The fifth-place St. Louis Blues (40-31-4) take on the fourth-place Nashville Predators (43-28-4) in this Central Division showdown on Thursday, April 4 at 8:00 PM ET and it is the third time these teams have met this season. ZenSports Tennessee sportsbook has the Predators as moderate favorites with a moneyline at -200.
When: April 4, 2024 at 8:00 PM ET
Where: Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee
Watch: ESPN+ Hockey Night
St. Louis Blues Preview
The Blues are 3-2 in their previous five games and are coming into this matchup with some positive vibes. Their most recent game was a 3-2 overtime win at home against the Edmonton Oilers, where Brandon Saad landed the winning goal in overtime to help seal their fate.
They are led by Robert Thomas on offense with 74 points and 51 assists. A variety of players come close to the amount of goals scored to lead the team, as Pavel Buchnevich leads with 26 goals scored this season.
The Blues currently average 2.83 goals and take 28.6 shots per game. They have been solid in power plays but it could hurt them here, as they have scored and allowed 40 goals in those situations with a power play percentage at 17.6. Against the Predators, they have averaged 2.50 goals on them.
Defensively they allow 3.00 goals and 32.3 shots from their opponents each game. This will need to be a priority if they want to slow down the Predators’ offense.
Nashville Predators Preview
The Predators have lost their last three games heading into this event and must get back on track soon to hold their spot in the division. Their latest defeat was a 3-0 shutout against the Boston Bruins. In their last three games, they have allowed on average 6.0 goals per matchup.
They are 21-16-1 at home while the Blues are 17-18-2 on the road. On top of that, the Predators are desperate to get back on track and are facing a team that they are familiar with.
The Predators put up 3.27 goals and take 31.7 shot attempts a game. In their last three games, they have averaged 2.66 goals, but have shined against the Blues while averaging 6.5 goals each game. If their defense is not cutting it, they must perform well on this end.
On defense, they have allowed 3.04 goals and 30.4 shots from opposing teams. They will need to put their foot down on the defensive end in order to help stop their losing streak.
Betting Odds
ZenSports Tennessee sportsbook gives you the best options for NHL bets. The Nashville Predators are currently favored to succeed at home. The Predators have won both meetings this season, by at least three goals or more each time and are seeking the sweep.
St. Louis Blues: +161
Puck Line: +1.5 (-152)
Nashville Predators: -200
Puck Line: -1.5 (+124)
Total Goals: Over 6.0 (-101), Under 6.0 (-121)
Photo Credit: © Andrew Wevers-USA TODAY Sports
