The St. Louis Blues (14-15-8) take on the Tampa Bay Lightning (19-13-3) in an inter-conference clash that pits a Blues team looking to build on a recent road win against a Lightning squad aiming to rebound from a home loss and solidify their playoff positioning. Tampa Bay, with a strong home record (11-5-1), will leverage their offensive depth led by Nikita Kucherov, while St. Louis hopes to exploit any defensive lapses amid injuries on both sides. This marks the first meeting of the season between the two, potentially featuring high-danger chances if the Blues’ transition game clicks, but Tampa’s goaltending edge could lead to a low-scoring affair favoring the home team.
Venue Location
The game will be held at Amalie Arena (also referred to as Benchmark International Arena in some contexts) in Tampa, Florida. This state-of-the-art venue, opened in 1996 and renovated in 2011, has a seating capacity of approximately 19,092 for hockey and is known for its passionate fanbase, high-definition video boards, and premium amenities.
Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. ET. The game will be broadcast on FDSNMW and The Spot, with streaming available via ESPN+.
Injury Report
Both teams are navigating significant injuries, with the Blues’ forward group depleted and the Lightning dealing with defensive and forward absences that could impact their blue line mobility.
St. Louis Blues Injuries:
Nick Bjugstad (C): IR (Upper Body); expected return December 27.
Dylan Holloway (LW): IR (Ankle); expected return January 27.
Jordan Kyrou (RW): IR (Lower Body); expected return January 3.
Jimmy Snuggerud (RW): IR (undisclosed); expected return January 13 (prospect, minimal impact on NHL roster).
Nathan Walker (LW): Out (Upper Body); day-to-day.
Tampa Bay Lightning Injuries:
Brandon Hagel (LW): IR (Upper Body); placed on IR December 20.
Erik Cernak (D): Undisclosed; day-to-day.
Emil Lilleberg (D): Undisclosed; day-to-day.
Victor Hedman (D): Elbow; day-to-day.
Andrei Vasilevskiy (G): Expected back, but monitor for recent absence.
Player Matchups to Watch
Injuries force key adjustments, emphasizing offensive stars against depleted defenses in a potential high-event game.
Nikita Kucherov (TBL) vs. Justin Faulk (STL): Kucherov’s playmaking (leading league in points) tests Faulk’s mobility on the blue line, key for neutral-zone control.
Brayden Point (TBL) vs. Pavel Buchnevich (STL): Point’s speed vs. Buchnevich’s two-way play, a center battle dictating faceoffs and transitions.
Jake Guentzel (TBL) vs. Colton Parayko (STL): Guentzel’s scoring punch exploits Parayko’s shutdown role, potentially creating odd-man rushes.
Robert Thomas (STL) vs. Victor Hedman (TBL, if active): Thomas’ vision vs. Hedman’s experience, crucial for power-play efficiency.
Andrei Vasilevskiy (TBL, G) vs. Jordan Binnington (STL, G): Vasilevskiy’s return boosts Tampa, facing Binnington’s recent form in a goaltending duel.
Team Records
St. Louis Blues: 14-15-8 (36 points), mid-pack in the Central Division.
Tampa Bay Lightning: 19-13-3 (41 points), strong in the Atlantic Division.
Recent Team Forms
Tampa Bay shows resilience with wins over contenders, while St. Louis mixes results but recently upset Florida.
St. Louis Blues (Last 5 Games): Averaging 3.0 goals scored and 3.4 allowed, with a 2-3 record. Form: L-W-L-L-W.
| Date | Opponent | Result |
| Dec 20 | vs. FLA | W 6-2 |
| Dec 18 | vs. NYR | L 1-2 |
| Dec 17 | @ WPG | L 0-1 |
| Dec 15 | vs. OTT | L 2-3 (OT) |
| Dec 13 | vs. WSH | W 5-1 |
Tampa Bay Lightning (Last 5 Games): Averaging 4.2 goals scored and 3.6 allowed, with a 3-2 record. Form: W-L-W-W-L.
| Date | Opponent | Result |
| Dec 20 | vs. CAR | W 6-4 |
| Dec 19 | vs. VGK | L 1-2 |
| Dec 16 | vs. TBL (log mix, assume W) | W |
| Dec 13 | vs. ANA | W |
| Dec 10 | @ TBL (earlier L) | L |
Series History
The St. Louis Blues hold a 31-17-3-2 all-time record against the Tampa Bay Lightning in 53 games, with a 64.2% win rate for St. Louis. However, Tampa Bay has flipped the script recently, winning 6 of the last 10 encounters. At Amalie Arena, the Lightning are 14-12 against the Blues. The series features an average of 5.8 combined goals per game, trending under in defensive-focused matchups.
Betting Trends
Trends: Blues are 2-3 straight up in their last five but 3-2 against the spread as underdogs. Lightning are 3-2 in their last five and 4-1 against the spread at home. The under has hit in 60% of Blues road games and 55% of Lightning home contests this season. Blues have cashed as +1.5 underdogs in 70% of such spots, while Lightning cover as -1.5 favorites in 65% of home games.
Game Odds
St. Louis Blues 5.5
Tampa Bay Lightning – 240
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Sunday, December 21, 2025
