Capitals at Blues 10/2/19 - NHL Picks & Predictions

The St. Louis Blue open up their 2019 season at home with the Washington Capitals in town. The Blues will have a full crowd as they raise their first Stanley Cup Banner. St. Louis beat the Bruins in six games to earn the championship last season beating the Bruins. The Blues bring back most of their line up from last season but will be without Pat Maroon and Joel Edmundson. 

Jordan Binnington will make the start in the net for the Blues. Binnington started 24 games last season and earned a 24-5-1 record with St. Louis. Binnington has 5 shutouts and put up a 1.89 goals against average. 

The Washington Capitals will have their hands full with a road game in St. Louis on Wednesday. John Carlson has been named alternate captain heading into a new season. The Capitals were knocked out of the first round of the playoffs last season but won the Stanley Cup the year before the Blues. 

Braden Holtby will take his spot between the pipes for the Capitals. Holtby went 32-19-5 last season through 59 starts. Holtby posted 3 shutouts with a 2.82 goals against average. The Capitals will be without a few key components including Evgeny Kuznetsov.