by Vegas Writer
Friday, Nov 08, 2024Before getting to Friday's edition of the "Morning Skate," recapping Thursday's full slate of action that featured 13 games, let's address last night's loss.
My Western Conference Game of the Year didn't pan out as expected, as the Utah Hockey Club went into St. Louis and knocked off the Blues, 4-2, with an empty netter providing the final margin. Not what I expected to happen.
When you're outshot by a 2-to-1 ratio - 30 to 15 - it gives you very little chance to win, and such was the case last night, as the Blues looked like the travel-weary team. They also were 0 for 3 on the power play, something they'll need to fix as the third-worst team with a man advantage.
Like the wins that come in droves, there will be losses. I'll bounce back, and by playoff time in April, the plan is to have profit to work with, so stick with me, and let's make money.
Let's take a look at the main highlights from Thursday:
My Western Conference Game of the Year didn't pan out as expected, as the Utah Hockey Club went into St. Louis and knocked off the Blues, 4-2, with an empty netter providing the final margin. Not what I expected to happen.
When you're outshot by a 2-to-1 ratio - 30 to 15 - it gives you very little chance to win, and such was the case last night, as the Blues looked like the travel-weary team. They also were 0 for 3 on the power play, something they'll need to fix as the third-worst team with a man advantage.
Like the wins that come in droves, there will be losses. I'll bounce back, and by playoff time in April, the plan is to have profit to work with, so stick with me, and let's make money.
Let's take a look at the main highlights from Thursday:
- The Panthers (10-3-1, 21 points) and Hurricanes (10-2-0, 20 points), who rank first and second in the Eastern Conference, both hit the 20-point mark on the season with the help of multi-point performances by Aleksander Barkov and Sebastian Aho, respectively. Barkov (3 assists) factored on three of six Panthers goals in a victory against the Penguins. Aho assisted on two of his team’s five goals to help Carolina extend the League’s longest active winning streak to eight games.
- The Sabres had 15 players record a point in the same game for the ninth time in franchise history and third in the past 30 years during a 6-1 win over the Rangers in Manhattan. It also marked just the second time in franchise history that all 12 Sabres forwards found the score sheet.
- The Winnipeg Jets, who have suffered just one regular-season loss in 22 games since April 1, 2024, matched the best 14-game start to a campaign in NHL history. With the win, goalie Connor Hellebuyck (10-1-0, 1.91 GAA, .932 SV%, 3 SO) posted back-to-back shutouts for the first time and became the sixth U.S.-born goaltender in NHL history to register 40 career shutouts.
- Logan Stankoven (1 goal, 1 assist) stated his case for an early nod toward Rookie of the Year after he registered his third multi-point performance of the season to lift the Stars to a 3-1 victory over Chicago while boosting his totals 12 points (2 goals, 10 assists). He owns the most assists and points among rookies this season.
Through the first 30 nights of the season:
- Favorites are 141-75, including a 116-56 run.
- Overs are 100-92-20, including a 45-39-10 run. The Under, however, is on a 22-13-6 roll.
Tonight's FEATURED GAME (lines courtesy DraftKings):
Vegas (-135, 6o, -118) at Seattle
PREDICTION: The Vegas Golden Knights finally secured a road win, spoiling Connor McDavid's return to the Edmonton Oilers with a 4-2 win two nights back. Tonight the Knights visit the Seattle Kraken for a battle between the New Kids on the Block, and I am looking for low-scoring game. As the season moves into the second month, we see a lot better play from defensive pairings, with goalies settling into their dwelling. As you see above, after Overs in the NHL opened the season 87-70-14, the Unders are on a 22-13-6 run. Seven of the last 10 meetings between Vegas and Seattle have stayed under. The Kraken have stayed low in three of their last four and in catching Vegas - which has struggled on the road - on a two-game tour, this one will be played at a pedestrian pace. Let's play this one Under.
