
Florida Panthers Player Prop Facts
- Sam Bennett has scored at least one goal in four of the Panthers’ last five games as road favorites against Central Division opponents.
- Aleksander Barkov has recorded at least one assist in each of his last seven appearances with the Panthers as favorites against Central Division opponents.
Matchup/League Facts
- The St. Louis Blues rank 32nd in the league for goals per game this season (2.43).
- The St. Louis Blues rank 29th in the league in penalty kill percentage this season (73.94%).
- The Florida Panthers rank 8th in the league in penalty kill percentage this season (82.49%).
- The Florida Panthers rank 31st in the league for Period 3 goals allowed per game this season (1.29).
Blues vs Panthers Prediction
Florida comes into this matchup after winning three of their last four games and they have scored at least four goals in two of their last three. The Panthers are 14-10-0 on the road this year, while the Blues are 12-10-6 at home. St. Louis has lost five games in a row and they have scored two goals or fewer in three of those five games. The Blues are the lowest scoring team in the NHL and their defense is below average, so I will continue to fade them here. Take the Panthers -1.5 in this one.