Nashville Predators v St Louis Blues tips: Central scrap at Bridgestone

The Nashville Predators welcome the St Louis Blues to Bridgestone Arena on Sunday, 18 October at 11:00 am AEDT, and it's shaping as a proper Central Division scrap between two sides hunting wins after stumbling last start. Nashville sit seventh in the division with a 2-2-2 record (six points, .500), while St Louis are a touch better at 3-2-1 (seven points, .583) and ranked 19th league-wide. Both clubs are averaging three goals against per game and both come in off one-goal defeats — the Predators fell 2–3 to San Jose at home on Friday, 16 October, and the Blues lost 4–5 to Minnesota on the road the same night.

The yarn here is two outfits trying to find consistency after mixed starts. Nashville have managed just one win in their last five — a 5–2 road result against Montreal on Friday, 9 October — and have dropped three straight since, all by a single goal. St Louis present a more varied form line: losses to Chicago (2–4), San Jose (2–3), and Minnesota (4–5) sit either side of impressive away wins over Ottawa (7–2) and a 5–3 home defeat of Columbus. The Blues' attacking output — 21 goals in six games (3.5 per game) — edges Nashville's 16 (2.67 per game), and their power play is clicking at 27.27 per cent compared to St Louis' 14.29. The head-to-head market has them locked at 1.90 apiece, reflecting just how tight this one looks on paper.

Who will win?

Across their last five, Nashville have averaged three goals for and 3.6 against, with the one win coming by a three-goal margin and the four losses by an average of 1.5 goals. St Louis have posted four goals per and 3.4 against over the same stretch, with two wins averaging a 3.5-goal margin and three defeats by 1.3. The Predators' home form is worrying — they've played just two at Bridgestone so far, losing 2–3 to San Jose and 2–5 to Vegas, conceding eight goals across those two outings. St Louis have been more productive on their travels, winning 7–2 in Ottawa and 5–2 in Montreal, though they also shipped five to Minnesota last time out.

Nashville's leading scorers — Steven Stamkos (3G, 4A), Roman Josi (1G, 5A), and Ryan O'Reilly (2G, 3A) — have carried the offensive load, but the Predators are shooting just 43.6 per cent Corsi and facing 175 shots against in six games (their save percentage sits at .897). St Louis counter with Mason McTavish (4G, 3A), Connor McMichael (2G, 4A), and Pius Suter (3G, 2A) leading the charge, and they've controlled 53.2 per cent of shot attempts while saving at .880. The penalty kill edges favour St Louis (89.47 per cent versus 84.21), but Nashville's power play is nearly double the rate.

With both clubs coming off defeats and the market pricing them dead even at 1.90, this feels like a coin-flip contest where depth and discipline at home could be the separator. Nashville need to tighten up defensively after shipping 19 goals in six games, while St Louis will look to exploit that leaky Predators blue line and keep their road scoring touch alive.

Puck Line angle

The puck line has Nashville as 1.5-goal favourites at home, but that spread feels generous given their recent form. The Predators have won just once in their last five, and that victory came by three goals — their four losses averaged 1.5-goal margins, suggesting they're competitive but not blowing teams away. St Louis have won two of their last five by 3.5 goals on average, but lost three by 1.3, and they've shown they can hang with anyone on the road.

Nashville's home sample is tiny — two games, both losses by one and three goals — so there's limited evidence they cover a 1.5-goal line at Bridgestone. St Louis have been good value away from home, posting two multi-goal wins and keeping their defeats tight. The Blues getting a 1.5-goal start looks the play if you're inclined to the handicap market, given how close these two sides are in the ladder and how Nashville have struggled to dominate at home.

Total Goals outlook

The total is set at 5.5 goals, and the case for the over is compelling. Nashville have averaged 3.0 goals for and 3.6 against across their last five, which adds up to 6.6 per game. St Louis have been even more productive — 4.0 for and 3.4 against, totalling 7.4. Both sides are leaking goals (Nashville conceding 19 in six, St Louis 18), and both penalty kills, while respectable, have been tested often enough to suggest opportunities on the power play.

Nashville's two home games so far produced five and seven goals respectively (average 6.0), and St Louis have been involved in high-scoring affairs on the road — their Minnesota loss was a nine-goal thriller (4–5), and the Ottawa win saw nine goals hit the board (7–2). With both clubs coming off losses and needing to attack to get back on track, this one has the makings of an entertaining, open contest that clears the 5.5-goal line.