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The St. Louis Blues (40-31-4) visit the Nashville Predators (43-28-4) Thursday at Bridgestone Arena. Puck drop is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET. Below, we analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Blues vs. Predators odds, and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
Season series: Predators lead 2-0
The Blues nipped the Edmonton Oilers 3-2 in overtime Monday as a heavy underdog (+185) on home ice with the Under (6.5) cashing. St. Louis has posted an 8-2-1 mark in the past 11 games, while cashing the Under in 3 of the past 4 outings, but the Blues remain 5 points back in the race for the final Wild Card spot in the Western Conference.
The Predators are smack-dab in the middle of the playoff chase, 6 points clear of the Blues in the Central Division. Nashville has rattled off 3 straight wins in this series, including a pair of victories this season by a combined score of 13-5. The Over has cashed in 4 straight in the series, and 9 of the past 10 meetings.
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Blues at Predators odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 3:14 p.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Blues +165 (bet $100 to win $165) | Predators -200 (bet $200 to win $100)
- Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Blues +1.5 (-155) | Predators -1.5 (+130)
- Over/Under: 6 (O: -105 | U: -115)
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Blues at Predators projected goalies
Jordan Binnington (27-19-4, 2.82 GAA, .913 SV%, 3 SO) vs. Juuse Saros (32-23-4, 2.81 GAA, .907 SV%, 3 SO)
Binnington allowed just 2 goals on 38 shots in the 3-2 OT win against the Oilers last time out, and that April Fool’s Day start comes on the heels of a 6-3-1 mark, 2.46 GAA and .924 SV% in 10 starts in March.
Binner allowed 4 goals on 32 shots in his most recent start against the Predators Feb. 17 — a 5-2 home loss — and he allowed 4 goals on just 20 shots in relief vs. the Preds Nov. 24 — an 8-3 setback, also at home.
Saros coughed up just 2 goals on 31 shots in a 3-0 home loss to the Bruins Tuesday, but he literally received zero offensive support. He has dropped the past 2 starts after rattling off 5 consecutive victories.
He allowed just 2 goals on 37 shots in the February win over the Blues in the Gateway City, his only starting assignment against St. Louis this season.
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Blues at Predators picks and predictions
Prediction
Predators 4, Blues 3
Moneyline
The Predators (-200) will cost 2 times your potential return, and that’s too much risk for not enough return for a standalone bet. As far as a multi-team parlay, or bet boost, it can be excused using Nashville if the price is right, though.
AVOID.
Puck line/Against the spread
The BLUES +1.5 (-155) are a decent play, catching a goal and a half on the puck line. As underdogs, the Blues have covered the puck line in 8 straight games, winning 6 outright.
While the Blues have had trouble against the Predators lately in this series, losing 3 in a row, St. Louis actually holds a 5-4 edge vs. Nashville in the past 9 meetings, while covering on the line as an underdog in 4 of the past 7 tries.
Over/Under
OVER 6 (-105) is a decent play, and the price is right.
Yes, Nashville was shut out last time out by Boston, but the Over was 3-0 in the Preds’ previous 3 outings, with Nashville going for at least 4 goals in each of those games. In addition, Nashville has allowed 22 goals in the past 4 outings, or 5.5 goals per game (GPG).
St. Louis has cashed the Under in 2 in a row, and 3 of the past 4 outings, but the offense has posted a healthy 37 goals in the past 11 games, or 3.3 GPG, while allowing 21 goals in the past 7, or 3.0 GPG.
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For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.
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