The St. Louis Blues have been singing a very happy tune to start the season thanks to rising star Vladimir Taresenko leading them to three wins in four. However, the West-leading Vancouver Canucks have to be even happier, with goalie Ryan Miller playing like a Veniza candidate once again. Can the Canucks prove their worth as potential contenders by beating the high-flying Blues?
Read on below for our preview of this top-of-the-Western-conference-table clash. And for more of the NHL’s Friday offerings, check out our previews of Flames vs. Jets and Avs vs. Ducks.
[sc:NHLArticles ]St. Louis Blues vs. Vancouver Canucks Betting Preview
Where: Rogers Arena, Vancouver
When: Friday, October 16, 2015, 10:00 PM ET
Line: St. Louis Blues (-105) at Vancouver Canucks (-115); total 5.0 – view all NHL lines
Betting on the St. Louis Blues
The St. Louis Blues are off to a strong start to the season after winning three of their first four games. Granted, two of those wins have come against the Edmonton Oilers, who, despite the presence of phenom Connor McDavid, still aren’t good.
[sc:NHL240 ]Nevertheless, it’s still promising to see last year’s breakout star Vladimir Tarasenko off to a hot start. Tarasenko, who led the team with 73 points last season, has at least a point in his first four games, and scored his third goal of the year at Edmonton last night.
The power play unit has also been on point, and has scored in each of their last three games.
The Blues will be playing their first back-to-back of the year, and their third game in four nights. The Blues have yet to receive much production from their bottom two lines, which could be a concern as fatigue sets in with the top-liners.
St. Louis will need a strong outing from goalie Jake Allen, who will get the start against Vancouver. Allen was in goal for the Blues’ only loss of the season thus far, as he conceded all three goals in a 3-2 loss to the Wild. Allen is 1-3-0 with a 3.25 goals against average in four career starts against the Canucks.
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Betting on the Vancouver Canucks
The Vancouver Canucks are somewhat surprisingly all alone atop the Western Conference in the early going. The Canucks have won three of their first four and lost their only game in overtime against Calgary to put them one point clear in first. They’re coming off a 3-0 domination of the still-winless Los Angeles Kings on Tuesday.
The Canucks have been getting goals from all over the place; they have had 10 different goalscorers for their 12 goals thus far. Meanwhile, they have been one of the stingiest defenses in the league, giving up just 1.3 goals per game (fifth in the NHL). Goalie Ryan Miller has started in goal for all four games and kept his first shutout of the season against L.A.
Miller, the 2010 Veniza winner who went 29-15 with a 2.53 GAA and .911 save percentage in an injury-shortened first season with the Canucks last year, is just 1-4 in his last five meetings against St. Louis.
However, he and the rest of the Canucks will have the distinct freshness advantage after getting three days off, and will be facing a Blues team that’s on the second night of a back-to-back.
Vancouver is 7-3 in its last 10 home games against St. Louis, and has won the last four in a row. The under has also gone 8-2 in those 10 games.
Writer’s Prediction
Miller shines once again in goal as he and the much fresher Canucks (-115) sweep aside St. Louis, 3-1.
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