10:06 pm
December 20

Blues @ Canucks

Who will WIN this matchup?

St. Louis Blues (13-15-4)

@ Vancouver Canucks (16-17-4)

 

Starting Goalies:

Jake Allen (STL): Confirmed

Jacob Markstrom (VAN): Confirmed

 

Current odds:

St. Louis Blues: (-110)

Vancouver Canucks: (-110)

 

• Jake Allen made 22 saves and failed to surrender a goal in the opening frame for the first time in five games during Tuesday’s win, after the goaltender had given up 10 goals on 40 first period shots over his last previous four outings. Ryan O’Reilly has been one of the best offseason acquisitions in the NHL as the 10-year-veteran leads the Blues in goals (13) along with assists (19) and is tied for second in the league in faceoff wins (436) entering Wednesday – trailing only the Canucks’ Bo Horvat (497). Jaden Schwartz has totaled 116 goals and 169 assists in his eight seasons in St. Louis as the forward gets set to play his 400th NHL game on Thursday.

• Jacob Markstrom had a scheduled day off Tuesday but has been on fire in December as the netminder is 5-0-0 with a .937 save percentage and a 1.80 goals against average since the calendar turned. Vancouver registered its most lopsided victory of the season less than two weeks ago against the Blues as 20-year-old Elias Pettersson potted a goal and added four helpers while sniper Brock Boeser recorded the second hat trick of his career. Pettersson saw his seven-game point streak end against the Lightning (four goals, nine assists) but the Swede still leads the Canucks and all NHL rookies in goals (17), assists (18) and power play points (11).

• The Canucks and Blues are tied for 12th in the league with 22 power play goals, but Vancouver enters Wednesday sitting fourth in opportunities (121) while the Blues are tied for 22nd (101).

5/10
Confidence
StreakSmarter Pick
Vancouver Canucks
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