by Chuck Sommers
Thursday, Feb 23, 2023
Time: 8 p.m. ET
Venue: Enterprise Center, St. Louis, MO
Where to watch: BSMW, SNP
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: Blues -120, Canucks +100
FanDuel: Blues -120, Canucks +100
BetMGM: Blues -120, Canucks +100
Caesars: Blues -120, Canucks +100
Season record
Canucks: 22-30-5
Blues: 26-28-3
The All-Star break is over, the second half of the NHL season can officially begin, and we're bound for what should be a very exciting second half of the hockey season. Basketball and hockey are about to rule the roost in the sports betting world once the Super Bowl is done with, and we should all be very excited for what's to come. When the trade deadline hits and players switch teams, you know things are about to get hectic over these final 30 games or so. One way you can stay tuned with the action is following what our champion handicappers are doing in the world of the NHL. Look at ASA, Inc., reeling in a $6,750 profit off a 17-9-0 run. Al McMordie is also doing well on the ice with a 13-5-0 run and a net profit of $6,050. Scott Rickenbach has also been hanging strong with a lot of betting action, in what's been an unusual year, with a 24-18-0 run and reeling in $5,950. You know this action is going to be great now that games are back and a busy second half if on the horizon. All you need to do is head to our BEST BETS page at bigal.com to find out all of what we're trying to tell you. Make sure you're locked in at bigal.com and go to our Best Bets page to find out what our champion handicappers have to say in the world of the NHL!
Canucks - Blues preview, prediction and analysis
The Vancouver Canucks will be playing the St. Louis Blues on Thursday, February 23 in St. Louis, Missouri.
The Vancouver Canucks lost against the Nashville Predators on Tuesday, February 21 at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee with a score of 5-4 ending with a shootout. The Vancouver Canucks currently rank 6th in the Pacific Division.
Andrei Kuzmenko scored twice, and Conor Garland had a goal and an assist for the Canucks (22-30-5), who have lost four of five. Collin Delia made 22 saves.
"We played a really good road game," Vancouver forward J.T. Miller said. "A couple of breakdowns, but for the majority of the game I thought we outplayed them. A really solid [game], a good character comeback. Once you get past the end of regulation, it's kind of a crapshoot from that point. We battled really hard tonight. Good character stuff."
Cole Smith gave the Predators a 1-0 lead at 4:38 of the first period, scoring on a rebound near the right post after Delia stopped Colton Sissons' attempt from in front with his right pad. Canucks coach Rick Tocchet challenged the play for offside, but the call was confirmed after a video review.
Nashville scored another goal before Kuzmenko cut it to 2-1 at 12:47, receiving a stretch pass from Ethan Bear and scoring on a breakaway for his 25th goal of the season.
Sheldon Dries tied it 2-2 with 22 seconds left in the period when he jammed in a loose puck in the crease on a power play.
Nashville scored another goal making their lead 3-2. Garland cut it to 4-3 at 18:53 of the third period, redirecting a shot from Hughes with Delia pulled for the extra skater. Kuzmenko then tied it 4-4 with 16 seconds remaining when he redirected a slap pass from Miller over the glove of Saros from the slot.
"We've seen that all year from us," Canucks defenseman Quinn Hughes said. "We don't quit. It's exciting to bring ourselves back in the game. Two goals with a minute and a half left just shows character, but also how guys want to win and are competitive. We're not just going to lay down."
After blowing a two-goal lead late in the third period, Nashville won 5-4 in a shootout.
The Vancouver Canucks have won three of their last 10 games.
The St. Louis Blues lost against the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday, February 21 at PNC Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina with a score of 4-1. The St. Louis Blues currently rank 6th in the Central Division.
Justin Faulk scored, and Jordan Binnington made 32 saves for the Blues (26-28-3), who have lost three in a row and eight of 11.
"I thought we battled," St. Louis coach Craig Berube said. "Overall, we've got to score a couple more goals than we did."
Carolina scored the first two goals before Faulk cut it to 2-1 at 3:59 of the second period, one-timing a short pass from Josh Leivo from the left circle. The only goal scored by St. Louis of the night.
"Their first goal was pretty nice, but on the next two we just lost guys in front," Faulk said. "(On Aho's goal), they have 2 there against our 1, and they were able to tap it in. We kind of gave them chances that are just mistakes on our end."
The Blues tested Frederik Andersen on the power play early in the third period, but the Carolina goalie made saves against Brayden Schenn, Nikita Alexandrov and Ivan Barbashev.
Sebastian Aho and Seth Jarvis scored to make the final score 4-1.
The St. Louis Blues have won three of their last 10 games.
Prediction
Blues 4, Canucks 2
The Vancouver Canucks lost against the Nashville Predators on Tuesday, February 21 at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee with a score of 5-4 ending with a shootout. The Vancouver Canucks currently rank 6th in the Pacific Division.
Andrei Kuzmenko scored twice, and Conor Garland had a goal and an assist for the Canucks (22-30-5), who have lost four of five. Collin Delia made 22 saves.
