A game between two squads currently on losing skids, the Florida Panthers and the St. Louis Blues clash at the Scottrade Center for an East-West matchup. The action gets going at 8 p.m. ET on Tuesday, January 9, and fans at home are able to catch it live on Fox Sports Midwest.
Florida Panthers at St. Louis Blues Odds
St. Louis (+140) is currently the underdog to St. Louis (-160), and the oddsmakers have put the Over/Under (O/U) at 6 goals. The odds for betting the total stand at -130 under, +110 over.
The Blues are 26-19 straight up (SU) and have earned moneyline bettors 2.5 units this year. That winning percentage, the third-best in the Central Division so far in the early season, hasn’t moved much from what the team managed during the 2016-17 season (46-36). Among the teams 45 games this season, 18 have gone under the total, while 18 have gone over and none have pushed. The teams 15-8 SU at home this year.
St. Louis has converted on just 15.2 percent of its power play chances this year, a figure that puts the team in the bottom-5 overall among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 16th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 81.2 percent of all penalties.
St. Louis, as a collective unit, has been penalized just 3.5 times per game overall this season, and 2.6 per game over its past five games. The teams had to kill penalties for just 8.5 minutes per game over its last 10 outings, overall.
With a .911 save percentage and 25.9 saves per game, Jake Allen (18-16-2) has been the primary goalkeeper for the Blues this season. If they choose to give him a rest, however, it may turn to Carter Hutton (9-6-6 record, .941 save percentage, 1.81 goals against average).
Brayden Schenn and Vladimir Tarasenko will each lead the offensive attack for the Blues. Schenn (43 points) has tallied 17 goals and 26 assists and has recorded two or more points in 10 different games this year. Tarasenko has 18 goals and 24 assists to his name and has recorded a point in 26 games.
On the other side of the ice, Florida is 17-24 straight up (SU) and has lost 7.4 units for moneyline bettors this year. A total of 21 of its games have gone under the total, while 20 have gone over and none have pushed. As the visiting team so far, Florida is 7-15 SU.
Florida has converted on just 15.9 percent of its power play chances this year, a figure that’s ranked 26th in the NHL. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 24th overall and it’s successfully killed off 80.0 percent of all opponent power plays.
Florida’s skaters have been penalized 4.3 times per game in total this season, and 3.2 per game over their last five match ups. The team has had to stave off opponent power plays just 8.3 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
James Reimer (3.01 goals against average and .912 save percentage) has been the primary option in goal for Florida. Reimer is averaging 28.6 saves per game and owns an 11-17-5 record.
For the visiting Panthers, the offense will run through Jonathan Huberdeau (15 goals, 25 assists) and Vincent Trocheck (15 goals, 22 assists).
Florida Panthers at St. Louis Blues Betting Predictions
Predictions: SU Winner – Blues, O/U – Over
Betting Trends
- The total has gone under in three of St. Louis last five outings.
- This game features two offenses that shoot the puck early and often. Florida has taken the leagues fifth-most shots on goal (34.3) while St. Louis’s attempted the ninth-most (33.2).
- Power plays and penalty kills could play a key role in the outcome of this matchup. The Panthers are 5-12 in games where they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 7-15 when they’re in the penalty box for fewer than 10 minutes, total. The Blues are 13-7 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than the opposition and 18-13 when their penalty minutes are in the single digits.
- Florida is 2-3 in games decided by a shootout this season while St. Louis is 3-0 in shootouts.
- St. Louis skaters have averaged 8.0 takeaways per game over its last five home games, right in line with its season average of 7.8 takeaways per game (ranked 12th).
- Florida has scored 2.8 goals per game overall this season, but is averaging 1.7 goals per match up over its last three games (0-3 SU over that span).
- Florida skaters have created 5.4 takeaways per game over its last five road games, a drop-off from its season average of 8.7 takeaways per game (ranked seventh overall).
- St. Louis might have an advantage if it’s a close one late. The teams 11-8 in games decided by one goal, while Florida is 9-12 in such games.
