St. Louis Blues vs Nashville Predators Picks and Predictions December 27th 2024

St. Louis Blues vs Nashville Predators December 27th 2024

Betting on today’s Predators and Blues game? Catch the action at Enterprise Center in St. Louis, MO, as the Blues hosts this showdown at 8:00 ET on ESPN+. The Predators come into this Central division matchup as the -1.5 goal favorite to pick up the win. Currently, the over/under for the game is at 5.5 goals.

Nashville vs. St. Louis Key Information

• Teams: Predators at Blues
• Where: Enterprise Center St. Louis
• Date: Friday, December 27th
• Betting Odds STL -115 | NAS -105 O/U 5.5

The Predators Can Win If…

Nashville improved to 11-17-7 with a 5-2 road win over the Avalanche. The Predators covered the puck line as -1.5 goal favorites, with the total of 7 goals going over the 6.5 line.

All five of Nashville’s goals came from different players, with the Predators trailing 1-0 early in the second period before Steven Stamkos tied it up at 11:29 in the second period.

Nashville’s offense was held scoreless in the first period but found the net five times on 25 shots in their game against Colorado. The Predators saw five different players score, including Steven Stamkos, who netted his second goal of the season on a power play. Roman Josi added his first goal, also on a power play, while Colton Sissons scored his first goal of the year.

Filip Forsberg picked up his 7th goal on an empty net, and Gustav Nyquist followed with his 4th, also on an empty net. The Predators recorded 15 giveaways but managed to tally 7 assists in the 5-2 win.

Defensively, Nashville allowed the first goal at 17:06 in the second period and another at 2:17 in the third, but Juuse Saros made 29 saves with a 93.5% save percentage. The Predators’ defense also recorded 4 takeaways and 23 hits.

• Over their last three games, the Predators have gone 2-1 straight up. But, they did not perform well vs the puck line in these games, going 1-2. Their over-under record in these matchups was 2-1.
• Through their last ten regular season contests, Nashville has a record of 4-6. In these matchups, they ended with an puck line record of 4-6 and an over-under mark of 4-6.

The Blues Can Win If…

The Blues moved to .500 with a 4-2 road win over the Maple Leafs, bringing their record to 16-16-4. As underdogs on the puck line, St. Louis covered, with the total of 6 goals matching the pre-game line.

After falling behind in the first period, St. Louis responded with four unanswered goals. Three different players contributed to the scoring, with Colton Parayko leading the way with two goals.

Colton Parayko led the Blues’ offense with two goals, including his second of the season at 16:31 in the second period and his third at 7:27. He added a fifth assist on Pavel Buchnevich’s empty-netter, which was Buchnevich’s fourth goal of the season.

Jordan Kyrou scored his third goal of the season at 11:52 in the second period. The Blues took 24 shots on goal and recorded 14 giveaways.

Defensively, the Blues will look to build on their last performance, where they allowed just 2 goals to the Maple Leafs. Jordan Binnington made 35 saves, posting a 94.6% save percentage. The Blues’ defense also contributed 3 takeaways, 17 hits, and 17 blocks.

• Across St. Louis’s last three regular season games, their record sits at 1-2. Against the spread, they have a strong mark of 2-1 along with an over-under record of 0-3.
• Over their last ten regular season games, the Blues have gone 4-6 straight up. Against the spread, St. Louis went 6-4 in these games and finished with an over-under mark of 3-7.

The Lean

When making a moneyline pick, my choice is the Blues to come out with a win against the Predators while playing at home. Considering the moneyline odds at -115, I’m placing my bet on the Blues to win outright.

If you’re looking to get a bet down on this matchup, we foresee the Blues winning the underdog. However, if you’re not as confident in the Blues straight-up, we’d still recommend placing a bet on them to cover the puck line.

If you’re looking at the over/under line set at 5.5 goals, our prediction is that this game will exceed that mark, and we strongly advise placing a bet on the over.

Predators Seek Road Success as Blues Look to Build Momentum

The Nashville Predators and St. Louis Blues, two teams seeking consistency, will clash on Friday night in St. Louis. Nashville aims to extend its four-game point streak and continue its recent dominance over the Blues, while St. Louis looks to secure consecutive victories for the first time since early December.

Nashville Predators: Building Momentum Amid Challenges

The Predators (13-17-7) are coming off a strong homestand, where they went 3-0-1, capped by a convincing 5-2 win over the Carolina Hurricanes on Monday. Jonathan Marchessault and Filip Forsberg have been critical to this resurgence. Marchessault has scored in four straight games, netting five goals in that span, while Forsberg has dished out 12 assists in the last seven contests, despite being mired in a 13-game goal drought.

Nashville, however, has struggled mightily on the road this season, posting a 3-10-4 record. The team begins a six-game road trip, hoping to translate its recent home success into wins away from Bridgestone Arena.

Goaltender Juuse Saros has been stellar at home but faces a road slump, having gone 0-5-1 in his last six starts away, allowing three goals in each of the last five outings. Saros’ performance will be pivotal if Nashville hopes to extend its four-game winning streak in the series against the Blues.

St. Louis Blues: Searching for Stability

The Blues (16-16-5) are coming off one of their most complete performances of the season, a 4-0 shutout of the Detroit Red Wings on Monday. Dylan Holloway recorded his first NHL hat trick, snapping a six-game point drought, while Jordan Binnington turned aside all 19 shots for his first shutout of the season.

Despite the win, the Blues have struggled for consistency, going 3-4-2 since their last back-to-back victories on Dec. 3 and 5. St. Louis will look to capitalize on its home ice, where it has a 2-6-1 record in its last nine games, and carry forward the momentum from its win in Detroit.

Robert Thomas remains a bright spot for the Blues, tallying 16 points (four goals, 12 assists) over the past 11 games. Holloway, who already has a career-high 13 goals this season, could play a key role as he looks to build on his breakout performance.

Key Matchups

Forsberg’s Playmaking vs. Blues’ Defense

While Forsberg hasn’t found the back of the net in over a month, his 12 assists in seven games highlight his ability to create scoring opportunities. The Blues’ defense, led by Binnington, will need to neutralize his playmaking to limit Nashville’s offensive chances.

Holloway’s Surge

Holloway’s hat trick against Detroit showcased his scoring potential. If he can sustain that level of play, he could become a game-changer for the Blues in the second half of the season.

Goaltending Duel

Saros’ road woes contrast with Binnington’s up-and-down performances this season. Both netminders will need strong outings, especially with divisional positioning on the line.

Recent History

Nashville has dominated the recent series, winning four straight games against St. Louis, including two in the Blues’ home rink last season. Forsberg has been particularly effective against the Blues, recording eight points in three matchups last year.

What to Watch For

• Predators’ Road Challenges: Can Nashville overcome its road struggles and carry its homestand success into enemy territory?
• Blues’ Consistency: Will St. Louis build on Monday’s shutout victory and find the consistency it has been searching for?
• Marchessault’s Scoring Streak: Can the Predators winger extend his goal streak to five games?

Discover detailed insights in NHL Atlantic Division Odds & Predictions

Prediction

Both teams are coming into the game with momentum, but Nashville’s recent success against St. Louis and its improving offense give it a slight edge. However, the Blues’ strong showing against Detroit could signal a turning point, especially if Binnington continues his solid play.

Final Score: Predators 4, Blues 3 (OT)