Blues Aim to Extend Momentum Against Slumping Ducks

The St. Louis Blues are making a serious playoff push and will look to continue their strong form when they visit the Anaheim Ducks on Friday night.

The Blues, fresh off a 3-2 shootout win over the Los Angeles Kings, have gone 6-1-1 in their past eight games, keeping themselves in the mix for a Western Conference wild-card berth. Meanwhile, the Ducks have lost four of their last six and are slowly slipping out of postseason contention.

With the trade deadline looming, both teams enter this matchup with roster uncertainty and key injuries affecting their lineups.

St. Louis Blues: Playoff Push Intensifies

The Blues have been one of the hottest teams in the NHL over the past two weeks, winning six of their last eight games. Their improved defense has been key, allowing just 17 goals in that span.

Robert Thomas continues to lead the way offensively with a career-best 67 points and an 11-game point streak. He delivered the game-tying goal and the shootout winner against Los Angeles, giving him five goals and 10 assists during his streak.

Jordan Kyrou remains a crucial offensive piece with 55 points, while Jordan Binnington has been rock solid in net, posting a 2.08 goals-against average over his last five starts.

Coach Drew Bannister praised his team’s resilience, saying, “We’ve been playing committed hockey for a couple of weeks now, and it’s showing. We have to believe we can get there.”

One major setback for St. Louis is the loss of defenseman Colton Parayko, who will miss six weeks after undergoing a procedure on his left knee. He has 15 goals and 35 points in 62 games this season.

Anaheim Ducks: Playoff Hopes Fading

The Ducks have struggled to stay in the playoff race after a strong stretch earlier in the season. They have won just two of their last six games and are coming off a 3-2 loss to the Vancouver Canucks.

Troy Terry leads Anaheim in scoring with 50 points, while Leo Carlsson has been a bright spot in his rookie campaign with 43 points. Frank Vatrano remains the team’s top goal scorer with 27 goals.

Goaltender John Gibson left Wednesday’s game against Vancouver with an injury, putting his status for this matchup in doubt. If he cannot play, Lukas Dostal will likely get the start in net.

Coach Greg Cronin did not mince words after the loss to Vancouver, stating, “We were sloppy. We couldn’t collect passes, lost too many pucks in bad areas, and it cost us.”

The Ducks made a trade on Thursday, sending forward Brian Dumoulin to the New Jersey Devils in exchange for a second-round draft pick and a prospect.

Head-to-Head Matchup: Blues vs. Ducks

St. Louis has dominated Anaheim in recent meetings, winning four of the last five matchups. The Blues have a significant edge in both offense and defense, ranking 14th in goals per game compared to the Ducks’ 26th.

Goaltending could be the deciding factor in this game, with Binnington in strong form while Anaheim faces uncertainty in net.

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Game Prediction: Blues Have the Edge

With the Blues surging toward a playoff spot and the Ducks struggling to keep pace, St. Louis has the advantage. Goaltending concerns for Anaheim, especially if John Gibson is out, tilt the matchup even further in the Blues’ favor.

Expect Robert Thomas and Jordan Kyrou to continue their strong play and Binnington to anchor another solid defensive effort.

Final Score Prediction: Blues 4, Ducks 2

Can St. Louis continue its playoff surge, or will Anaheim pull off the upset at home? Find out Friday night in Southern California.

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