St. Louis Blues vs. Colorado Avalanche, Can the Blues Bounce Back?
St. Louis Blues vs. Colorado Avalanche Preview: A Crucial Clash for Both Teams
As the St. Louis Blues (23-24-4) head to Denver to take on the Colorado Avalanche (29-21-2) on Friday night, both teams are looking to regain their footing in the competitive NHL landscape. For the first time in the 2024-25 season, the Blues and Avalanche will square off, making this an important matchup for both clubs.
The Avalanche, currently on a two-game win streak against St. Louis, enter the game as heavy favorites, listed at -205 on the moneyline with a goal total set at 5.5. Colorado is looking to extend its dominance over the Blues, while St. Louis is desperate to halt a downward spiral that has seen them falter in recent games.
Blues Struggling to Find Consistency
After a brief moment of hope, with a 5-4 shootout win over the Vegas Golden Knights on Martin Luther King Day, the St. Louis Blues have fallen back into old habits, losing four of their last five games. Their most recent defeat came at the hands of the Vancouver Canucks, who dominated the Blues 5-2 in St. Louis.
The Blues’ struggles are evident in both their offense and defense. Despite a respectable 26 shots on goal against Vancouver, they allowed three goals in the second period and failed to capitalize on their power play, converting just one of five opportunities.
Goaltender Jordan Binnington has struggled this season, posting a 13-19-3 record with a 2.89 GAA and a .897 save percentage. Joel Hofer, who has played in relief, has been slightly better with a 10-5-1 record, a 2.75 GAA, and a .906 save percentage. The Blues are averaging 3.02 goals allowed per game (17th in the NHL) but scoring just 2.75 goals per game, ranking 24th in the league.
St. Louis’ inability to generate consistent offensive pressure has been a critical issue. Aside from top scorers like Robert Thomas and Jordan Kyrou, the Blues have struggled to produce, leaving their power play, which sits at just 19.3%, ineffective.
Avalanche Battling Through Inconsistencies
The Colorado Avalanche find themselves in a similar position, failing to string together consecutive wins since early January. They are 5-6-2 in their last 13 games, including a disappointing 5-2 loss to the New York Islanders in their most recent outing on Tuesday.
Despite outshooting the Islanders 32-28, the Avalanche could not capitalize on their chances. Special teams were once again a major issue, as Colorado went 0-for-2 on the power play and allowed zero power-play opportunities for New York.
Mackenzie Blackwood, who has been solid for the Avalanche with a 10-5-2 record, 2.28 GAA, and a .918 save percentage, has had his ups and downs. In Colorado’s last loss, he gave up four goals on 27 shots. Scott Wedgewood, with a 5-3-0 record and a 2.40 GAA, could also make an appearance. The Avalanche’s goaltending duo will need to step up to reduce the 3.15 goals allowed per game, ranking 22nd in the league.
While Colorado’s defense has struggled at times, their offense is firing on all cylinders, averaging 3.25 goals per game (8th in the NHL). The likes of Nathan MacKinnon, Mikko Rantanen, and Cale Makar remain the core offensive drivers. Still, the team’s inability to string together consistent performances has been their biggest obstacle.
Conclusion
As the Blues and Avalanche clash for the first time this season, both teams will look to turn the page on recent struggles. With strong offensive depth, goaltending that has its moments, and a solid penalty kill, Colorado is primed to take advantage of St. Louis’ inconsistencies. The Blues will need to shake off their recent losses and find more balanced play to have a shot at an upset.
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