Nashville Predators vs St. Louis Blues Betting Picks

St. Louis will try to even the season series after losing the first two and then winning 3-2 on Dec. 27. Both teams have been struggling lately, and the Blues have gone OVER four in a row. St. Louis has won five of the past seven meetings dating to last season, and 13 of the past 18 meetings have gone OVER. Nashville has lost five of seven, and seven of its past nine have gone OVER. The OVER is 9-2-1 when the Predators' opponent allowed at least five goals in its previous game. The Blues are expected to start Joel Hofer, who is 12-10-3 with a 2.82 goals-against average and an impressive four shutouts this season. Juuse Saros has allowed 32 goals in 10 games for the Predators. The value lies with the underdog, take the Blues, and the OVER.

The Predators and Blues just met this past Thursday in Nashville. The Predators won, 7-2, with the OVER easily sailing above 5.5. Steve Stamkos scored four goals for Nashville in that victory. The Predators are a better-scoring team since acquiring Stamkos. Nashville is averaging 3.8 goals per game in its last nine games. The Blues have given up at least three goals in 13 of their previous 16 games. The scene now shifts to St. Louis as the teams meet for the second time this season. Look for another OVER. The Predators surrendered 11 goals to the Blues in their two games at St. Louis last season. St. Louis has scored a power-play goal in five straight home games against Nashville. Take the OVER.

Neither of these teams is in the running for defensive team of the year. St. Louis has lost three of five, giving up 18 goals. The offense is 14th on the power play, but the defense is 27th in goals given up (3.45 per game), 25th in penalty killing, and 29th in save percentage (.882). Last-place Nashville's defense is 30th in goals surrendered (3.55 per game) and 27th in save percentage (.885). Nashville is on a 9-4 run OVER the total. Take St. Louis/Nashville OVER the total. 

Nashville comes off a 3-1 win over Carolina on Tuesday when Luke Evangelista scored twice and Juuse Saros stopped 34 shots. Saros has played better than his record indicates with a 2.88 goals-against average and four shutouts this season. The Predators will try to slow down the Blues, who have won seven straight, but Nashville is in revenge mode after losing 4-1 to St. Louis on Sunday. The Predators have won 18 of 35 home games and the Blues have lost 18 of 36 on the road. St. Louis is 37-31-5 UNDER and Nashville is 43-28-0 UNDER. The Predators are on a current 8-1 UNDER run, 7-2 UNDER at home. The Blues have stayed UNDER three of five and the past two meetings have gone UNDER. Nashville is 7-0 UNDER its past seven games versus the Western Conference. There is value in the home underdog tonight. Take the Predators and bet the UNDER.