St. Louis Blues vs Nashville Predators Picks and Prediction for Saturday October 17, 2026
The St. Louis Blues will visit Nashville, Tennessee, Saturday night for a Central Division matchup against the Nashville Predators at Bridgestone Arena. The game is scheduled to begin at 8 PM ET with streaming coverage available on ESPN+. St. Louis comes into this game 3-3-1 on the year following a loss to Minnesota that ended a 2 game winning streak. The Predators return to Bridgestone Arena 2-2-3 on the year, having lost 4 of the last 5, including 3 in a row after a shootout loss to San Jose in their last game. Nashville will attempt to take advantage of its home crowd while putting pressure on the St. Louis defense. Both teams will be looking to establish themselves in an important divisional matchup. This game is a basic pick em, as both teams come into Saturday at -110, and the total is set at 5.5. Stay in the action with our NHL Picks.
St. Louis is desperate for a win
The Saint Louis Blues offense has been solid this season, averaging 3.57 goals on 25.9 shots per game. Defensively, St. Louis has been up and down, allowing 3.29 goals on 26.9 shots, and they've given up 12 goals across their last four losses. Mason McTavish is leading the Saint Louis offense this season with eight points along with a team-high five goals. Pius Suter is second on the roster this year as one of two players with six points. Connor McMichael has also scored six points this season and is leading Saint Louis with four assists.
Joel Hofer was terrible in the net last time out for Saint Louis, giving up five goals on 38 shots to post an .868 save percentage in just under 58 minutes of action. Robert Thomas led the way for the Saint Louis offense in their last outing with one goal and one assist. Mason McTavish, Jonatan Berggren, and Dylan Holloway all added to the Saint Louis scoring with one goal apiece. Cam Fowler added three assists in just over 20 minutes.
Key Injury Report for St. Louis:
- Pavel Buchnevich (Day-To-Day) – Oct 17
- Torey Krug (IR-LT) – Jul 1
- Dillon Dube (IR) – Dec 4
- Alexey Toropchenko (IR)- Nov 14
- Tyler Tucker (IR) – Nov 12
Nashville tries to end their skid
The Nashville Predators offense has been below average this season, averaging just 2.57 goals on 24.4 shots, and they have scored 10 total goals across their last four losses. Defensively, Nashville has been solid, allowing 2.86 goals on just under 30 shots per game, but they've given up 16 goals across their last four losses. Steven Stamkos is leading Nashville this season with eight points, and he has boasted a team-leading four goals. Roman Josi is second on the roster this season with seven points, and he leads the team with six assists. Ryan O’Reilly and Filip Forsberg are both tied for third on the team with six points each.
Juuse Saros was playing his good last time out, giving up two goals on 32 shots to post a .938 save percentage before allowing San Jose to win the game in the shootout. Ryan O'Reilly and Steven Stamkos led the scoring for Nashville last time out with one goal each.
Key Injury Report for Nashville:
- Mavrik Bourque (Day-To-Day) - Oct 17
St. Louis Blues vs Nashville Predators Picks and Prediction
Pick: Nashville Predators -110
Nashville should be able to create favorable offensive opportunities against a St. Louis team that can struggle when opponents establish consistent pressure in its defensive zone. Filip Forsberg gives the Predators a dangerous scoring option, while Steven Stamkos provides the experience and shooting ability necessary to capitalize on power-play opportunities. St. Louis will attempt to counter with Robert Thomas and Jordan Kyrou, but the Blues could have difficulty generating offense if Nashville prevents them from carrying the puck through the neutral zone. The Predators will need to remain disciplined defensively and avoid allowing St. Louis to create chances off turnovers. Nashville also has the advantage of playing at home, where it should be able to dictate favorable matchups through its line changes. Expect the Predators to make enough plays offensively to secure the victory.
Pick: Over 5.5
Both teams have the offensive personnel to create a high-scoring matchup, particularly if defensive breakdowns become an issue. Nashville will look to generate opportunities through Forsberg and Stamkos, while St. Louis has enough skill in its top six to answer when the Predators establish momentum. The Blues can be dangerous when they create scoring chances off the rush, but that aggressive approach could leave them vulnerable to counterattacks. Nashville should be able to find opportunities around the net if St. Louis struggles to clear rebounds and protect the slot. Special teams could also play an important role, especially with both clubs featuring experienced offensive players capable of taking advantage of defensive mistakes. Neither team needs to dominate possession for the scoring to increase, making the over an attractive option.