Vegas (27-9-2) at St Louis (25-15-2)
When: Thursday, January 4th 2018
Where: Scottrade Center, St Louis, MO
Time: 8:05 ET | TV: AT&T Sportsnet Rocky Mountain, FS Midwest
Opening Odds: St Louis -115/5.5
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The Vegas Golden Knights continue to smash expansion team records and will look to keep their roll going when they visit the St. Louis Blues on Thursday night. Vegas has won eight straight games and owns a 13-game point streak (12-0-1) – NHL records for a first-year team – after Tuesday’s 3-0 victory over Stanley Cup runner-up Nashville. The win improved the Knights to 17-2-1 at home, but have had success recently on the road as well, winning four straight. The Golden Knights, who are 10-7-1 on the road, lead the Pacific Division with a Western Conference-most 56 points – four fewer than NHL-best Tampa Bay – while St. Louis sits second in the Central, one point behind Winnipeg. The Blues bounced back from a 2-7-0 stretch to win two straight for the first time since December 9-10. St. Louis is coming off a 3-2 shootout victory over New Jersey on Tuesday and will try to complete a 3-0 homestand before a trip to the east coast. The Golden Knights prevailed 3-2 on William Karlsson’s overtime goal in the first meeting October 21st in Sin City.
Jonathan Marchessault, who has a team-high 37 points, has scored in three straight games and owns a seven-game point streak (five goals, six assists). Reilly Smith recorded his first goal in eight games Tuesday, giving Vegas five players with 10 or more goals. William Karlsson (club-best 20 goals) has five goals in his last five games, James Neal (17) has gone five games without scoring after recording one in three straight and Erik Haula, who played his 300th career game Tuesday, has 14. Vegas has also been terrific on defense, killing the last 12 power plays against them covering five games. Goalie Marc-Andre Fleury is 5-0-1 since returning from a concussion including two shutouts.
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The Blues need more production from their power play unit, as they are 0 for their last 15 covering six games and 1-for-23 in the past eight. Vladimir Tarasenko shares the team lead in goals with Brayden Schenn after scoring his 17th of the season Tuesday and second in the last three games. Schenn (club-most 41 points) has only two goals and two assists in 12 games since Jaden Schwartz was lost with an ankle injury, and scored once in the past 11 games. Vladimir Sobotka scored his eighth goal of the season Tuesday and is one shy of matching his career high set in 2013-14.
It’s starting to get really hard to bet against this Vegas team as they appear to be for real. The Blues seem to have righted the ship after a tough stretch and should be able to handle this young team at home on Thursday.
Pick: Blues -117
- Golden Knights are 4-0 in their last 4 road games.
- Golden Knights are 7-0 in their last 7 vs. a team with a winning record.
- Golden Knights are 5-0 in their last 5 games playing on 1 days rest.
- Golden Knights are 18-3 in their last 21 when their opponent allows 2 goals or less in their previous game.
- Golden Knights are 19-4 in their last 23 vs. Western Conference.
- Golden Knights are 14-3 in their last 17 after allowing 2 goals or less in their previous game.
- Golden Knights are 20-6 in their last 26 games following a win.
- Golden Knights are 19-7 in their last 26 overall.
- Golden Knights are 8-3 in their last 11 vs. Central.
- Blues are 10-4 in their last 14 Thursday games.
- Blues are 1-5 in their last 6 after allowing 2 goals or less in their previous game.
- Blues are 1-5 in their last 6 vs. Pacific.
- Blues are 1-5 in their last 6 vs. Western Conference.
- Under is 4-1 in Golden Knights last 5 overall.
- Under is 4-1 in Golden Knights last 5 games following a win.
- Under is 4-1 in Golden Knights last 5 when their opponent allows 2 goals or less in their previous game.
- Over is 4-1 in Golden Knights last 5 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
- Over is 4-1 in Golden Knights last 5 vs. Central.
- Over is 7-2-1 in Golden Knights last 10 road games.
- Over is 13-4-2 in Golden Knights last 19 after allowing 2 goals or less in their previous game.
- Over is 11-4-1 in Golden Knights last 16 vs. a team with a winning record.
- Over is 12-5-2 in Golden Knights last 19 vs. Western Conference.
- Over is 7-3 in Golden Knights last 10 games playing on 1 days rest.
- Under is 4-0 in Blues last 4 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
- Under is 6-0 in Blues last 6 Thursday games.
- Under is 11-1 in Blues last 12 home games.
- Under is 6-1 in Blues last 7 after allowing 2 goals or less in their previous game.
- Under is 5-1 in Blues last 6 vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
- Under is 16-5 in Blues last 21 overall.
- Under is 21-8-3 in Blues last 32 vs. Pacific.
- Under is 23-9 in Blues last 32 games following a win.
- Under is 30-12-5 in Blues last 47 games playing on 1 days rest.
- Under is 35-15-4 in Blues last 54 vs. Western Conference.
- Under is 36-17-5 in Blues last 58 when their opponent allows 2 goals or less in their previous game.
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