Blues vs. Golden Knights NHL Best Bet: Take the Over as Potent Attacks Face Off
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Eduardo Solano
- October 10, 2024
NHL Pick: Over 6 (-105) at Bovada (visit our Bovada Review)
The St. Louis Blues visit the Vegas Golden Knights in what promises to be a very entertaining contest. Let’s analyze the current NHL odds available at the top sportsbooks and go over all you need to know about this game.
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St. Louis Blues vs. Vegas Golden Knights
Friday, October 11, 2024 – 10:00 PM ET at T-Mobile Arena
Kyrou Leads St. Louis to Victory in Seattle
Jordan Kyrou’s quick scoring burst late in the second period lifted the St. Louis Blues to a comeback victory over the Seattle Kraken, 3-2, in the season opener for both teams on Tuesday night. Kyrou struck twice in less than two minutes to erase an early two-goal deficit.
Philip Broberg also found the back of the net for St. Louis, his tally coming between Kyrou’s two goals. The trio of scores came in a stunning 1:55 stretch that turned the game around.
Justin Faulk chipped in with assists on the first two goals, while Robert Thomas, Dylan Holloway, and Alexandre Texier each added a helper of their own. Jordan Binnington anchored the defense with a solid 30-save performance.
Kyrou, who led the Blues with 31 goals last season, is off to a quicker start this year. A season ago, it took until the second game for him to get his first goal and another eight games to notch his second.
The go-ahead goal came just 20 seconds after St. Louis tied the game. Following a faceoff win at center ice, Texier fed Kyrou streaking down the right side, and he buried a wrist shot past Philipp Grubauer.
The Blues struggled early, generating 13 shots that were all stopped by Grubauer before Kyrou’s breakthrough. However, during that decisive 1:55 span, St. Louis converted three of their next four attempts. Despite the Blues’ surge, the Kraken outshot them 32-25 overall.
Vegas Destroys Colorado
In another season-opening clash, the Vegas Golden Knights blitzed the Colorado Avalanche 8-4 on Wednesday night, powered by two goals apiece from Ivan Barbashev, Mark Stone, and Victor Olofsson.
Barbashev, who also contributed two assists, was part of a dominant top line alongside Jack Eichel, who notched four assists, and Shea Theodore, who added three of his own. Vegas goaltender Adin Hill made 28 saves to secure the win.
Head coach Bruce Cassidy’s emphasis on line chemistry in training camp seemed to pay off. He focused on building pairs before adding a third piece, and the Barbashev-Stone-Eichel trio rewarded his strategy with a combined 10 points.
After conceding the first goal midway through the opening period, the Golden Knights responded quickly when Olofsson fired a pinpoint shot from the bottom of the right circle, sneaking it over Alexandar Georgiev’s shoulder to tie the game. From there, Vegas’ offense never looked back.
Keys to the Game
Expect a high-paced, offensive showdown given their recent performances. Both teams are coming off strong season openers, with St. Louis rallying late to edge out the Seattle Kraken and Vegas showcasing a relentless attack to overwhelm Colorado.
The Blues will likely lean heavily on Kyrou, who’s already proving to be a clutch performer with his quick scoring bursts. His ability to find space on the ice and capitalize on opportunities makes him a constant threat against a Vegas defense that has shown occasional lapses, as evidenced by their four goals allowed to the Avalanche.
Broberg’s contributions could also be crucial, as his goal against Seattle demonstrated his ability to step up when needed.
On the other side, the Golden Knights’ top line of Barbashev, Stone, and Eichel is firing on all cylinders. Their chemistry and puck movement will be a headache for the Blues’ defense, especially if St. Louis has trouble containing Barbashev, who has already proven himself as both a scorer and playmaker.
Eichel’s ability to orchestrate plays and find his teammates in scoring positions could stretch the Blues’ defensive structure.
Goaltending will play a pivotal role. Binnington, who was solid with 30 saves in his opener, will need to be even sharper against a Vegas squad that doesn’t hesitate to fire pucks from all angles. Hill, despite giving up four goals, will look to tighten up, particularly against a Blues team that showed a knack for quick-strike offense in their own season opener.
The Pick
St. Louis will rely on a structured approach, minimizing mistakes and looking to exploit the gaps when Vegas’ top line is off the ice. Meanwhile, the Golden Knights will aim to push the pace, using their depth and offensive firepower to keep the Blues on their heels.
The game could come down to special teams and execution in key moments. If Kyrou and the Blues can replicate their burst of scoring and catch Vegas off-guard, they’ll have a chance to steal a win in this game. However, if Barbashev, Stone, and Eichel continue their dominant play, the Golden Knights might just outgun St. Louis in what could easily turn into a high-scoring affair.
NHL Pick: Over 6 (-105) at Bovada
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