Welcome to another edition of NHL Predictions! The NHL has 11 games on the schedule for Thursday. Last Word On Hockey will once again go around the league, discuss key games, and give our prediction. This edition looks at the game between the St. Louis Blues and Vegas Golden Knights, who are meeting for the second time in four days.
NHL Predictions
St. Louis Blues vs. Vegas Golden Knights
Time: 8:00 P.M. Eastern Time
TV: FanDuel Sports Network Midwest, SCRIPPS
Head-to-Head: 1-1
The Blues and Golden Knights meet this season for the third and final time. The Knights won the first matchup on home ice early in the season. The Blues got revenge this past Monday with a 5-4 shootout win. The rubber match of the season series will take place in St. Louis. Thursday’s game is also the only game in the season series that will take place in St. Louis.
Blues Survived Nevada, But They Enter the Rubber Match Shorthanded
Monday nearly went a different direction for the Blue Note. The Blues lead 4-2 late in the third period. However, the Golden Knights rallied to tie the game with an extra attacker on the ice. After a back-and-forth overtime, including Vegas forward Jack Eichel missing a tap-in to win the game, the Blues prevailed in the shootout to take the extra point. Jake Neighbours and captain Brayden Schenn scored in the shootout for the Blues, while goalie Jordan Binnington stopped two of three shooters to win the game for the Blues.
Unfortunately, the Blues are likely heading into Thursday without a key player. Defenceman Philip Broberg was injured at the end of Wednesday’s practice. The extent of the injury is not yet known. However, it can be assumed Broberg will not play on Thursday. In his absence, we can expect to see Scott Perunovich join the lineup while Justin Faulk will move on the pairing with Ryan Suter.
Broberg Update
Head coach Jim Montgomery announced at practice on Thursday that Broberg will play tonight. This is a pleasant surprise, given how severe the injury looked. Furthermore, the Blues will use the same lineup from Monday, with the exception of goalie, as Joel Hofer will get the nod.
Vegas Comes Close, but the Losing Streak Continues
The Golden Knights went into Monday’s game on a three-game losing streak. After rallying to tie the game, it seemed that the Knights would end their losing streak spectacularly. The comeback was nearly complete, but as we mentioned earlier, Eichel missed an easy tap-in that would have won the game.
Jack Eichel was DISTRAUGHT at the end of OT after missing a wide open net
Vegas’ comeback effort in regulation wasn’t enough and the Blues would go on to win in a shootout after this pic.twitter.com/TV0rzS99Kr
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) January 21, 2025
However, Monday could signal that the losing streak is nearing the end. It is said that a losing streak is close to over when a team loses a game they should have won. The Golden Knights came very close to winning, and some may think that game was theirs for the taking once the game went to overtime. This losing streak may be close to ending. However, frustrations will only continue to grow if the streak extends to five. The Golden Knights are hanging on to a narrow lead in the Pacific Division. An extended losing streak could see the team drop out of first place.
Predictions
The Blues are likely to be without Broberg. Furthermore, the Knights are looking to end a losing streak. This might be a recipe for the road team to come out victorious. We will pick Vegas to win and end the streak.
Golden Knights win, 4-2.
Prop Bets
The over/under is set at 5.5 goals. We are taking the over with six goals.
We are taking Jack Eichel as an anytime-scorer for the Golden Knights for prop bets. After a late goal to help the comeback and nearly winning the game in overtime, Eichel will come out determined on Thursday. For the Blues, we are picking Dylan Holloway as an anytime-scorer.
Main Photo by Stephen R. Sylvanie- Imagn Images
Please play responsibly and check for local rules and age restrictions; some jurisdictions require ages 21+. Have a gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.
The post NHL Predictions: January 23rd St. Louis Blues Vs. Vegas Golden Knights appeared first on Last Word On Hockey.