St. Louis Blues vs Florida Panthers Prediction, 12/20/2024 NHL Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: St. Louis Blues vs Florida Panthers

Date: Friday, December 20, 2024

Location: Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, FL

TV: WSFL-TV

Odds/Point Spread: Blues (+132) Panthers (-160)

Amerant Bank Arena is where the Florida Panthers (20-11-2) will go up against the St. Louis Blues (15-15-3) on Friday. The moneyline on this game has the Blues at +132 and the Panthers open at -160. The over/under is set at 6.5.

The St. Louis Blues will look to clean up some issues after taking a 4-1 loss to the Devils in their previous outing. The Blues had a below average offensive performance in the loss. For the matchup, they tallied a score on 1 out of the 20 shots they launched. Moreover, they had 1 power play try but weren't able to convert it into a goal. St. Louis had 14 penalty minutes for this matchup.

Get all of our NHL Expert Picks

In reference to scoring goals, the St. Louis Blues have accumulated 84 goals (27th in pro hockey) on the season and have given up 102. For the current campaign, they have earned 33 points and their points percentage is .500. St. Louis has accounted for 73 power play chances and they have notched 12 goals out of those chances, giving them a rate of 16.44%. At even strength, the Blues have given up 82 goals while notching 72 themselves. St. Louis has attempted 859 shots and is the owner of a shot percentage of 9.8%. The Blues have had 967 shots tried against them and have a save percentage of .895. St. Louis Blues opponents have tallied 85 power play tries (24th in the league) and have earned 20 goals in those chances.

The man in net for this game is Joel Hofer. The opposition has been able to score 122 goals against Hofer in his pro hockey career and his goals against average is 3.51. Hofer has been involved in 48 contests over the course of his hockey career. His save percentage is at .909 during his 2,087 mins in the crease. He has an overall mark of 26-17-2 and he was named the starter in 45 games. From the beginning of his pro career to now, Hofer has tallied 25 quality starts and his quality starts rate sits at .556. Hofer has seen 1,342 shots against him and has garnered 1,220 saves.

Their last time out, Florida went up against the Wild in a matchup where the Panthers ended up with the win by a final score of 6-1. They had 2 power play attempts in this contest and converted 1 out of those opportunities. The Panthers tallied 6 goals of the 33 shots on goal they tried.

On the season, the Florida Panthers have accounted for 118 goals, 42 points, in addition to a points percentage of .636. They have granted a total of 105 goals to be scored by way of 86 goals at even strength and 19 goals while they had less men on the ice. The Panthers are sitting with 90 goals at even strength and 28 goals (3rd in pro hockey) while having more men on the ice. They have recorded 106 power play chances and they have a power play rate of 26.42%. Florida has taken 1,015 shots (2nd in the NHL) and has accumulated a shooting percentage of 11.63%, while allowing the opposition 887 shots. They have recorded a penalty kill rate of 80.21% on their oppositions 96 chances on the power play, and their save percentage is 88.2%.

Across the ice you will find Sergei Bobrovsky defending the net. He has tallied 19,204 stops out of 21,005 shots taken, which gives him a save % of .914. Bobrovsky has compiled a lifetime mark of 411-230-56 and has been in goal for 722 games. He has made the start in 706 games and has played 40,380 mins. Bobrovsky's percentage of quality starts sits at 57.8% and he has made 408 quality starting assignments in his NHL career. Teams are averaging 2.68 goals per contest and he has surrendered 1,801 goals overall.

Who will win tonight's NHL game against the spread or moneyline?

Josh's Pick: Take St. Louis (+132)

Get $60 worth of FREE premium member picks. No Obligation. No Salesman. No Credit Card. Fast Sign up with Instant Access Click Here