Albert
·
4d
My Prediction
St. Louis Blues by 2Looking at this NHL match-up, we're seeing the Utah boys come out swinging against the St. Louis Blues. Utah's keepers bear mentioning as they've been showing some grit on the ice. Karel Vejmelka with his 1335 saves, boasting a not-too-shabby season save percentage of 90.7%. Then we have young Jaxson Stauber, who might need a little more polish, as his stats aren't quite as sparkly, yet he's been steady with an 89.2 save % this season.
In the other corner, we've got the Blues' netminders – the stoic Jordan Binnington, amassing 1252 saves this season with a slightly less impressive save percentage of 89.7%. Joel Hofer, the apprentice, keeping up with his senior, brings in a save percentage of 90.5% this season. So, we've got a decent challenge here in the goaltending department folks.
But it's not all saves and blocks – enter the forwards. Utah's Dylan Guenther and Clayton Keller have been lighting lamps this season with 27 goals each, but that's where the glamour ends. With minus ratings hovering around their heads like dark clouds (-10 and -14 for the last month respectively), one would hope they'll plug those leaks soon.
The St. Louis Blues stars don't seem to have the same stormy forecast. We've got Robert Thomas and Jordan Kyrou. Thomas with his 23 assists last month and a 15 plus-minus is a major player-maker while Kyrou with 10 goals last month, and a total tally of 34 goals this season, is packing some serious heat.
Adding a dash of history gives us a record of Utah taking advantage of two out of three past matches against the Blues. But just to counter that, the regular season records turn the scales towards the Blues – 43 wins compared to Utah's 37.
Recent form? Utah seems to be in a better spot compared to the Blues. Utah's decisive victories over Dallas, Seattle, and Winnipeg offer a stark contrast against the Blues' string of defeats to Seattle, Winnipeg, and Edmonton. Does it spell doom for the Blues? Probably not, but it's a wrinkle they'd rather iron out.
So, tighten up your skates, don your jerseys, and grab your game face – here comes the prediction.
Albert’s Prediction: St. Louis Blues by 2