Inside the Rink Game Day Preview
St. Louis Blues (0-0-0) at Seattle Kraken (0-0-0)
Date: Tuesday, October 8
Time: 4:30 pm EST
TV: ESPN, SN360
DraftKings Sportsbook Betting Lines:
St. Louis +1.5 ML +120
Seattle -1.5 ML -142
O/U 5.5
Purchase tickets via Ticketmaster
St. Louis Blues Notes:
Drew Bannister begins his first full season behind an NHL bench after seeing the “interim” tag removed from his title over the summer. Since replacing Craig Berube last season, Bannister guided the Blues to a 30-19-5 record, recording 65 points. Over a full season, Bannister’s .602 points percentage would have projected to 99 points.
Seattle Kraken Notes:
After a second-round playoff run in 2022-23, the Seattle Kraken did not qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs in 2023-24, finishing sixth in the Pacific Division with a 34-35-15 record.
The club replaced Dave Hakstol – the first coach in Kraken history – by hiring Dan Bylsma in May. Bylsma won a Stanley Cup with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2009 and has been coaching Seattle’s AHL affiliate for the last two seasons.
St. Louis Blues Lineup:
Holloway-Thomas-Neighbours
Texier-Buchnevich-Kyrou
Joseph-Schenn-Kapanen
Toropchenko-Faksa-Walker
Leddy-Parayko
Broberg-Faulk
Suter-Kessel
Binnington
Hofer
Seattle Kraken Lineup:
McCann-Beniers-Eberle
Burakovsky-Stephenson-Schwartz
Tolvanen-Wright-Bjorkstrand
Kartye-Gourde-Tanev
Dunn-Larsson
Oleksiak-Montour
Borgen-Evans
Daccord
Grubauer
Players To Watch:
St. Louis – Robert Thomas, who led the Blues with 86 points (26 goals, 60 assists) in 82 games last season. With a repeat performance this season, Thomas would become the first Blue since Brett Hull (1995-96, 1996-97) to post 80 or more points in back-to-back seasons.
Seattle – The Kraken will be counting on newcomers Chandler Stephenson and Brandon Montour to provide a boost to their roster. Both are Stanley Cup winners and should bring experience to Seattle.
Injuries:
St. Louis – Torey Krug (Lower Body-LTIR), Oskar Sundqvist (ACL-LTIR), Brandon Saad (Personal)
Seattle -None
Next game
St. Louis – at San Jose, October 10 at 10:30 pm EST
Seattle – at Minnesota, October 12 at 8:30 pm EST
