The Nashville Predators (11-14-4) host the St. Louis Blues (11-13-7) at Bridgestone Arena in a Central Division slugfest between two middling squads desperate for consistency. Nashville, riding a three-of-four win streak capped by a 4-3 shootout thriller over Colorado on Tuesday, aims to build on Juuse Saros’ rebound form (.893 SV% season, but .926 in last two) against a Blues team that’s dropped two of three after a brief surge, plagued by injuries and a league-worst 3.45 GPG allowed. St. Louis’ road resilience (6-6-3 away) meets Nashville’s home grit (7-8-2), but the Preds’ edge in special teams (80.9% PK, 9th) could neutralize the Blues’ middling PP (19.8%, 15th). This rivalry renewal—first of four meetings—projects as a defensive battle turning chaotic late, with Nashville edging a 3-2 victory.
Venue Location
Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, Tennessee (capacity: 17,159). The Predators are 7-8-2 at home, holding foes to 3.12 GPG in Nashville, and have gone 5-3 in their last eight against Central rivals.
Puckdrop: 8:00 p.m. ET.
Broadcast on FanDuel Sports Network Midwest (Blues), FanDuel Sports Network Southeast (Predators), and ESPN+ nationally, with radio on 101 ESPN (STL) and 102.5 The Game (NSH).
Injury Report
Injuries are ravaging both lineups, with St. Louis’ forward corps decimated (five key absences) and Nashville leaning on depth amid blue-line tweaks. The Blues’ attack craters without Kyrou and Bjugstad, while Preds’ Smith is a game-time call. Latest from Thursday morning skates:
| Team | Player | Position | Status | Injury | Notes |
| Blues | Nick Bjugstad | C | Out | Upper Body | Sidelined 5+ days since Dec. 9; 2G-3A in 20 GP. Out until at least Dec. 17. |
| Blues | Jordan Kyrou | RW | Out (IR) | Lower Body | Placed IR Dec. 9; 8G team-high, missed last three. Return Dec. 27. |
| Blues | Alexey Toropchenko | RW | Out (IR) | Leg | IR since Dec. 3; 3G-2A in 18 GP. Return Dec. 15. |
| Blues | Nathan Walker | LW | Out (IR) | Upper Body | Extended absence; 4G-1A in 15 GP. Return Feb. 26. |
| Blues | Jimmy Snuggerud | RW | Out (IR) | Wrist | Rookie sidelined; minimal impact in 10 GP. Return Jan. 13. |
| Blues | Robert Thomas | C | Available | None | Full skate; leads team with 20 points (6G-14A). |
| Blues | Jordan Binnington | G | Available | None | Starts; 7-7-5, 3.29 GAA. |
| Predators | Ozzy Wiesblatt | RW | Out | Upper Body | IR since Dec. 5; 1G-3A in 24 GP. |
| Predators | Justin Barron | D | Out | Lower Body | Depth D out since Nov.; 0G-4A in 19 GP. |
| Predators | Zachary L’Heureux | LW | Out | Lower Body | IR; 2G-1A in 12 GP. |
| Predators | Cole Smith | LW | Day-to-Day | Upper Body | Practicing but IR; 3G in 13 GP. Game-time decision. |
| Predators | Filip Forsberg | LW | Available | None | Full go; 10G, team scoring leader. |
| Predators | Juuse Saros | G | Available | None | Starts; 10-10-3, 3.04 GAA. |
St. Louis’ depth scoring (24th in bench points) suffers sans Kyrou; Nashville’s D stabilizes with Barron out via AHL call-up.
Player Matchups
These pivotal duels highlight Nashville’s structure against St. Louis’ opportunism, with goaltending and faceoffs (Preds 51%, Blues 49%) as swing factors:
Blues C Robert Thomas vs. Predators C Ryan O’Reilly
Thomas (6G-14A, 20 points) orchestrates St. Louis’ attack with elite vision, but O’Reilly (9G-13A, 22 points) wins 54% of draws and shadows on PK. Thomas has 4 points in last three vs. NSH; O’Reilly’s checking limits centers to 0.9 points/game.
Predators LW Filip Forsberg vs. Blues D Colton Parayko
Forsberg (10G, +2 rating) feasts on one-timers, facing Parayko’s shutdown size (2G-8A, 1.4 BSH/game). Forsberg has 3 goals in last four home; Parayko’s gap (top-15 in blocks) holds wings under 2 SOG.
Blues LW Dylan Holloway vs. Predators D Dante Fabbro
Holloway (8G team-high) drives transitions, drawing Fabbro’s mobility (1G-6A). Holloway’s burst creates 2.1 SOG/game; Fabbro’s held forwards under 1 goal in five of seven.
