A pair of teams that are squarely in the playoff picture, the St. Louis Blues and the Nashville Predators face off at Bridgestone Arena for a divisional showdown. The opening face-off is at 0 ET on Sunday, February 25, and you can view the game live on NBC.
St. Louis Blues vs. Nashville Predators Odds
Nashville (-165) is currently favored over St. Louis (+145), and the Over/Under (O/U) has been set at 6 goals. The odds for betting that total stand at -130 under, +110 over.
Nashville is 37-23 straight up (SU) and has earned moneyline bettors 7.9 units this season. That winning percentage, ranked fourth in the NHL in this young season, is an improvement over the 41-41 record from last years regular season campaign. Through 60 regular season contests, 30 of the teams games have gone over the total, while another 30 have gone under and none have pushed. This year, the team is 21-10 SU at home.
The Predators have connected on 22.6 percent of their power play chances this season, a mark that places them in the top-5 among NHL teams. On the other hand, their penalty kill is ranked ninth overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 82.4 percent of all penalties.
The Predators, as a collective unit, have been penalized 4.5 times per game overall this season, and 3.6 per game over their last five home outings. The teams had to defend opponent power plays for just 8.3 minutes per game over their last 10 outings, overall.
Averaging 29.2 saves per game with a .927 save percentage, Pekka Rinne (31 wins, 13 losses, and four OT losses) has been the primary goalkeeper for the Preds this season. If head coach Peter Laviolette decides to rest him, however, the team may turn to Juuse Saros (6-11-11 record, .926 save percentage, 2.39 goals against average).
The Preds will continue relying on offensive production via P.K. Subban and Filip Forsberg. Subban (48 points) has tallied 15 goals and 33 assists and has recorded two or more points in 11 different games this year. Forsberg has 17 goals and 25 assists to his name and has notched a point in 29 games.
On the other side of the rink, St. Louis is 34-28 straight up (SU) and has lost 1.6 units for bettors taking the moneyline this year. A total of 37 of its games have gone under the total, while 24 have gone over and just one has pushed. The Blues are 15-14 SU as an away team this season.
The Blues have converted on just 16.2 percent of their power play opportunities this year, a mark that’s ranked 29th in the NHL. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 15th overall and it’s successfully defended 81.9 percent of all penalties.
St. Louis skaters have been called for penalties 3.5 times per game in total this season, 3.6 per game over their last five contests total, and 3.6 per game over their last five on the road. The teams had to kill penalties just 8.2 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Jake Allen (2.75 goals against average and .906 save percentage) has been the primary option in goal for St. Louis. Allen is averaging 25.1 saves per game and has 19 wins, 23 losses, and two OT losses to his credit.
Leading the offensive counter for the visiting Blues will be Brayden Schenn (24 goals, 31 assists) and Vladimir Tarasenko (24 goals, 29 assists).
St. Louis Blues at Nashville Predators Free Picks
Pick: SU Winner – Blues, O/U – Over
Betting Notes
- Six of St. Louis last ten games have been decided by two goals or more. The team is 2-4 in those games.
- St. Louis has averaged 2.8 goals per game overall this year, but is averaging 1.4 goals per matchup over its last five games (0-5 SU over that span).
- Penalties and power plays may be extremely important in the outcome of this matchup. The Blues are 16-10 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 24-18 in games where they serve fewer than 10 penalty minutes, in total. The Predators are 15-5 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than the opposition and 19-12 when they’re in the box for less than 10 minutes.
- Two of Nashville’s last ten games have been decided by a shootout. The team is 1-1 in those games and 5-5 overall in shootouts this season.
- The total has gone over in three of Nashville’s last five outings.
- Nashville has averaged 3.2 goals per game overall this year, but has upped that figure to 5.0 per contest across its three-game win streak.
- Nashville is ranked 16th this season with 9.6 giveaways per game. That figure has trended upward recently, as it’s averaged 11.6 giveaways over its last 10 games and 11.8 giveaways over its last five.
- St. Louis has averaged 8.2 giveaways over its last five home games, a rise over its season average of 6.0 giveaways per game (the second-fewest in the league).
- St. Louis skaters have accounted for the ninth-most hits in the league (22.5 per game).
