Welcome to NHL Predictions! Today is a big day in the NHL. Not only are there six games around the league, but it is also the day of the NHL Trade Deadline. We have seen many trades already, and more are on the way. Once the dust of the deadline settles, we will have more hockey. Today’s prediction examines the game between the St. Louis Blues and the Anaheim Ducks.
Time: 10:00 P.M. Eastern Time
TV: FanDuel Sports Network Midwest, Victory+
The Blues and Ducks met in St. Louis on January 9th. The Blue Note took a 4-0 lead just 11 minutes en route to a 6-2 victory. Robert Thomas scored twice, and Joel Hofer made 22 saves between the pipes. Furthermore, Cam Fowler recorded an assist against his former team on the same night both teams celebrated Fowler’s 1,000th game. It was also Fowler’s first game against his former team.
Celebrating 1,000 games for you, Cam 🧡 #FlyTogether | @StLouisBlues pic.twitter.com/zB3AAnuaEF
— Anaheim Ducks (@AnaheimDucks) January 10, 2025
The Blues have been on fire coming out of the 4 Nations break. After their win on Wednesday, the Blues improved to 5-1-1 since the season resumed. The hot streak has changed the team’s plans for the deadline. The Stanley Cup Playoffs have suddenly become a possibility for this team, when just a few weeks ago, they seemed to be clear sellers.
However, the injury bug bit the Blues on Thursday. Defenceman Colton Parayko will be out for the next six weeks with a knee injury. Parayko injured his knee in overtime of Wednesday’s win. With Parayko injured, the team will need someone to step up. This is an opportunity for someone like Justin Faulk to remind the league why the Blues traded for him in 2019. In addition, a youngster like Tyler Tucker can make a strong impression if he is even additional ice time in Parayko’s absence.
The Ducks are sellers this deadline season. As a result, the roster may look different by Friday’s game starts. The big name in trade rumours is goalie John Gibson. The team has made a few trades already, including trading defenceman Brian Dumoulin. The Ducks are in a rebuild and hope these assets they acquire help bring them back to being a contender.
Regarding Friday’s game, the Ducks will look to end an eight-game losing streak against the Blues. The last Ducks win over the Blues was in December of 2021. The team will hope to end that streak on Friday. With a win, the team would also move a game above .500.
This would be an easy prediction if Parayko were playing for the Blues. However, one has to wonder if the injury will derail the team. On the other hand, the Ducks roster could look different. That could create roadblocks for them.
So, we will roll with the team with the stronger goaltender. That is the Blues, without question. It does not matter if they go back to Hofer against the Ducks or go with their number one goalie, Jordan Binnington.
Blues win, 5-1.
The over/under is set at 5.5 goals. We are taking the slight over with six total goals.
For prop bets, we are taking Fowler as an anytime-scorer for the visiting Blues. Returning to Anaheim for the first time as an opponent, it would be fitting to see him light the lamp against his old team. As for the Ducks, we are picking forward Troy Terry.
Main Photo: Jeff Curry- Imagn Images
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