VANCOUVER CANUCKS VS. ST. LOUIS BLUES – 11/5/2019

What happened to the Vancouver Canucks? There were some who felt at the start of the season they were still in rebuilding mode. Suddenly they’re one point from the top of the Pacific Division.

St. Louis is at the top of the Central Division, and sits just behind Edmonton (another surprise) for overall leader in the Western Conference.

On a four game winning streak, they’d surely like to continue and take top spot in the West. Likewise, the Canucks would love to be the team to break that streak in front of their home crowd.

Vancouver Canucks

So just what gives with the Canucks, why are they suddenly so hot? The quiet Swede (is there any other type of Swede) Elias Pettersson is the main reason.

The second year budding superstar is Gretzky like in his ability to set up scoring chances.

Team captain, Bo Horvat is the second reason. Between the two centers anchoring the first and second lines, the Canucks have surprising scoring depth in their forwards.

Add in a defensive corp anchored by Alexander Edler, and respectable goaltending from Jacob Markstrom and back-up Thatcher Demko and the Canucks offer a well-rounded team.

St Louis Blues

Of course St Louis are no slouches in the goal scoring department led by Ryan  O’Reilly and Brayden Schenn.

The Blues have, arguably a stronger defense, but are about on par with Vancouver in the goaltending department (Vancouver may have slight edge there).

However, the Blues are a more experienced, championship team, who, when firing on all pistons are a force to be reckoned with, and they will take any winning streak very seriously, so expect them to play Vancouver hard, to the body, with aggressive forechecks.

Free Vancouver Canucks vs. San Jose Sharks NHL Prediction:

This should be an entertaining game, fast paced for an early season match-up. Vancouver has die hard fans, but Vancouver is not always the best home team.

Vancouver will also be without top four D-man Quinn Hughes, which will hurt them on the penalty kill. That will hurt, especially if the Blues, as to be expected, play an aggressive game.

4* Free NHL Betting Pick: Canucks ML

This is no picnic for the Canucks, but they seem to be coming together as a team and when things are going your way, they tend to keep going that way, that is until disaster strikes.

The Blues could be that disaster for the Canucks, but those young fast legs on Canuck forwards more likely spell disaster for the blues winning streak.