Nashville Predators vs St. Louis Blues 18 October 2026 Prediction

The teams sit next to each other in the standings. Nashville has lost three straight and will try to end that run at home against St. Louis.

Nashville's Offense Has Struggled

Nashville alternated wins and losses early in the season, but its results have declined. The Predators gave up a 2-0 lead in a 3-2 shootout loss to Ottawa. Against San Jose, they came back from 2-0 down and tied the game with one second left in regulation, only to lose 3-2 in a shootout.

Nashville has been solid defensively but averages just 2.6 goals per game. The Predators have scored no more than twice in each of their last three games. Their power play has been effective, converting 27.3% of its chances.

Predicted Lineup: Saros (Murray) — Struble, Josi — Stamkos, O'Reilly, Kerfoot

Other Players: Defensemen: Skjei, Perbix, Hague, Wilsby; forwards: Forsberg, Wood, Hoglander, Colton, Pinchuk, Marchessault, Schaefer, Drury, A. Edstrom

Injury Report: Trudeau (injured); Bourque (questionable)

Manager: Andrew Brunette

St. Louis Has Struggled to Hold a Playoff Spot

St. Louis is near the playoff cutoff, averaging one standings point per game. The Blues have lost four of their last six games, including a 4-2 defeat to Chicago. Most recently, they lost 5-4 to Minnesota.

St. Louis scores 3.6 goals per game but allows 3.3, with defensive play contributing to its inconsistent results. Goaltender Joel Hofer has posted a save percentage below .900 in each of his last four games.

Predicted Lineup: Hofer (Binnington) — Broberg, Jiricek — Holloway, Thomas, Snuggerud

Other Players: Defensemen: Barron, Parayko, Fowler, Carlo; forwards: McMichael, McTavish, Berggren, Neighbours, Dvorsky, Suter, Johnston, Dean, Peterson

Injury Report: Mailloux, Tucker, Toropchenko, Dube (injured); Buchnevich (questionable)

Manager: Jim Montgomery

Nashville Won the Last Meeting

The teams have met once this year. St. Louis led 5-1 early in the second period, but Nashville scored five unanswered goals to win 6-5.

Key Stats

St. Louis scores on 13.8% of its shots. Only five teams have a higher shooting percentage.

Nashville generates 2.7 expected goals per game, the sixth-lowest figure in the league.

The Blues average an NHL-best 1.9 goals in the third period.

Nashville Predators vs St. Louis Blues Prediction: St. Louis Blues Moneyline

Main pick: Nashville has lost four of its last five home games. St. Louis beat Ottawa by five goals on the road and kept its most recent game against Minnesota close. The Blues have also won five of the last eight meetings between these teams. The pick is St. Louis Blues moneyline at 1.89. Predicted score: Nashville 3, St. Louis 4.

Goals pick: Three of Nashville's last five games have featured at least seven goals, while each of St. Louis's last three has featured at least eight. The pick is over 6.5 goals at 2.34.