Golden Knights vs. Blues Odds, Pick, Prediction: Can Vegas Get Back on Track?

Golden Knights vs. Blues Odds

November has treated the Vegas Golden Knights and the St. Louis Blues very differently this year. The Blues host the Knights in a battle of two Western Conference powerhouses. 

Vegas did not have the best October. It felt the heat in the standings with a ton of key injuries. However, November has been a different animal for Sin City. Key players have come back as Vegas has gone 7-3 so far. Coming off a successful comeback victory against Columbus, the Knights are looking to build off their success.

St. Louis hasn’t had the same luck this month. After a very strong October, the Blues have managed to go 3-5-2 in the month of November. Since Dallas put a beatdown on the Blues on Saturday, St. Louis is looking to get back in the win column on Monday.

Golden Knights Have Flipped the Script in November

In the five years this franchise has existed, the Golden Knights hardly felt any sense of adversity until last month. They missed captain Mark Stone, Max Pacioretty and William Karlsson, but now Stone and Pacioretty have returned. Additionally, lead goal-scorer Jonathan Marchessault has hit the IR along with William Carrier, so it hasn’t been easy despite winning seven out of their last 10. Amidst the injuries, they’ve managed to get good production from some of their young players, which has contributed to their recent success.

Head coach Peter DeBoer has put in one of the best systems in the NHL. With a team struggling to stay healthy, the Knights are continuously one of the top teams in driving play and generating scoring chances. Currently in fifth in expected goals per 60 minutes, the Knights have a 2.8 xGF and generated the second most high-danger chances with 185. Whatever roster they ice, they’re bound to get their chances.

Goaltending has held up just fine for Vegas. Since Laurent Brossoit recently played against Columbus, I expect Robin Lehner to get between the pipes. Lehner has been a rock so far, posting nearly a .920 SV% and a 9.0 Goals Saved Above Expected (GSAx), which is among the best in the league.

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While the Blues Have Cooled Down

A scorching hot October sent the Blues riding high into this month. Unfortunately for them, losing top forward Brayden Schenn really put a damper onto the season. Youngsters Jordan Kyrou and Robert Thomas have stepped up in his place, but the veteran being gone since Nov.  4 has hurt more than they could imagine. Aside from Kyrou and Thomas, David Perron and Vladimir Tarasenko have been performing at a high level as well.

While the Blues may have started off red hot, the offense has taken a hit. Generating scoring has not been their M.O. as they’re a middle-of-the-road team in expected goals per 60 minutes. They currently stand 15th with a 2.4 xGF per 60 and 18th in the league by generating 142 high-danger chances. I don’t expect scoring to be a major issue moving forward as the talent is there, but it’s a concern that they rank that low in those categories.

Another reason that has contributed to the Blues misfortune has been the goaltending. While Jordan Binnington is viewed as a favorite to play in the Olympics for Team Canada, he’s had a poor stretch. He started with over a .940 SV%, but he now stands at .912 with a GSAx of 1.7. Backup Ville Husso has been great in two games, but it’s not enough. If the Blues are going to get better, it starts in net. 

Blues vs. Golden Knights Pick

Both teams are certainly facing their struggles, but Vegas is handling it better than St. Louis so far. 

Vegas’ strengths stem from its goaltending and that the young players have stepped up in the veterans' absences. I can see the Knights taking a stranglehold on this game.

Pick: Vegas Golden Knights at +130.