St. Louis Blues (22-20-2) vs. Seattle Kraken (19-18-9)
St. Louis Blues vs. Seattle Kraken 1/26/24 – As the NHL regular season continues its thrilling course, the upcoming clash between the St. Louis Blues and the Seattle Kraken on Friday is drawing significant attention from hockey enthusiasts and bettors alike. This match-up, set to unfold at the Climate Pledge Arena, promises to be a pivotal moment for both teams as they strive to improve their positions in the league. Viewers can catch the action live at 10:00 PM ET on ESPN+, making it a top hockey picks event for fans and sports bettors.
This season has seen the Blues display impressive offensive prowess. Led by Center Robert Thomas who has accumulated 46 points from 16 goals and 30 assists across 44 games – led by an astounding 17.6% shooting percentage along with 32 penalty minutes and a positive plus/minus rating – their attack has been led by Robert Thomas’ brilliant 17.6% shooting percentage as well as Jordan Kyrou’s 33 points and Pavel Buchnevich’s balanced scoring and playmaking abilities; their offensive firepower will prove vital when facing Kraken defense who have shown its variability but also resilience over multiple games.
Conversely, Seattle Kraken possess their own offensive threats despite recent poor results. Right Wing Oliver Bjorkstrand leads them with 36 points – 12 goals and 24 assists – leading the team with 36 points overall and also contributing through Jared McCann (18 goals scored). Eeli Tolvanen provides additional depth to their attack while Jared McCann’s 18 goals provide depth. Blues defense, who has experienced ups and downs this season will need to keep an eye on these key players to prevent Seattle Kraken from capitalizing on scoring opportunities against them.
St. Louis Blues vs. Seattle Kraken 1/26/24 Game Info
| When: | Friday, January 26, 2024 at 10:00 PM ET |
| Where: | Climate Pledge Arena |
| TV: | ESPN+ |
| Stream: | NHL.TV |
Goaltender Jordan Binnington vs. Goaltender Joey Daccord
Between the pipes, the Blues will be relying on veteran netminder Jordan Binnington. He’s endured an up-and-down season so far, compiling a mediocre 15-12-2 record along with a 2.98 goals against average and .906 save percentage over 32 appearances. Binnington has already allowed 90 goals on the year, struggling with consistency behind St. Louis’ porous defense. He could have his hands full facing a Seattle attack that features dangerous scorers like Jared McCann and his team-leading 18 tallies. If Binnington allows more than three goals, it likely spells trouble for the Blues’ chances.
For the Kraken, young goaltender Joey Daccord has enjoyed a breakout sophomore campaign. In 30 games played, Daccord has amassed a solid 13-8-8 record with a 2.33 GAA and .922 save percentage – over 10 points higher than Binnington’s mark. He’s conceded just 68 goals all year despite facing a heavy workload. Daccord will aim to frustrate the Blues’ skilled group of forwards, led by the likes of Robert Thomas and his 46 points. As long as the 25-year-old netminder performs up to his usual standards, he should be able to keep this a tight, low-scoring affair. The outcome very well could come down to which goalie best rises to the occasion.
NHL Odds/Point Spread: TBD, Total Odds: TBD
While the betting odds for the game remain to be determined, the analysis of both teams’ performances and strengths suggests a closely contested match. Bettors will need to consider the recent form of both teams, their head-to-head record, and the impact of home advantage for the Kraken when the odds are released.
St. Louis Blues Betting Trends
The Blues have struggled to string together wins lately, going just 2-3 straight up in their previous five matchups. Their record against the spread is only slightly better at 3-2 over that same sample. Breaking it down further, St. Louis has been dreadful against the number away from home, posting a 9-12 ATS record on the road this season. Scoring has also been an issue recently, with none of the Blues’ last five contests going over the posted total. For the year, just 11 of their 23 games in St. Louis have exceeded the betting number.
Seattle Kraken Betting Trends
As for the Kraken, they enter this game ice cold having lost five straight games. Their record against the spread hasn’t been much better at 1-4 over those five losses. However, Seattle has been extremely strong for bettors at Climate Pledge Arena in 2023-2024, owning a sparking 16-9 ATS record and covering 64% of the time. Scoring has tailed off a bit lately too, with only one of their previous five matchups going over the total. Yet on the season, eight of the Kraken’s 21 home tilts have produced enough points to beat the betting number.
St. Louis Blues vs. Seattle Kraken 1/26/24 Betting Picks
Based on the analysis, this game appears to be an exciting battle of opposing styles and strengths. Thomas and Kyrou’s powerful offensive capabilities will go up against Daccord’s impressive goaltending for the Kraken, while Binnington must do everything he can to counter Bjorkstrand and McCann’s deadly offense.
While this game could go either way, given recent trends and performances by both teams, recent trends and performances suggest the Blues may hold a slight edge, particularly on offense. But with Kraken resilience at home and Daccord’s goaltending ability as potential deciding factors; caution is recommended given their recent scoring trends when considering prop bets or over/under odds. The game promises to be a showcase of tactical play and individual brilliance, making it a must-watch for fans and a challenge for bettors looking for handpicked favorites.
Free Pick and Prediction: St. Louis Blues 3, Seattle Kraken 2