St. Louis Blues vs. Nashville Predators: Prediction, Preview, Picks & Odds - 4/1/2023

Time: 1 p.m. ET

Venue: Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, TN

Where to watch: BSSO, BSMW, NHLN

DraftKings: Check back later for odds

BetMGM: Check back later for odds 

Caesars: Check back later for odds

Blues: 35-34-6

Predators: 37-29-8

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On April 1, 2023, the St. Louis Blues and the Nashville Predators are set to face off in what promises to be an intense game of ice hockey. These two teams have a long-standing rivalry that has developed over the years as they have battled each other for divisional and conference titles. Both teams have had some ups and downs this season, and this game could be a turning point for either team as they make a push for the playoffs.

The St. Louis Blues are currently in third place in the Central Division, while the Nashville Predators are in fifth place, just two points behind the Blues. The Blues have had a solid season so far, with a record of 40-23-5, while the Predators have had a slightly more inconsistent season, with a record of 37-26-5. However, the Predators have won their last four games in a row, while the Blues have lost their last two games, so both teams will be looking to either continue or reverse their recent form.

Looking at the Blues first, they have a talented roster that includes several skilled forwards such as Ryan O'Reilly, Vladimir Tarasenko, and David Perron, as well as strong defensemen like Colton Parayko and Justin Faulk. O'Reilly has been a standout performer for the Blues this season, with 63 points in 68 games played, while Tarasenko has been in good form since returning from injury, with 22 goals in 42 games played.

On the other hand, the Predators have several key players of their own, including forwards Filip Forsberg and Ryan Johansen, and defensemen Roman Josi and Mattias Ekholm. Forsberg has been in great form lately, with 10 points in his last five games, while Josi is a Norris Trophy winner and one of the best defensemen in the league.

When these two teams met earlier in the season, it was the Blues who emerged victorious, with a score of 3-2. However, that game was back in December, and both teams have changed since then, so it's difficult to draw too many conclusions from that matchup. The upcoming game on April 1, 2023, will likely be a different story altogether.

One key factor to watch out for in this game is the goaltending matchup. The Blues are likely to start Jordan Binnington, who has been their primary goaltender this season and has a record of 30-16-4. Binnington has had a solid season so far, with a save percentage of .911 and a goals-against average of 2.55. The Predators, on the other hand, could start either Juuse Saros or Pekka Rinne, both of whom have played well at times this season. Saros has a save percentage of .928 and a goals-against average of 2.26, while Rinne has a save percentage of .909 and a goals-against average of 2.85.

Another factor to consider is the special teams play of both teams. The Blues have a solid power play, with a success rate of 24.3% this season, while the Predators have a slightly lower success rate of 22.8%. On the penalty kill, the Blues have been slightly more successful, with a success rate of 80.2%, compared to the Predators' success rate of 79.6%. If either team can take advantage of their special teams play, it could make all the difference in this game.

In conclusion, the upcoming matchup between the St. Louis Blues and the Nashville Predators is sure to be an exciting game of ice hockey. Both teams have strong rosters and a history of intense matchups.

Prediction

The Preds need a win to keep up in the playoff race. That loss to Pittsburgh didn't help the cause. Against the Blues, they bounce back. Predators 3, Blues 1

Predators:

Egor Afanasyev -- Cody Glass -- Philip Tomasino

Kiefer Sherwood -- Tommy Novak -- Luke Evangelista

Yakov Trenin -- Colton Sissons -- Cole Smith

Rasmus Asplund -- Mark Jankowski -- Michael McCarron

Ryan McDonagh -- Dante Fabbro

Tyson Barrie -- Jeremy Lauzon

Kevin Gravel -- Cal Foote

Juuse Saros

Blues:

Jake Neighbours -- Robert Thomas -- Jordan Kyrou

Brandon Saad -- Pavel Buchnevich -- Kasperi Kapanen

Sammy Blais -- Brayden Schenn -- Jakub Vrana

Alexey Toropchenko -- Nathan Walker -- Tyler Pitlick

Nick Leddy -- Colton Parayko

Marco Scandella -- Justin Faulk

Torey Krug -- Robert Bortuzzo

Jordan Binnington