Blues Face Predators As Playoff Push Intensifies

NASHVILLE, TN — The St. Louis Blues (33-28-7) are set to face the Nashville Predators (25-33-8) at Bridgestone Arena on Tuesday, March 18, at 7 p.m. CT. This matchup marks the first of three meetings between the two Central Division rivals in the upcoming 10 days as both teams navigate the final stretch of the NHL season.

After a dominant 7-2 victory over the Anaheim Ducks on Sunday, the Blues are aiming to continue their momentum in the playoff race. Brayden Schenn opened the scoring just 41 seconds into the game, setting the tone for an offensive barrage that included three power-play goals. Several players contributed to the scoring, including Pavel Buchnevich, Dylan Holloway, Radek Faksa, Mathieu Joseph, Jake Neighbours, and Oskar Sundqvist.

“We know what’s at stake and we know what position we put ourselves in,” said Blues defenseman Justin Faulk. “But we’re not there yet; we’ve got to keep going.” The Blues currently find themselves tied with the Vancouver Canucks in points, though the Canucks hold the second Wild Card spot due to fewer games played.

The Blues have come alive in March, boasting a record of 5-2-1, and they are 8-2-2 since the 4 Nations break, inching closer to playoff contention. Following Tuesday’s game, the team will embark on a four-game homestand starting Thursday against the Canucks.

Meanwhile, the Predators are looking to shake off a difficult stretch. After returning home from a California road trip with a 1-1-1 record, Nashville is seeking consistency at home after suffering back-to-back losses to Anaheim and Los Angeles. The Predators experienced a challenging season despite adding key free agents like Brady Skjei, Jonathan Marchessault, and Steven Stamkos during the offseason.

Nashville currently sits at seventh place in the Central Division with 58 points, trailing behind playoff competitors. The absence of captain Roman Josi since February 25 due to injury has compounded their struggles.

“It’s been a tough season for us, but we need to stay focused and fight for every point,” said Predators forward Filip Forsberg, who leads Nashville with 25 goals and 59 points in 66 games. “We need to start stringing together some wins.”

To bolster their roster, the Predators made several moves at the trade deadline, acquiring Michael Bunting from Pittsburgh and claiming Jakub Vrana off waivers. However, their efforts have yet to yield consistent results, and they currently have an 8.9% chance of landing the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, as they remain outside the playoff picture.

The Blues lead the season series, having defeated the Predators 7-4 in their previous matchup on December 27. With playoff hopes on the line, both teams will be looking to secure critical points on Tuesday night.

As the puck drops at Bridgestone Arena, fans can expect a high-stakes game filled with intensity as the Blues aim to cement their playoff prospects while the Predators strive to revive their season.