PREMIUM
Rogers' NHL Sure Shot >> 7-1 Last 2 Days!
(NHL) Detroit vs. St. Louis,
10/27/2016 4:00 PM, Score: 2 - 1
Money Line: -156.00 St. Louis (Home)
Result: Loss
Money Line: -156.00 St. Louis (Home)
Result: Loss
The set-up: The Red Wings are off to a 5-2-0 start and the Blues are 4-2-1 as the two teams get set to meet tonight in St. Louis. Head coach Ken Hitchcock criticized the Blues' effort and focus in a 4-1 loss to Calgary on Tuesday night, warning that if they don't improve both of those areas in a hurry, the results in Thursday night's home game against the Red Wings may result in another loss. He says that with good reason, as after losing their first two to start the season, the Red Wings have won FIVE in a row!
Detroit: The Red Wings' most recent win came on Tuesday night at home, a 4-2 victory over Carolina that included the first two goals of the season from center Dylan Larkin. The Red Wings had trouble closing out games last season but recently, that hasn't been an issue. "That's the biggest difference," coach Jeff Blashill told NHL.com. "We've done that so far this season. We've done a good job of being able to score that extra goal if we've needed it. As I've talked about, we were actually good defensively in the third period last year but we still gave up lots of leads because you're constantly playing with just a one-goal lead so it's a big difference."
St. Louis: Blues captain Alex Pietrangelo said it will be up to the players to correct the team's recent mistakes if they want to a different outcome against the Red Wings. St. Louis could get Jori Lehtera back in the lineup for Thursday's game, after he missed the last four games while being treated for an apparent concussion. However, Hitchcock is uncertain as to which position Lehtera would play, as Jaden Schwartz has flourished at center with superstar Vladimir Tarasenko on right wing ( 4 goals / 4 assists).
The pick: Left winger Justin Abdelkader could return for the Red Wings after missing the last two games because of a lower-body injury plus returning to St. Louis as a new member of the Red Wings will be center Steve Ott, who spent the last three years with the Blues before signing as a free agent in Detroit. The Red Wings have played great lately but were a modest 19-17-5 on the road last year, while the Blues went 24-13-5 at Scottrade Center. Allen will be in goal for the Blues, testing his 3-1-1 record this season. The Blues may be just 3-2-1 over their last six games but they have thwarted 18 of 19 short-handed chances in that span. St. Louis is an 8* play.
Detroit: The Red Wings' most recent win came on Tuesday night at home, a 4-2 victory over Carolina that included the first two goals of the season from center Dylan Larkin. The Red Wings had trouble closing out games last season but recently, that hasn't been an issue. "That's the biggest difference," coach Jeff Blashill told NHL.com. "We've done that so far this season. We've done a good job of being able to score that extra goal if we've needed it. As I've talked about, we were actually good defensively in the third period last year but we still gave up lots of leads because you're constantly playing with just a one-goal lead so it's a big difference."
St. Louis: Blues captain Alex Pietrangelo said it will be up to the players to correct the team's recent mistakes if they want to a different outcome against the Red Wings. St. Louis could get Jori Lehtera back in the lineup for Thursday's game, after he missed the last four games while being treated for an apparent concussion. However, Hitchcock is uncertain as to which position Lehtera would play, as Jaden Schwartz has flourished at center with superstar Vladimir Tarasenko on right wing ( 4 goals / 4 assists).
The pick: Left winger Justin Abdelkader could return for the Red Wings after missing the last two games because of a lower-body injury plus returning to St. Louis as a new member of the Red Wings will be center Steve Ott, who spent the last three years with the Blues before signing as a free agent in Detroit. The Red Wings have played great lately but were a modest 19-17-5 on the road last year, while the Blues went 24-13-5 at Scottrade Center. Allen will be in goal for the Blues, testing his 3-1-1 record this season. The Blues may be just 3-2-1 over their last six games but they have thwarted 18 of 19 short-handed chances in that span. St. Louis is an 8* play.