Predators G Juuse Saros vs. Blues Top Line (Thomas-Buchnevich-Holloway)
Saros (3.04 GAA) faces STL’s unit (1.4 goals/game), generating 11.8 SA/game. He’s .926 in last two; Blues’ cycle tests rebound control.
Blues G Jordan Binnington vs. Predators RW Jonathan Marchessault
Binnington (3.29 GAA) battles Marchessault’s finish (7G); Marchessault scored in shootout vs. COL. Binnington’s .875 SV% vulnerable to tips.
Nashville’s home PK (82.1%) frustrates St. Louis’ rush.
Team Records
St. Louis Blues: 11-13-7 (7th in Central Division)
6-6-3 on road, averaging 2.55 GPG (26th) while allowing 3.45 (29th). PP 19.8% (15th), PK 77.9% (28th); -30 goal differential, 13-18 ATS.
Nashville Predators: 11-14-4 (8th in Central Division)
7-8-2 at home, averaging 2.62 GPG (24th) and allowing 3.55 (30th). PP 16.5% (23rd), PK 80.9% (9th); -25 goal differential, 13-16 ATS.
Season series opens tonight; four meetings total.
Recent Team Forms
The Blues are 2-3 over their last five, outscored 14-13, with road wins providing a spark before Boston’s 5-2 drubbing. Nashville is 3-2, outscoring foes 14-12, with Saros anchoring a mini-resurgence.
| Blues Last 5 Games | Date | Opponent | Result | Key Stats |
| @ BOS | Dec 9 | Away | L 5-2 | Hofer .870 SV%; Thomas 1A, 0/3 PP, outshot 32-24. |
| @ MTL | Dec 7 | Away | W 4-3 | Binnington .929 SV%; Holloway 1G-1A, 1/4 PP thriller. |
| @ OTT | Dec 6 | Away | W 2-1 | Hofer .960 SV%; Low-event win, 0/2 PP. |
| @ BOS | Dec 4 | Away | L 5-2 | Binnington .875 SV%; Defensive lapses, 28 SOG allowed. |
| vs. ANA | Dec 1 | Home | L 4-1 | Hofer .882 SV%; 0/3 PP, outshot 29-23. |
Form Notes: 2-3, outscored 14-13. Road 2-1 (+0.3 margin); PK at 75% last five.
| Predators Last 5 Games | Date | Opponent | Result | Key Stats |
| vs. COL | Dec 9 | Home | W 4-3 (SO) | Saros .926 SV%; O’Reilly SO winner, 0/4 PP. |
| @ CAR | Dec 7 | Away | L 6-3 | Saros .875 SV%; Forsberg 1G-1A, outshot 35-28. |
| @ FLA | Dec 5 | Away | W 2-1 (OT) | Saros .960 SV%; Clutch road win, 1/2 PP. |
| vs. CGY | Dec 2 | Home | W 5-1 | Saros .913 SV%; Evangelista 2A, 2/3 PP rout. |
| vs. WPG | Nov 30 | Home | L 5-2 | Annunen .882 SV%; Defensive collapse, 18 TOs. |
Form Notes: 3-2, outscored 16-14. Home 2-0 (+3.5 margin); Saros 3-1-1, .940 SV% last five.
Series History
All-time, Nashville leads 68-67-4 (regular season: 64-52-17 for Preds), a razor-thin rivalry with 708 total goals (avg 5.1/game). St. Louis holds a 6-4 edge in the last 10 (avg 5.8 goals), including a 7-4 home win on Dec. 27, 2024, and three straight victories in 2025 (4-1, 4-1, 3-2). In Nashville, Preds are 38-23-3-5 all-time vs. Blues, but STL took the last two visits (4-1 on Mar. 18, 3-2 on Mar. 27). Overs hit in seven of 10 (avg 6.3 goals), fueled by Central chaos. First of four this season.
Betting Trends
Moneyline: 72% bets/78% handle on Preds (public on home fave). Preds 7-5 SU as -120+ faves; Blues 4-8 SU road dogs.
Puck Line: 65% bets on Blues +1.5 (value), 60% handle on Preds -1.5 amid NSH’s 5-2 home cover streak. Blues 7-6 ATS road.
Total: 64% bets on Over 5.5 (82% handle), as seven of 10 series over and combined 6.0 GPG. Under in five of Preds’ last eight home.
Key Trends: Preds 3-1-1 last five SU; Blues 2-3 last five, 0-3 SU after losses. Sharps on Preds ML and Over.
Game Odds
St. Louis Blues 5.5
Nashville Predators – 120
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Wednesday, December 10, 2025
