Detroit Red Wings – St. Louis Blues

Recent form

Detroit comes off a 4-1 win against Chicago on October 29, with four points from Viktor Arvidsson and 18 saves by John Gibson, bringing its reported record to 6-4-3. It was its second consecutive win after a nine-day road trip, but the game against Chicago was also the first after that trip.

St. Louis had 46 shots against Montreal on October 27, while losing 2-0 with a power play at 0/3. Its result against Boston on October 29 and its impact on its form before Detroit are not documented here.

Both teams play in the NHL, on ice, over three 20-minute periods, with overtime or a shootout if necessary.

Head-to-head

No recent head-to-head meeting between the two teams is documented in the materials consulted. This does not allow concluding that no game has taken place: the recent history is not established here and therefore does not provide a usable prédictive basis.

Absences and injuries

Detroit: Dylan Larkin, availability highly doubtful due to a suspension reported on October 29-30, exact length unknown; Mason Appleton, Marco Kasper and Albert Johansson were listed as injured in the latest projection of October 29, with Johansson's updated status unknown. St. Louis: Dillon Dube did not represent a normal availability after an absence of at least eight weeks announced on October 10; updated injuries as of October 30 remain unknown.

Context & news

Detroit can impose the transitions, the play around the net and the energy of the ice advantage, with confidence reinforced by the 4-1 win against Chicago and an Arvidsson-DeBrincat-Finnie line presented as functional. The limit is the possible loss of Larkin, which would reduce depth at center, as well as a possible physical dip after the road trip.

St. Louis can extend sequences in the offensive zone and draw penalties, as suggested by its volume of 46 shots against Montreal. Conversely, its recent efficiency, its power play at 0/3 against Montreal and the Boston-Detroit trip with little rest can prevent that volume from converting into goals.

Roster and lineup

The final lineups and starting goaltenders were not confirmed. Dylan Larkin was reported suspended without pay after the October 29 game; his availability for this match is highly doubtful, but the exact length of the suspension and his replacement are not established.

In Detroit, Mason Appleton, Marco Kasper and Albert Johansson appeared in the latest injured players projection published on October 29. In St. Louis, Dillon Dube was to be reevaluated after at least eight weeks out due to a neck injury sustained on October 9.