Venue: Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, Tennessee
Puck drop: 8:00 p.m. ET
TV/Streaming: ESPN+, BN+ (Blues regional), Scripps Sports / SCRIPPS (Predators regional), STLNHL
This is the first meeting of the 2026-27 season between these Central Division rivals. The Predators enter on a three-game skid, while the Blues look to bounce back from a one-goal road loss.
Current Rosters / Key Personnel
Blues: Robert Thomas, Mason McTavish (early scoring leader), Dylan Holloway, Jimmy Snuggerud, Colton Parayko, Cam Fowler, and goaltenders Joel Hofer or Jordan Binnington.
Predators: Steven Stamkos, Filip Forsberg, Ryan O’Reilly, Roman Josi, Jonathan Marchessault, and goaltender Juuse Saros.
Injury Reports
Blues:
Torey Krug (ankle) — out long-term.
Dillon Dube (neck) — out (multiple weeks).
Alexey Toropchenko (upper body) — out.
Tyler Tucker (knee) — out.
Logan Mailloux (hand) — out.
Pavel Buchnevich (personal) — day-to-day (missed previous game for birth of child; status for Saturday monitored).
Predators:
Mavrik Bourque (upper body) — day-to-day.
William Trudeau (upper body) — out.
Both sides are dealing with depth issues, particularly St. Louis on defense and forward depth.
Key Player vs. Player Matchups
Robert Thomas / Mason McTavish vs. Predators defense: St. Louis’s top centers face a Nashville group led by Roman Josi. McTavish has been productive early.
Steven Stamkos / Filip Forsberg vs. Blues structure: Nashville’s veteran scorers will test St. Louis’s defensive pairings (Parayko, Fowler). Stamkos has shown late-game heroics recently.
Special teams: Predators power play has been effective early; Blues penalty kill has been solid. Faceoffs and transition play will be key.
Goaltending: Juuse Saros (steady) vs. Joel Hofer or Binnington. Saros gives Nashville a potential edge in a tight matchup.
Recent Team Forms
Blues: 3-3-1 overall. Coming off a 5-4 loss at Minnesota after a strong 7-2 win at Ottawa and a home win over Columbus. Offense has been capable when scoring 3+ goals (strong record in those games), but consistency remains a work in progress.
Predators: 2-2-3 overall. Coming off a 3-2 shootout loss to San Jose at home (after a late Stamkos equalizer) and prior losses. They have dropped three straight and are searching for consistency, especially at home.
Series History
This is the first 2026-27 meeting. Recent prior seasons featured competitive Central Division battles, often decided by special teams or late goals. Both teams have taken turns winning series in past years with many one-goal and overtime results.
Betting Trends
Nashville’s home struggles and three-game skid create potential value on the road side, while Saros’s presence supports under consideration in a structured matchup.
Game Odds
St. Louis Blues – 113
Nashville Predators 6
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Friday, October 16, 2026
