Golden Knights Face Blues in High-Stakes NHL Showdown

ST. LOUIS, Mo. — The Vegas Golden Knights and St. Louis Blues clashed in a pivotal NHL matchup on Thursday, January 23, 2025, at the Enterprise Center. With both teams battling for playoff positioning, the game carried significant weight in the Western Conference standings.

The Golden Knights entered the game with a 29-14-4 record, while the Blues stood at 23-21-4. Vegas, led by star center Jack Eichel and captain Mark Stone, aimed to extend their dominance over St. Louis, having scored 12 goals in the first 10 minutes of their last 19 meetings.

Both teams faced injury challenges. Vegas placed forwards William Karlsson and Cole Schwindt on injured reserve, while Brett Howden was questionable due to illness. For St. Louis, defenseman Philip Broberg returned to the lineup after leaving practice earlier in the week with a leg injury.

“We know what’s at stake,” said Golden Knights head coach Bruce Cassidy. “St. Louis always brings their best against us, and we need to match that intensity.”

The Blues, led by Brayden Schenn and Jordan Kyrou, looked to capitalize on their recent momentum. St. Louis had scored in the opening 10 minutes in four of their last five games, boasting a 64% GIFT (Goals in First Ten) rate this season.

Goaltending played a crucial role, with Ilya Samsonov and Adin Hill starting for Vegas, while Joel Hofer and Jordan Binnington manned the net for St. Louis. The game marked the first meeting between the teams since a 5-4 Blues victory on January 20, 2025.

Statistically, Vegas held the edge in goals scored (3.39 per game) and shots on goal (30.76 per game), while St. Louis relied on their power play, converting at a 26.61% rate. The Blues’ penalty kill, however, ranked 18th in the league at 76.92%.

As the puck dropped, both teams sought to gain an early advantage in what promised to be a hard-fought battle between two of the NHL’s most competitive franchises.