Florida Panthers vs St. Louis Blues Picks and Predictions December 20th 2024

Panthers Look to Build on Momentum at Home

The Florida Panthers (17-11-3) are riding high after concluding a five-game Western Conference road trip with a dominant 6-1 win over the Minnesota Wild on Wednesday. Back in Sunrise, Fla., they’ll look to capitalize on home-ice advantage against a St. Louis Blues team (14-13-3) coming off a loss in Tampa Bay on Thursday.

Aleksander Barkov’s Return Boosts Panthers

Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov returned to action on Wednesday after missing two games due to illness. Despite playing a season-low 16:01, Barkov made an impact with an assist and is expected to log more minutes against St. Louis.

“Felt good and happy to be back, especially with the win,” Barkov said.

Defenseman Aaron Ekblad, who recorded a goal and two assists in the game, lauded Barkov’s influence: “Even if he doesn’t have his best stuff, he’s still one of the best players on the ice.”

Offensive Resurgence for Florida

Florida bounced back from being shut out in consecutive games against Vancouver and Calgary to score 12 goals combined in wins at Edmonton and Minnesota. The Panthers’ balanced attack includes contributions from Matthew Tkachuk, Carter Verhaeghe, and Sam Reinhart, with Ekblad stepping up from the blue line.

The Panthers, 8-2-1 in their last 11 games, will enjoy six of their next seven games at home, where they hold a 9-5-1 record this season.

Blues Face Tight Schedule and Goalie Decisions

The St. Louis Blues have endured a grueling stretch, playing their fifth game in seven days and their 10th road contest in their last 14 games. They fell 3-1 to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday, a game in which starter Jordan Binnington was pulled after allowing three goals on 11 shots.

Goaltending Rotation in Focus

Joel Hofer replaced Binnington in Tampa Bay and stopped all seven shots he faced. Despite the quick turnaround, Blues coach Jim Montgomery indicated that their typical goalie rotation might remain intact, with Hofer likely to start against the Panthers.

“Both our goalies are playing well,” Montgomery said. “I don’t worry about either one of them being too tired.”

Roster Updates

The Blues made a roster move on Thursday, recalling defenseman Tyler Tucker after trading Pierre-Olivier Joseph to the Pittsburgh Penguins. Tucker debuted against the Lightning, logging 8:29 of ice time but finishing with a minus-2 rating. Center Radek Faksa, sidelined by a groin laceration, is close to returning and could play on Friday.

Key Matchups and Game Insights

• Goaltender Showdown: Florida’s Sergei Bobrovsky and St. Louis’ Joel Hofer (or Jordan Binnington) will be pivotal in setting the tone. Bobrovsky, in particular, has been reliable on home ice this season.
• Panthers’ Balanced Scoring: Florida has received contributions from across its roster, with stars like Matthew Tkachuk leading the way. The Blues must contain their depth if they hope to keep pace.
• Fatigue Factor for St. Louis: Playing their fifth game in seven days, the Blues’ energy levels will be tested against a rested and resurgent Panthers squad.

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Game Information

• Date: Friday, December 20, 2024
• Time: 7:00 PM EST
• Location: FLA Live Arena, Sunrise, FL
• Broadcast: Bally Sports

With both teams navigating lineup adjustments and different streaks of form, this game offers a compelling matchup of Florida’s offensive firepower against a Blues team looking to overcome fatigue and find consistency.