Ducks Soar Whereas Blues Find Their Footing: A Look at Anaheim and St. Louis’s Resurgence
The Anaheim Ducks and St. Louis Blues have both been on impressive runs recently, demonstrating a marked improvement in their performance. While the Ducks have capitalized on this form to climb to the top of the Pacific Division, the Blues remain near the bottom of the Western Conference standings. Can Anaheim continue its winning streak in their second head-to-head matchup and extend their lead over Vegas?
Anaheim’s Consistent Climb
Under the leadership of Joel Quenneville, the Ducks have emerged as a strong force in the Western Conference. They’ve secured victories in seven of their last eight games, surpassing the Vegas Golden Knights in the Pacific Division and entering the top four teams in the West. Their only recent loss came against the Colorado Avalanche (1-5), but they quickly rebounded with a 5-1 win over the Modern York Islanders.
Interestingly, despite the Islanders scoring first, they were unable to convert that early advantage into a win. Anaheim also secured a 6-5 shootout victory against Montreal, showcasing their ability to compete even in tight contests.
Projected Anaheim Lineup: Husso (Dostal) – Lacombe, Trouba – Kraider, Harkins, Gauthier
Full Roster: Zellweger, Gudas, Mintyukov, Moore; Killorn, McTavish, Senneke, Vatrano, Pilkington, Bailey, Johnston, Wash, Viel
Injuries/Uncertainties: Mrazek (injury), Granlund, Terry, Karlsson (questionable)
St. Louis Overcomes Challenges
The St. Louis Blues have also been showing positive signs, consistently earning points and delighting their fans. However, a lack of consistency throughout the season has kept them at 13th place in the Western Conference, hindering their playoff aspirations.
The Blues are entering the game against Anaheim with a three-game winning streak, including a notable 3-1 victory over the Minnesota Wild, a leading team in the West. A 3-2 overtime win against the San Jose Sharks is also strategically important, potentially allowing the Blues to close the gap with San Jose in the standings.
Projected St. Louis Lineup: Hofer (Binnington) – Broberg, Irjicek – Berggren, Thomas, Snagerrud
Full Roster: Fowler, Mayle, Tucker, Kessel; Neighbors, Buchnevich, Kyrou, Zuter, Dworski, Holloway, Toropchenko, Finley, Sundqvist
Injuries/Uncertainties: Pareiko (questionable)
A History Favoring the Blues
Historically, St. Louis has been a challenging opponent for Anaheim. In 10 of their 11 past encounters, the Blues have emerged victorious. The Ducks managed to break this streak in their first meeting this season, winning 4-1 on the road. Anaheim’s Pavel Mintyukov contributed with a goal and an assist in that game.
Key Stats to Watch
- Anaheim generates 3.3 expected goals per game – only three teams have a higher xG.
- St. Louis ranks among the bottom six teams in power play conversion, with a 16.9% success rate.
- The Ducks have been penalized in the first period of 45 out of 62 games.
Expert Predictions
Given St. Louis’s struggles on the road – earning only 38% of possible points away from home – and Anaheim’s strong performance at home (second only to Colorado in points earned), a win for the Ducks appears likely. Considering their previous victory in this season’s series, a win for Anaheim in regulation time at odds of 2.03 is a strong contender. A predicted final score of 5-2 seems plausible.
Anaheim’s offensive prowess combined with St. Louis’s defensive vulnerabilities suggests a total of over 6.5 goals at odds of 2.18 is a worthwhile consideration. The teams have exceeded this total in four of their five previous matchups.
Finally, with Anaheim’s success on the power play and St. Louis’s struggles in the penalty kill, a bet on Anaheim to score more power play goals at odds of 3.05 could prove profitable.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Who is the head coach of the Anaheim Ducks? Joel Quenneville.
- Who is the head coach of the St. Louis Blues? Jim Montgomery.
- What is Anaheim’s recent record? They have won seven of their last eight games.
- What is St. Louis’s recent record? They are on a three-game winning streak.
Pro Tip: Keep an eye on Anaheim’s power play opportunities. Their ability to capitalize on these chances could be a deciding factor in the game.
What are your predictions for the Anaheim vs. St. Louis game? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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