Tip: An injury-hit Los Angeles Kings visit the St. Louis Blues

The St. Louis Blues, meanwhile, have started to find their rhythm, while the Kings continue to struggle with both injuries and defensive issues. When the teams meet at the Enterprise Center, all signs point to the Blues taking advantage of L.A.’s slump and strengthening their position as one of the hottest teams in the Western Conference right now.

Injuries and weak defense worry the Kings

The Los Angeles Kings have endured a rough start to the season and head to Missouri with a roster struggling both in form and fitness. Captain Anze Kopitar has been dealing with a foot injury since the matchup against the Minnesota Wild, while starting goaltender Darcy Kuemper also missed several games due to a lower-body injury. Both are expected to travel with the team, but it’s unlikely either will actually play against St. Louis.

In addition to those two key players, defenseman Kyle Burroughs and veteran Corey Perry remain long-term absentees, forcing head coach Jim Hiller to shuffle his lineup significantly. The results haven’t been pretty — the Kings have dropped four straight games, conceding 15 goals in that span. Defensive play has been their Achilles’ heel; positioning has been poor, and the goaltending hasn’t been able to compensate. As I pointed out in my preview, Dumoulin and Ceci have become a major headache for this team, and the defensive structure that long defined the Kings is now anything but reliable. Because both blueliners have struggled early, the team was forced to split up one of the league’s best defensive pairings — Drew Doughty and Mikey Anderson — to cover for their shortcomings.

Offensively, Adrian Kempe has tried to carry the load with seven points in six games, while Kevin Fiala has contributed four goals. But when the team can’t keep the puck out of their own net, that hasn’t been enough.

Kyrou’s scoring touch sparks the Blues

For the St. Louis Blues, things are beginning to click. After a sluggish start, they’ve won three of their last four games. The biggest positive development is that their top scorer, Jordan Kyrou, finally broke his goal drought in the win over Dallas — a classic Kyrou tally featuring speed, precision, and composure — signaling that the dangerous right winger is finding his rhythm again.

Offensively, the Blues have the depth that the Kings lack. Jake Neighbours has started the season strong with five points in five games, and rookie Jimmy Snuggerud has impressed with his maturity and creativity. Pavel Buchnevich remains the key playmaker on the power play, leading the team in assists. There’s also plenty of untapped potential in star center Robert Thomas, who has been off to a slow start with just 1+1 in five games.

Perhaps the most encouraging sign is how Montgomery’s men are managing the flow of games. The Blues have found a balance between their physical style and quick puck movement, often leaving opponents chasing shadows. Against an injury-depleted and mentally fragile Kings team, this looks like another night where the Enterprise Center crowd will have reason to cheer.

Conclusion and betting pick

The Los Angeles Kings head to St. Louis searching for both form and confidence. With neither Kopitar nor Kuemper likely to return, it’s shaping up to be another tough outing for the visitors. The Blues, on the other hand, are riding a wave of positive momentum — Kyrou heating up, Snuggerud producing, and Thomas ready to break out.

St. Louis simply look more balanced right now — both on the ice and mentally — and they’re traditionally tough to beat at home in the Enterprise Center. Given the Kings’ defensive woes and uncertainty around their key players, the odds look generous.

Betting pick: St. Louis Blues ML (incl. OT) @ -125 at DraftKings