Puck drop is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. ET (7:00 p.m. CT)
Venue: Enterprise Center, St. Louis, Missouri
Broadcast: ESPN+ (national/streaming), FanDuel Sports Network Midwest / KHN/Prime / KONG (Blues regional), 101 ESPN radio
Game Context
Seattle sits in the second Western Conference wild-card spot (63 points) after slipping from third in the Pacific with Wednesday’s loss in Dallas. The Kraken remain very much alive in the playoff hunt with ~25 games left. St. Louis is buried in eighth in the Central Division (49 points) and has been mathematically eliminated from realistic playoff contention for weeks, turning the stretch run into a showcase/audition period ahead of the trade deadline.
Recent Form
- Kraken: 1-1-0 in their two post-Olympic games so far (lost 4-1 at Dallas on Feb. 25). They are 13-12-4 on the road this season and play the second half of a back-to-back tonight after traveling from Texas.
- Blues: Entered the Olympic break on a three-game losing streak and are 0-3-0 in their last three overall. This is their first game back after the three-week break; rust, re-integration of Olympians (Binnington and Parayko earned silver with Canada), and a depleted center corps are major factors. St. Louis is 13-11-6 at home.
Injury Report
Seattle Kraken:
- Matt Murray (G) – Lower body (out)
- Ben Meyers (LW) – Lower body (out)
- Ryan Lindgren (D) – Upper body (questionable; left Wednesday’s game early)
Positive notes: No other major absences. The Kraken did not hold a morning skate after the Dallas loss.
St. Louis Blues (significant absences):
- Robert Thomas (C) – Lower body / personal reasons (out tonight; expected back Friday)
- Oskar Sundqvist (upper body) – Out
Positive notes / returns:
- Dylan Holloway (LW) – Activated off IR (high ankle sprain; missed 23 of last 24 games) and expected back
- Jack Finley (C) – Making Blues debut (claimed off waivers from Tampa Bay on Feb. 7)
- Colton Parayko (D) and Jordan Binnington (G) – Back after Olympics (silver with Canada)
- Brayden Schenn (C) – Missed Wednesday practice with illness but skated today and is expected to play
Projected Lineups & Goalies
Kraken (Coach Dan Bylsma / Lane Lambert)
F: Jared McCann – Matty Beniers – Jordan Eberle
F: Berkly Catton – Chandler Stephenson – Eeli Tolvanen
F: Jaden Schwartz – Shane Wright – Frederick Gaudreau
F: Ryan Winterton – Jacob Melanson – (depth adjustment for Meyers)
D: Vince Dunn – Adam Larsson
D: Jamie Oleksiak – Brandon Montour
D: Ryker Evans – Ryan Lindgren (or replacement if out)
G: Philipp Grubauer (expected; strong candidate after Daccord started Wednesday) / Joey Daccord
Scratches: Kappo Kaako, Josh Mahura, Cale Fleury
Injured: Murray, Meyers
Blues (Coach Jim Montgomery)
F: Jake Neighbours – Pavel Buchnevich – Jordan Kyrou
F: Brayden Schenn – Dalibor Dvorsky – Jimmy Snuggerud
F: Dylan Holloway – Pius Suter – Jonatan Berggren
F: Alexey Toropchenko – Jack Finley – Nathan Walker
D: Philip Broberg – Colton Parayko
D: Tyler Tucker – Justin Faulk
D: Cam Fowler – Logan Mailloux
G: Joel Hofer (confirmed starter) / Jordan Binnington
Scratches: Robby Fabbri, Mathieu Joseph, Matthew Kessel
Injured: Thomas, Sundqvist
Key Player Matchups
- Jared McCann / Matty Beniers vs. Blues top pairing (Parayko / Broberg): McCann leads Seattle in scoring; Parayko’s Olympic-fresh legs and size will be tested immediately.
- Jordan Kyrou / Pavel Buchnevich line vs. Kraken’s shutdown D (Dunn-Larsson): Kyrou’s speed is a home-run threat, but Seattle’s top pair has been excellent at limiting high-danger chances.
- Dylan Holloway’s return + Jack Finley debut: Fresh legs and a hometown story for Finley add energy to a depleted Blues bottom six.
- Goaltending edge: Hofer has been solid for St. Louis; Grubauer gives Seattle a proven veteran (better career numbers vs. Blues). Binnington (Olympic silver) is available in relief.
Series History (2025-26 Season)
Seattle leads the season series 1-0 after a 4-3 OT win on Nov. 8.
Historically, the Blues have owned this matchup (9-2-2 since Seattle joined the league in 2021-22) and have earned points in four straight home games vs. the Kraken (3-0-1 record at Enterprise Center; 5-1-1 overall in St. Louis).
Betting Trends
- The total has gone OVER in the last three head-to-head meetings (all 4-3 or higher, two in OT).
- Blues are just 1-6 as moneyline favorites of -135 or shorter this season and have failed to cover the puck line in their last 15 games as favorites.
- Kraken are 5-2 SU in their last 7 overall and have covered the +1.5 in 10 of their last 11 road games against teams on a losing streak.
- Seattle is on the second half of a back-to-back (travel + fatigue) while St. Louis is well-rested but rusty post-Olympic break.
- Blues games have hit the Over 5.5 in 30 of 57 contests this season.
Game Odds
Seattle Kraken 5.5
St. Louis Blues – 142
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Wednesday, February 25, 2026
