St. Louis Blues vs Carolina Hurricanes Picks and Predictions October 19th 2024

Blues Look to Score More Than One Goal vs. Hurricanes

The St. Louis Blues will aim to find more offensive firepower when they host the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday evening. Despite managing just one goal in each of their past two games, the Blues still came away with a 1-0 overtime win against the New York Islanders on Thursday, thanks to a stellar performance from goaltender Joel Hofer.

Hofer made 34 saves and helped on the game-winning goal, an uncommon accomplishment in the NHL. He turned into the main goaltender in league history to record both a shutout and a help on the solitary goal of a game. The triumph was gotten when Jake Neighbors scored in extra time, denoting his seventh profession game-winning goal as a Blues player matured 22 or younger. He presently trails just Wayne Babych (10), Robert Thomas (nine), Doug Gilmour (nine), and Perry Turnbull (eight) in that category.

“He likes his cookies just as much as players do,” Neighbours said of Hofer’s assist. “He’s always looking to send some guys in on odd-man rushes.”

Offensive Contributions Needed

While Neighbors conveyed in additional time, the Blues need to increase their hostile result as they have battled to track down the rear of the net. The group has just scored two goals consolidated in their last two games and is searching for more consistency.

Defenseman Philip Broberg has been one of a handful of the splendid spots disagreeably, stretching out his direct streak toward five games with a help on the game-victor against the Islanders. The streak — one goal and four helps — establishes a Blues standard for a defenseman to begin a season.

In any case, the Blues will probably be without defenseman Nick Leddy, who missed the last game with a lower-body injury and didn’t partake in Friday’s discretionary practice. Veteran Ryan Suter filled in splendidly, logging 25:10 of ice time, the second-most minutes in the group.

“It was fun,” Suter said of stepping into the expanded role. “Obviously, you don’t want anyone to get hurt. (Leddy) will be back soon, hopefully, and just trying to help out.”

Blues coach Drew Bannister praised Suter’s play, particularly his chemistry with defense partner Colton Parayko: “A guy that’s played close to 1,500 games, as long as he has, steps into that position and feels pretty comfortable. I thought he looked great up there.”

Hurricanes on a Hot Streak

The Blues face a tough challenge in the Carolina Hurricanes, who are off to a hot start. Carolina opened a six-game road trip with an impressive 4-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Friday night. The Hurricanes scored four unanswered goals after Pittsburgh took an early lead, with contributions from Jackson Blake, Martin Necas, Shayne Gostisbehere, and Jack Roslovic.

Blake, a fourth-round pick in the 2021 NHL Draft, has scored in back-to-back games just four contests into his NHL career. Blake is the son of former NHL player Jason Blake, and he’s making a quick impact for the Hurricanes.

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Shayne Gostisbehere, a veteran defenseman, has also scored in the past two games, showing that Carolina’s offense is getting production from multiple sources. The Hurricanes’ defense has been solid as well, allowing just one goal to Pittsburgh.

Pyotr Kochetkov is expected to start in goal for Carolina after Frederik Andersen played Friday. Kochetkov has been strong in his limited action, making 24 saves in a 4-2 win against the New Jersey Devils earlier this week.

The Hurricanes have shown resilience, particularly on the road, and will look to extend their winning ways against a Blues team that is searching for more scoring punch.

Key Storylines to Watch

• Blues’ Offense: Can the Blues generate more than one goal in this contest after back-to-back low-scoring efforts?
• Joel Hofer: Will Hofer continue his strong play in net and provide St. Louis with another standout performance?
• Hurricanes’ Momentum: Carolina is coming off a strong road win against Pittsburgh. Can they maintain their offensive surge in the second game of a back-to-back?
• Injury Impact: How will the absence of Nick Leddy affect the Blues’ defense, and can veteran Ryan Suter continue to step up in his expanded role?

With the Blues seeking more offensive consistency and the Hurricanes looking to extend their road success, Saturday’s matchup in St. Louis is shaping up to be an intriguing contest.