St. Louis Blues vs New Jersey Devils Picks and Predictions December 17th 2024

St. Louis Blues vs New Jersey Devils December 17th 2024

Planning on watching today’s Devils and Blues game? Catch the action at Enterprise Center in St. Louis, MO, as the Blues hosts this showdown at 8:00 ET on ESPN+. The Devils are favored by -1.5 goals in this non-conference contest against the Blues. The game’s over/under currently sits at 5.5 goals.

New Jersey vs. St. Louis Key Information

New Jersey fell to 20-10-3 after a 3-0 road loss to the Flames. The Devils were favored by -1.5 goals, and the total was set at 6.5, but the combined score of 3 fell short of that mark.

The game was scoreless until the third period, when the Flames broke through at 14:26. They added two more goals, including an empty-netter, to seal the win.

In their 3-0 loss to the Flames, the Devils were shut out despite putting 22 shots on goal. They struggled with giveaways, committing 19, and were unable to find the net in any period.

No Devils player scored, and the team finished with 0 assists. After a scoreless first two periods, they couldn’t capitalize in the third, as Calgary scored all three goals in the final frame.

Defensively, the Devils held strong through the first two periods, keeping the game scoreless. However, they allowed three goals in the third, including an empty-netter. New Jersey’s defense finished with 5 takeaways and 22 hits.

The Blues moved above .500 with a 4-2 win over the Maple Leafs, bringing their record to 15-14-3. As +1.5 goal underdogs, St. Louis covered the puck line, and the total of 6 goals matched the pre-game line.

St. Louis fell behind early, but Colton Parayko’s goal at 16:31 in the second period tied the game. The Blues added two more goals before the Maple Leafs scored again, sealing the win with an empty-net goal by Pavel Buchnevich.

Colton Parayko scored twice for the Blues, bringing his season total to three goals. He also added an assist on Pavel Buchnevich’s fourth goal of the year, which came on an empty net with 39 seconds left in the game. Parayko’s first goal came at 16:31 in the second period, followed by another at 7:27.

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Jordan Kyrou, who now has three goals this season, scored at 11:52 in the second period. The Blues were held scoreless in the first period but netted three times in the second. They took 24 shots on goal and recorded 14 giveaways.

Defensively, the Blues will look to carry momentum from their previous game, where they gave up just two goals to the Maple Leafs. Jordan Binnington made 35 saves with a 94.6% save percentage. The Blues’ defense also contributed 3 takeaways and 17 hits.

When it comes to a moneyline wager, I’m going with the Blues to defeat the Devils while playing at home. Given the current moneyline odds at +149, I’m placing a wager on the Blues to win outright.

If you’re looking to get a bet down on this matchup, we foresee the Blues winning the underdog. However, if you’re not as confident in the Blues straight-up, we’d still recommend placing a bet on them to cover the puck line.

With an over/under line sitting at 5.5 goals, we like this game to surpass that mark and recommend getting a bet down on the over.

Blues, Devils Look to Keep Rolling in Rematch

The St. Louis Blues and New Jersey Devils are both riding strong recent form heading into their rematch on Tuesday night in St. Louis. The Blues are getting a surge from Jordan Kyrou, while the Devils are finding their stride after a gritty comeback win. Both teams will look to build on their recent momentum as they continue climbing the standings.

Kyrou Leading the Charge for St. Louis

For the Blues, Jordan Kyrou has been at the center of their recent success. After an inconsistent start to the season, Kyrou has turned it around, scoring in four straight games and notching six goals in his last seven outings.

Teammate Robert Thomas praised Kyrou’s aggressive mindset:

“When he’s getting the puck in a scoring area, he’s looking to shoot, he’s not looking to pass,” Thomas said. “Goalies don’t have time to get ready for a shot, and he’s putting it in the right spots.”

Kyrou’s recent surge coincides with an improvement in his overall game. Once criticized for his defensive lapses, he has improved his plus-minus rating to plus-4 through 32 games this season—a significant step up from his minus-12 mark last year and minus-38 two seasons ago.

Head coach Jim Montgomery credited Kyrou’s developing maturity:

“I don’t see highs and lows in his body language. He’s just on to the next shift, and I think he’s developing a real maturity mentally and to his physical game.”

The Blues, now 6-2-2 since Montgomery took over, will lean on Kyrou, Robert Thomas, and Pavel Buchnevich, who has posted six points in his last six games. Goalie Jordan Binnington is expected to start after shutting out the Devils in their previous meeting on Nov. 27, when he made 32 saves in a 3-0 victory.

Devils Gaining Momentum

The Devils (4-1-1 in their last six games) enter Tuesday’s rematch looking for payback after their earlier loss to the Blues. New Jersey is coming off a strong third-period performance in their 4-1 victory over Chicago on Saturday, scoring all four goals in the final 20 minutes.

Head coach Sheldon Keefe challenged his players to be more aggressive during the second intermission, and they responded.

“Just challenged the guys… to be exactly that, a little more determined and competitive,” Keefe said.

Jesper Bratt, who had two assists in the win over Chicago, has been one of the Devils’ hottest players since the shutout loss to the Blues, tallying three goals and 10 assists in the past eight games. Bratt stressed the importance of simplifying their play when chasing a win:

“We knew we needed a goal. It wasn’t really going to come pretty. It was going to come from some battles.”

The Devils are also looking for consistency from Nico Hischier, who broke out of a five-game scoreless streak with a goal against Chicago.

In net, Jakob Markstrom has carried the load since Jake Allen suffered an injury on Dec. 8. Allen has been cleared to play and could see action during New Jersey’s two-game road trip. If Markstrom starts, he’ll aim to improve on his earlier performance against the Blues, where he allowed three goals on 20 shots.

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Key Matchup: Kyrou vs. Devils’ Defense

Jordan Kyrou’s red-hot form will test a Devils defense that allowed just one goal to Chicago but has had lapses against stronger opponents. New Jersey must limit Kyrou’s space and deny him scoring opportunities while staying disciplined against St. Louis’ transition game.

For the Devils, Jesper Bratt will be key to breaking through the Blues’ defense. Bratt’s playmaking ability and recent success have been vital for New Jersey, and his battle against St. Louis’ improving defensive play could decide the outcome.

What’s at Stake

For the Blues, a win would further solidify their resurgence under Jim Montgomery and extend their momentum as they look to stay competitive in the Central Division.

For the Devils, this game is about proving they can compete against a team that previously shut them out. A victory would mark another step forward in their effort to climb the Metropolitan Division standings.

The Bottom Line

Both teams are on the rise, with stars like Kyrou and Bratt driving their recent success. The Blues will rely on their home-ice advantage and Jordan Binnington’s steady presence in net, while the Devils aim to replicate their strong third period from Saturday and contain Kyrou’s scoring streak.

With both teams playing confident hockey, Tuesday’s rematch promises to be a hard-fought battle as the Blues and Devils look to keep their upward momentum going.