On January 27, 2025, the Vancouver Canucks will face the St. Louis Blues at Enterprise Center in St. Louis, MO. This matchup is crucial for both teams as they navigate a competitive season in the NHL. Below is a comprehensive analysis of the game, incorporating various performance metrics, injury reports, and advanced analytics to provide insights into potential outcomes.
Current Team Performance
Vancouver Canucks
- Record: 21 wins, 17 losses, and 10 overtime losses (21-17-10)
- Goals Per Game: 2.83
- Goals Against Per Game: 2.86
- Shots on Goal Per Game: 25.30
- Power Play Percentage: 21.88%
- Penalty Kill Percentage: 69.57%
- Save Percentage: ~90%
St. Louis Blues
- Record: 23 wins, 23 losses, and 4 overtime losses (23-23-4)
- Goals Per Game: 3.40
- Goals Against Per Game: 3.33
- Shots on Goal Per Game: 26.80
- Power Play Percentage: 30.43%
- Penalty Kill Percentage: 86.21%
- Save Percentage: ~89.5%
The Canucks have struggled defensively, allowing nearly as many goals as they score, while the Blues have a more potent offense but also concede a significant number of goals.
Special Teams Analysis
The effectiveness of special teams could be pivotal in this matchup:
- The Canucks’ power play is relatively average at 21.88%, while their penalty kill is significantly below league standards at 69.57%.
- Conversely, the Blues excel in special teams, boasting a power play percentage of 30.43% and an impressive penalty kill rate of 86.21%. This disparity suggests that the Blues could capitalize on any power play opportunities they receive.
Injury Report
Vancouver Canucks
- Kiefer Sherwood is out due to injury.
St. Louis Blues
- No players are currently injured, giving the Blues a full roster to work with.
Projected Goaltenders
- Vancouver Canucks: Thatcher Demko is expected to start in goal.
- St. Louis Blues: Jordan Binnington will likely take the crease for the Blues.
Both goaltenders have been key to their teams’ performances this season, with Demko holding a slightly higher save percentage than Binnington.
Home/Away Performance
Analyzing each team’s performance at home versus away:
- The Blues have shown better consistency at home compared to their away games, which can often provide an edge in tight matchups.
- The Canucks have had mixed results on the road, which may affect their confidence going into this game.
Coaching Strategies
Coaching strategies will play a significant role in how this game unfolds:
- The Canucks’ coaching staff has focused on improving defensive play but has struggled with consistency.
- The Blues’ coaching has emphasized offensive pressure and effective use of special teams, which has yielded better results this season.
Head-to-Head History
Recent matchups between these two teams indicate a competitive rivalry:
- The last few games have been closely contested, often decided by one or two goals.
Advanced Metrics
Utilizing advanced metrics can provide deeper insights:
- Corsi and Fenwick stats indicate puck possession trends; if either team can dominate these metrics, it could lead to increased scoring chances.
Puck Possession and Face-offs
Face-off win percentages will also be crucial:
- Winning face-offs can lead to sustained offensive pressure and control of puck possession.
Rest and Schedule
Both teams are coming off recent games:
- The Canucks may experience fatigue from travel, while the Blues benefit from playing at home.
Strength of Schedule
The quality of recent opponents has varied:
- The Canucks faced tougher competition recently compared to the Blues, who have had a mix of challenging and more manageable games.
Betting Trends and Line Movements
As of now:
- The moneyline favors the Blues (-116) slightly over the Canucks (-104).
- The puck line is set at -1.5 for the Blues with a total points line of 5.5.
Prediction Summary
Given all factors analyzed:
Predicted Final Score
St. Louis Blues 4 – Vancouver Canucks 2
Confidence Level
Medium confidence in this prediction due to close performance metrics between both teams.
Recommended Bet Type
Betting on the Blues’ moneyline appears favorable due to their home advantage and superior special teams play.
Player Props
Consider placing bets on Jordan Binnington for saves over/under as he may face numerous shots given the Canucks’ shooting activity.
Key Matchups
Watch for special teams play; if the Canucks struggle to kill penalties effectively against the Blues’ powerful power play, it could significantly influence the game’s outcome.This matchup promises to be an exciting contest with playoff implications as both teams vie for critical points in the standings.
