Vegas vs St. Louis NHL Match Prediction and Betting Tips

Current Form

The Vegas Golden Knights did not conclude their preseason on a strong note, raising concerns about the team's readiness for the regular season. The Knights first fell to Colorado 1-3 and then suffered an unexpected defeat against the underdog San Jose, losing 5-6. Goaltender Hill struggled, stopping only 79 percent of shots faced.

After these disappointing preseason performances, no one anticipated such a confident start from the Knights in the regular season. In their home opener, Cassidy's squad left no room for Colorado, dominating the game with an impressive 8-4 victory. The first line showcased outstanding play with all players contributing to the scoring, notably forwards Barbashev and Eichel, who each recorded four points. However, it’s worth mentioning that Hill again had shaky moments, allowing Colorado to briefly gain momentum and almost seize control of the game.

Injuries and Suspensions

Currently, the only injured player is goaltender Robin Lehner, with William Karlsson possibly not recovering in time.

Interesting Betting Trends

• Vegas averaged seven penalty minutes per game

Last season, Vegas rarely committed penalties due to their disciplined play, and this trend appears to continue into the current season.

• The Knights allowed less than three goals per game on average last season

Vegas boasts a solid defensive unit, often preventing opponents from finding success on offense.

Current Form

St. Louis displayed lackluster performance during preseason, securing only two victories in seven games, both in overtime. The team continues to struggle with a major issue from last season, averaging just 1.7 goals per game, which is unacceptable in the NHL. Despite these disappointing results, the Blues started their regular season strong, defeating Seattle 3-2 in their opening match. During the second period, they found themselves down by two goals, but the Bannister-led squad rallied back to equalize and eventually seized the initiative.

Next, the Blues faced off against clear underdog San Jose and again allowed their opponent to forge ahead by three goals by the end of the second period. However, in the third period, St. Louis increased their shot count to three times that of the Sharks, successfully leveling the score and forcing overtime, where they managed to push past the home team for their second consecutive victory (5-4).

Injuries and Suspensions

It's important to note that St. Louis is grappling with significant roster challenges. Defenders Adam Irshicek and Torey Krug remain sidelined, along with forwards Brandon Saad and Oscar Sundqvist who have yet to recover from injuries.

Interesting Betting Trends

• The Blues averaged 28 shots per game last season

St. Louis's offensive struggles seem persistent, as revealed in the preseason matches.

• The Blues converted only 23% of their power play opportunities

The team's low scoring is directly tied to their ineffective power play execution on the ice.