Blues vs Hockey Club Picks and Prediction – 2/3/2025

The St. Louis Blues (23-25-4) head to Salt Lake City to take on the Utah Hockey Club (21-21-9) in a Western Conference matchup. The Blues are coming off a tough 5-2 loss to Vancouver, extending a losing streak to three games. Utah also struggled in its last outing, falling 3-2 in overtime to the Pittsburgh Penguins. Hit the ice running with our NHL picks.

St. Louis has struggled to generate consistent offense, averaging just 2.69 goals per game while ranking near the bottom in shots per contest at 26.8. Jordan Kyrou leads the way with 21 goals and 42 points, but the team needs more secondary scoring, especially with injuries to key players like Colton Parayko and Nick Leddy. The power play has been mediocre, converting at 18.5%, but the penalty kill has been a significant issue, operating at just 71.1%. 

Goaltending has been inconsistent, with Jordan Binnington posting a 2.89 goals against average and a .897 save percentage, while backup Joel Hofer has a slightly better .903 save percentage in limited action. Defensively, the Blues allow 3.06 goals per game and have struggled to suppress shots, giving up 28.5 per contest. 

Utah has been slightly better offensively, averaging 2.80 goals per game behind Clayton Keller, who leads the team with 56 points, including 18 goals and 38 assists. Keller is the primary playmaker, and with Utah converting at 22.7% on the power play, he remains a key factor with the man advantage. Utah generates a decent amount of shots at 27.5 per game but will need more from secondary scorers to break out of its recent slump.

Defensively, Utah is allowing 2.96 goals per game, largely propped up by the strong play of Karel Vejmelka, who boasts a 2.49 GAA and a .911 save percentage. However, Connor Ingram has struggled, carrying a 3.31 GAA and a .881 save percentage. The penalty kill has been one of Utah’s strengths at 82.0%, which could be a factor against a weak St. Louis power play. 

St. Louis has struggled on both ends of the ice, with its lack of scoring depth and poor penalty kill being key issues. Utah has been better in net and has a stronger power play, which could prove to be the difference. Expect the home team to take advantage of its opportunities and secure a win. Final Score Prediction: Utah Hockey Club wins 4-2.