Blues vs Ducks Picks and Prediction – 4/8/2024

In the upcoming clash at Honda Center, the St. Louis Blues, holding a record of 40-32-4 and standing 5th in the Central, face off against the Anaheim Ducks, who are 25-48-4 and placed 7th in the Pacific. The Blues are coming off a mixed set of results, with a recent loss to Nashville, whereas the Ducks also struggled in their last game against Seattle. Hit the ice running with our NHL picks.

The St. Louis Blues have had a challenging season but find themselves in a reasonable position to make a push. With 215 goals for, ranking 26th in the league, and 231 goals against, placing them 14th, the Blues’ performance has been unsteady. The Blues' power play and penalty kill stats stand at 17.6% and 78.7% respectively, reflecting areas needing improvement. 

Key players like Jordan Binnington, with a .912 save percentage and 2.84 goals against average, and Robert Thomas, leading with 75 points, are critical to St. Louis' success. The Blues have shown toughness, with notable recent wins, but inconsistency in defense and scoring depth might pose challenges.

The Anaheim Ducks, positioned at the bottom of the Pacific division, have faced a rough season with the league's least effective defense, allowing 277 goals. The Ducks’ offensive struggle is evident with only 187 goals scored. Despite this, players like Frank Vatrano and Troy Terry have provided some highlights. 

Vatrano leads with 30 goals, while Terry has contributed significantly with assists. The Ducks' power play and penalty kill percentages are slightly better than the Blues at 17.8% and 72.8%, but high penalty minutes at 1068 show a lack of discipline that has cost them games.