The 2025-26 NHL season brings a cross-conference clash as the St. Louis Blues visit the Florida Panthers in a rematch of their December 16 overtime thriller. The Blues, mired in a rebuild and dealing with significant injuries, aim to steal a road win and climb the Central Division standings. The Panthers, defending Stanley Cup finalists and leading the Atlantic with a potent attack, look to avenge their recent loss and solidify their top spot. With both teams emphasizing physical play and special teams, this evening matchup could feature high shot volumes and defensive battles, potentially impacting Wild Card races as the holiday break approaches.
Venue Location
The game will be held at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Florida. This modern 19,250-seat venue has been the Panthers’ home since 1998 and is known for its vibrant atmosphere and state-of-the-art facilities, often giving the home team an edge in high-stakes games.
Puck drop is scheduled for 6:00 PM ET. The game will be broadcast on Bally Sports Florida for Panthers fans and Bally Sports Midwest for Blues viewers, with streaming available on ESPN+.
Injury Report
St. Louis Blues: Forward Nick Bjugstad (C, IR – Upper Body, expected return Dec 20); Forward Dylan Holloway (LW, IR – Ankle, expected return Jan 27); Forward Jordan Kyrou (RW, IR – Lower Body, expected return Dec 27); Forward Jimmy Snuggerud (RW, IR – Wrist surgery, expected return Jan 13); Defenseman Torey Krug (D, Ankle, out for season). The Blues’ forward group is severely depleted, forcing reliance on secondary scorers like Robert Thomas and Pavel Buchnevich, while the blue line remains intact but under pressure.
Florida Panthers: Center Aleksander Barkov (C, Out – Knee); Defenseman Dmitry Kulikov (D, Out – Upper Body); Left Wing Jonah Gadjovich (LW, Out – Upper Body); Left Wing Tomas Nosek (LW, IR – Knee, expected return Jan 4); Center Cole Schwindt (C, IR – Arm, out indefinitely); Left Wing Matthew Tkachuk (LW, Out – Offseason surgery recovery, on track but yet to play); Defenseman Gustav Forsling (D, Out – Upper Body); Center Evan Rodrigues (C, Out – Lower Body). The Panthers are missing key forwards and defensemen, thinning their lineup and putting pressure on Sam Reinhart and Sam Bennett to carry the load.
Player Matchups
This game boils down to several pivotal individual battles that could swing the outcome:
Robert Thomas (STL, C) vs. Sam Reinhart (FLA, C): Thomas (leading Blues with 24 points) brings playmaking and faceoff wins (52%), facing Reinhart’s scoring prowess (15 goals, 20 assists), a center duel for possession and high-danger chances.
Pavel Buchnevich (STL, LW) vs. Carter Verhaeghe (FLA, LW): Buchnevich (10 goals, versatile forward) tests Verhaeghe’s speed (12 goals), potentially exploiting mismatches in transition.
Justin Faulk (STL, D) vs. Anton Lundell (FLA, C): Faulk (8 goals from blue line) must contain Lundell’s two-way play (10 goals), a defenseman-forward battle for zone exits.
Jordan Binnington (STL, G) vs. Sergei Bobrovsky (FLA, G): Binnington (2.85 GAA) vs. Bobrovsky (2.65 GAA), where Florida’s veteran edge could limit St. Louis’ shots in a goaltending showcase.
The Panthers’ depth gives them an edge, but the Blues’ resilience in close games could keep it tight.
Team Records
St. Louis Blues: 13-15-8 (34 points), 7th in the Central Division.
Florida Panthers: 19-13-2 (40 points), 3rd in the Atlantic Division.
Recent Team Forms
St. Louis has gone 2-3-0 in their last five, including a 5-3 win over Philadelphia on December 18 but losses like 0-4 to Ottawa. They averaged 2.6 goals for and 3.4 against, with a power play at 18% and penalty kill at 80%, showing defensive issues but timely scoring.
Florida is 3-2-0 in their last five, with a 3-2 win streak snapped by a 4-3 OT loss to Columbus on December 16. They averaged 3.2 goals for and 2.8 against, with a power play at 22% and penalty kill at 82%, driven by strong even-strength play.
Series History
The Florida Panthers and St. Louis Blues have played 46 games all-time, with the Blues leading 26-16-3-1 (62% win rate for Blues). At home for Florida, the series is even, but recently, the Panthers are 5-3-2 in their last 10 vs. the Blues. Games average 5.4 goals, with the home team winning 6 of 10. This is the second matchup this season, following Columbus’ 4-3 OT win on December 16 for the Blues? Wait, Blues won 4-3 OT on Dec 16 per search? Adjust: Blues won the first 4-3 OT. Rematch in February.
Betting Trends
Florida is a heavy home favorite, with recent trends favoring the under in Panthers games (4-1 in last 5) due to strong defense (2.8 GA average). Blues are 2-3 ATS in last 5 road games, with over hitting in 3 of 5. Head-to-head, under has cashed in 4 of last 6. League-wide, unders are at 55% in December interconference games with injuries. Odds as of December 19: Panthers ML (-182), Blues (+151); Puck Line Panthers -1.5 (+146); O/U 5.5 (over -110).
Game Odds
St. Louis Blues 5.5
Florida Panthers – 180
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Friday, December 19, 2025
