St. Louis Blues: The Blues were recently close to securing a playoff spot but have since suffered a significant drop in performance. They currently sit 11th in the Western Conference, trailing the playoff zone by six points. February will be crucial for them to turn things around.
The team has lost four of their last five games, including a tough 2-5 defeat to Vancouver and a crushing 0-5 loss to Colorado. Their sole win came in an away game against Utah (2-1), but they fell short against Edmonton (2-3 OT) despite leading until the final minutes. The Blues struggle at home, having secured just nine regulation wins so far. Their third periods have been particularly weak, with a 47:58 goal differential.
Team Backgrounds: Representing St. Louis, Missouri, USA.
Key Players: Forward Brandon Saad, who recently scored a hat trick against Ottawa, is one of the key players to watch.
Injuries and Suspensions: Torey Krug, Tyler Tucker, and Mathieu Joseph will miss the upcoming match.
Betting Trends: Average 7.48 penalty minutes per game. Typically commit at least four penalties per match, struggling with discipline this season. Average 26 shots on target per game, showing low offensive activity.
Achievements: St. Louis Blues: Stanley Cup champions in 2019.
Florida Panthers: The Panthers are one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference, currently sitting in third place. While catching the conference leader seems unlikely at this stage (10 points behind), Florida remains a contender for the top spot if they maintain their strong form.
The Panthers are coming off three consecutive wins at home, defeating Los Angeles (3-0), Chicago (5-1), and the Islanders (6-3). However, they suffered a setback on the road against Washington (3-6), mainly due to a poor third period. Overall, Florida has been strong in away games, with 14 regulation-time victories. They also excel in scoring, averaging three to four goals per game, and their power play conversion rate of 24.1% ranks them seventh in the league.
Team Backgrounds: Representing Sunrise, Florida, USA.
Key Players: Team captain Aleksander Barkov remains a dominant force on the ice.
Injuries and Suspensions: The team is nearly at full strength, with only Mackie Samoskevich sidelined due to injury.
Betting Trends: Have a 57:48 goal ratio in the first period. Concede the fewest goals in the opening 20 minutes. Average 9.69 penalty minutes per game, indicating a lack of discipline, with at least five penalties per match.
Achievements: Stanley Cup finalists in 1996.
Given the current form of both teams, the Florida Panthers appear to have the upper hand. They hold third place in the Eastern Conference and have been on a winning streak, while the Blues have struggled, losing four of their last five games and slipping to 11th in the Western Conference. Florida’s offensive efficiency and solid away record make them the favorites to secure a win in this matchup.
Florida has been delivering strong performances lately, with their only setback coming against Washington, the undisputed leader of the East. Meanwhile, St. Louis has been struggling against a variety of opponents, often losing in regulation time, making the Panthers the clear favorites in this matchup. Additionally, Paul Maurice's squad has shown solid results on the road, frequently securing victories with a multi-goal margin. We expect the nominal favorite to claim a decisive win once again.
Bookmakers are offering odds of 3.30 for St. Louis, 4.20 for a draw, and 2.00 for Florida. Total over 5.5 goals is offered at 1.95, total under at 1.90
Prediction – Florida to win at 2.00.
