Detroit Red Wings - St.Louis Blues
Tuesday, December 23rd 2008 - Start 7:30 pm EST

---

Detroit Red Wings (22-6-4, 1st Central)

I’ve already wrote few times about Red Wings so I’ll be short.

Offense - excellent.
Defense - terrible.

That is the shortest way to explain how Detroit plays this season.

They scored 12 goals in last 2 games (W 6-0 vs San Jose and W 6-4 vs LA Kings).

Red Wings coach Mike Babcock does not seem to hacvw any way to find improvements in defense as all the defenseman play at the same level and pairing different players has not worked.

(GK) Ty Conklin is expected to make his third straight start in goal in place of veteran Chris Osgood, who’s still suffering from a strained groin.

St. Louis Blues (13-17-3, 5th Central)

St. Louis faces tough task against high-scoring Red Wings.

The Blues have allowed a Western Conference worst 114 goals and have given up 33 during their 1-6-0 stretch.

Big problems in defense haven’t been solved with return of No.1 GK Manny Legace who missed 4 games with concussion.

Blues coach Andy Murray has 2 big problems: young players in defense and only top line David Backes, Keith Tkachuk, Brad Boyes managing to score.

Head To Head

NHL 2008/2009
St. Louis - Detroit 3:4 23.10.2008
NHL 2007/2008
Detroit - St. Louis 3:4 (OT) 29.03.2008
St. Louis - Detroit 1:2 26.03.2008
Detroit - St. Louis 4:1 06.03.2008
Detroit - St. Louis 0:2 01.01.2008
St. Louis - Detroit 0:5 27.12.2007
St. Louis - Detroit 3:2 21.12.2007
Detroit - St. Louis 3:0 22.11.2007
St. Louis - Detroit 4:3 14.11.2007

The Verdict

Red Wings attack will prove to be too much for St. Louis defense so I expect a big win for home team.

HANDICAP BETTING :

Take Detroit -1.5 to cover