Game Preview

The 2023-24 NHL season kicks off with a clash between the St. Louis Blues and the Dallas Stars. This exciting matchup is set to take place on Thursday night, marking the beginning of the new season. Both teams had contrasting performances in the preseason, and fans can expect an intense battle on the ice.

St. Louis enters the regular season with confidence, having concluded the preseason with a 4-2-2 record, including a convincing win over the Chicago Blackhawks. Meanwhile, the Dallas Stars had a mixed preseason, finishing 4-2-1, with a strong start followed by some challenges in their later matchups.

St. Louis Blues' Outlook

The St. Louis Blues have high hopes for the 2023-24 season as they aim to build on their preseason success. They displayed a potent offense during exhibition games, averaging an impressive 3.25 goals per game. Defensively, the Blues also showcased their strength, allowing just 2.875 goals on average during the preseason.

In the final preseason game, St. Louis utilized a two-goalie strategy, with Joel Hofer and Jordan Binnington both making valuable contributions. Offensively, Robert Thomas shone with two goals, while Pavel Buchnevich and Jordan Kyrou each chipped in with two assists.

Dallas Stars' Perspective

The Dallas Stars head into the regular season after a mixed preseason performance. While they started strong with three consecutive wins, they faced challenges in their later preseason games, resulting in a 4-2-1 record. Offensively, the Stars averaged three goals per game during the exhibition matches, but they had defensive struggles, allowing an average of 2.2 goals.

In their final preseason game against the Minnesota Wild, the Stars encountered difficulties on the defensive side, conceding 23 total shots and struggling in faceoff battles. Scott Wedgewood and Jake Oettinger were in goal, with Wedgewood posting a .727 save percentage and Oettinger making one goal against.

Betting Trends

For those interested in betting trends, it's worth noting that the total has gone OVER in 9 of St. Louis' last 12 games, indicating a trend towards high-scoring contests. St. Louis has a recent record of 2-5 SU (straight up) in their last 7 games. Additionally, the total has gone OVER in 9 of St. Louis' last 10 road games.

As for the Dallas Stars, they are 2-4 SU in their last 6 games, and the total has gone OVER in 9 of their last 13 games, further highlighting the potential for high-scoring matchups.

Prediction