Columbus Blue Jackets vs St. Louis Blues Picks and Prediction for Saturday October 10, 2026
The Columbus Blue Jackets will head to St. Louis, Missouri, Saturday night for a matchup against the St. Louis Blues at Enterprise Center. The game is scheduled to begin at 7 PM with coverage available on ESPN+. Columbus will look to pick up an important road victory as the Blue Jackets continue their early-season schedule. The Blue Jackets have enough offensive talent to challenge opposing defenses but will need to remain consistent on both ends of the ice. St. Louis will welcome Columbus looking to defend its home ice and build momentum against an Eastern Conference opponent. The Blues will attempt to establish their offense early and take advantage of their scoring opportunities against Columbus. This preview was completed prior to the opening lines being released. Stay in the action with our NHL Picks.
Columbus looks for second win of the year
Columbus has been productive offensively through its first two games, averaging 3.5 goals on 21 shots per contest. The Blue Jackets have struggled to consistently limit opposing offenses, allowing 3.5 goals on 28.5 shots per game. Columbus enters the weekend with a 1-1 record after opening the regular season with a victory against Buffalo before falling to Utah. The Blue Jackets have converted 40% of their power-play opportunities but have struggled on the penalty kill, posting a 66.7% success rate. Matthew Knies has made an immediate impact offensively after joining Columbus, while Charlie Coyle has provided additional production as a facilitator. Kent Johnson has also contributed to the scoring early in the season.
Columbus struggled in its most recent completed game, falling 4-1 against the Utah Mammoth on October 3. Kent Johnson scored the Blue Jackets' only goal on a breakaway early in the second period after Columbus had fallen behind 2-0. The Blue Jackets were unable to build on that momentum and continued to struggle against a Utah team that controlled important stretches of the matchup. Columbus had entered the game following a 6-3 victory against Buffalo in its season opener, a game that saw Matthew Knies score twice and Charlie Coyle contribute three assists. The Blue Jackets will look to improve their defensive consistency as they continue their early-season schedule.
St. Louis tried to end their skid at home
St. Louis has had difficulty generating consistent offense this season, averaging 2.25 goals on 25.8 shots per game. Defensively, the Blues have allowed 3.25 goals on 27.3 shots per contest, contributing to a 1-3 record through their first four outings. St. Louis has scored nine total goals while allowing 13 and has dropped three consecutive games following its season-opening victory against Dallas. The Blues have converted just 10% of their power-play opportunities but have been much better on the penalty kill, posting a 92.9% success rate. Mason McTavish, Connor McMichael, and Pavel Buchnevich are among the offensive players St. Louis will need to rely on as the season continues.
St. Louis suffered its third consecutive defeat Thursday night, falling 3-2 in overtime against the San Jose Sharks. The Blues held leads during regulation but were unable to put the game away as San Jose answered both times. Collin Graf tied the game in the third period before Darnell Nurse scored the game-winning goal just 1:03 into overtime. Joel Hofer was unable to prevent the late comeback as the Blues settled for another disappointing result. St. Louis also lost 4-2 against Chicago in its previous outing, a game that saw Mason McTavish and Connor McMichael find the back of the net. The Blues will need to improve their offensive production and find ways to finish close games.
Columbus Blue Jackets vs St. Louis Blues Picks and Prediction
Pick: St. Louis Blues
St. Louis has an opportunity to pick up a home victory Saturday night when Columbus comes to town. The Blues have enough offensive talent to challenge the Blue Jackets and should be able to create scoring opportunities throughout the game. Columbus will need to find ways to slow down St. Louis and prevent the Blues from building momentum early. The Blue Jackets have some talented offensive players who can make things difficult, but St. Louis should be able to take advantage of its home ice. The Blues will need to protect the puck and avoid giving Columbus too many opportunities in transition. St. Louis should be able to establish its offense and make enough plays in the third period to secure the victory.
Pick: Over
Both Columbus and St. Louis have the offensive ability to create scoring opportunities Saturday night at Enterprise Center. The Blue Jackets will look to establish their attack early and challenge the Blues' defense, while St. Louis should be able to generate plenty of chances against Columbus. Neither team will want to give away easy goals, but defensive mistakes could lead to several quality scoring opportunities throughout the game. Columbus has enough offensive talent to keep pace with St. Louis, especially if the Blue Jackets find success on the power play. The Blues should also have opportunities to put pressure on the Columbus goaltender. Expect both teams to find offensive success in a matchup that produces several goals.