"We played a really good road game," Vancouver forward J.T. Miller said. "A couple of breakdowns, but for the majority of the game I thought we outplayed them. A really solid [game], a good character comeback. Once you get past the end of regulation, it's kind of a crapshoot from that point. We battled really hard tonight. Good character stuff."
Cole Smith gave the Predators a 1-0 lead at 4:38 of the first period, scoring on a rebound near the right post after Delia stopped Colton Sissons' attempt from in front with his right pad. Canucks coach Rick Tocchet challenged the play for offside, but the call was confirmed after a video review.
Nashville scored another goal before Kuzmenko cut it to 2-1 at 12:47, receiving a stretch pass from Ethan Bear and scoring on a breakaway for his 25th goal of the season.
Sheldon Dries tied it 2-2 with 22 seconds left in the period when he jammed in a loose puck in the crease on a power play.
Nashville scored another goal making their lead 3-2. Garland cut it to 4-3 at 18:53 of the third period, redirecting a shot from Hughes with Delia pulled for the extra skater. Kuzmenko then tied it 4-4 with 16 seconds remaining when he redirected a slap pass from Miller over the glove of Saros from the slot.
"We've seen that all year from us," Canucks defenseman Quinn Hughes said. "We don't quit. It's exciting to bring ourselves back in the game. Two goals with a minute and a half left just shows character, but also how guys want to win and are competitive. We're not just going to lay down."
After blowing a two-goal lead late in the third period, Nashville won 5-4 in a shootout.
The Vancouver Canucks have won three of their last 10 games.
The St. Louis Blues lost against the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday, February 21 at PNC Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina with a score of 4-1. The St. Louis Blues currently rank 6th in the Central Division.
Justin Faulk scored, and Jordan Binnington made 32 saves for the Blues (26-28-3), who have lost three in a row and eight of 11.
"I thought we battled," St. Louis coach Craig Berube said. "Overall, we've got to score a couple more goals than we did."
Carolina scored the first two goals before Faulk cut it to 2-1 at 3:59 of the second period, one-timing a short pass from Josh Leivo from the left circle. The only goal scored by St. Louis of the night.
"Their first goal was pretty nice, but on the next two we just lost guys in front," Faulk said. "(On Aho's goal), they have 2 there against our 1, and they were able to tap it in. We kind of gave them chances that are just mistakes on our end."
The Blues tested Frederik Andersen on the power play early in the third period, but the Carolina goalie made saves against Brayden Schenn, Nikita Alexandrov and Ivan Barbashev.
Sebastian Aho and Seth Jarvis scored to make the final score 4-1.
The St. Louis Blues have won three of their last 10 games.
Prediction
Blues 4, Canucks 2
Betting trends
Canucks are 3-11 after 3 straight overs this season.
Canucks are 3-14 off a road loss this season.
Blues are 5-20 after a loss by 2 goals or more last game this season.
Projected lines
Blues:
Ivan Barbashev -- Robert Thomas -- Jordan Kyrou
Sammy Blais -- Brayden Schenn -- Josh Leivo
Alexey Toropchenko -- Nikita Alexandrov -- Tyler Pitlick
Matthew Highmore -- Nathan Walker
Nick Leddy -- Colton Parayko
Torey Krug -- Justin Faulk
Marco Scandella -- Robert Bortuzzo
Calle Rosen
Jordan Binnington
Ivan Barbashev -- Robert Thomas -- Jordan Kyrou
Sammy Blais -- Brayden Schenn -- Josh Leivo
Alexey Toropchenko -- Nikita Alexandrov -- Tyler Pitlick
Matthew Highmore -- Nathan Walker
Nick Leddy -- Colton Parayko
Torey Krug -- Justin Faulk
Marco Scandella -- Robert Bortuzzo
Calle Rosen
Jordan Binnington
Canucks:
Andrei Kuzmenko -- Elias Pettersson -- Anthony Beauvillier
Phillip Di Giuseppe -- J.T. Miller -- Brock Boeser
Vasily Podkolzin -- Jack Studnicka -- Conor Garland
Dakota Joshua -- Nils Aman -- Sheldon Dries
Quinn Hughes -- Ethan Bear
Riley Stillman -- Tyler Myers
Christian Wolanin -- Kyle Burroughs
Collin Delia
Andrei Kuzmenko -- Elias Pettersson -- Anthony Beauvillier
Phillip Di Giuseppe -- J.T. Miller -- Brock Boeser
Vasily Podkolzin -- Jack Studnicka -- Conor Garland
Dakota Joshua -- Nils Aman -- Sheldon Dries
Quinn Hughes -- Ethan Bear
Riley Stillman -- Tyler Myers
Christian Wolanin -- Kyle Burroughs
Collin Delia
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Chuck Sommers
About the Author:
Chuck Sommers has camped outside of sportsbooks since he can remember, learning the tricks and nuances of the trade. He still has nightmares of betting $5,000 on the Raiders in the Tuck Rule game but has since turned that to 25 years of veteran handicapping greatness. You can find him mostly in the shadows at the Red Rock or Aliante casinos wondering if the over is cashing on any given Sunday.
