By: Kim Smith Published 01/29/2026, 07:40 AM ET 
The Florida Panthers travel to the Midwest on Thursday night to take on the St. Louis Blues at Enterprise Center, with puck drop scheduled for 8:00 PM ET and the game airing on ESPN+. Florida enters this matchup as the road favorite at -162 on the moneyline, while St. Louis is listed at +136 at home. The total is set at 5.5 goals, with the over priced at -125 and the under at -110, and the puck line shows the Panthers at -1.5 (+170) against the Blues at +1.5 (-205). This interconference matchup features a Florida team pushing for playoff positioning against a St. Louis squad searching for answers after an extended losing stretch. Be sure to check out our free NHL picks for more daily NHL betting insights and expert analysis.
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Terms & Conditions Florida Panthers Looking to Stay Sharp on the Road
The Florida Panthers come into this contest with a 28-21-3 overall record and have been competitive away from home, posting a 14-10-0 road mark. Florida has relied on depth scoring and physical play to stay in the thick of the playoff race. Over their last five games, the Panthers have recently beaten Chicago, Minnesota in overtime, and Winnipeg in a shootout, while also suffering home losses to Utah and San Jose. That stretch reflects a team capable of grinding out wins against quality competition, especially when games tighten late.
Statistically, Florida has been solid but not dominant. The Panthers are averaging 3.02 goals per game while allowing 3.23, often engaging in physical, high-tempo contests. They generate 28.9 shots per game and allow just 25.8, indicating strong puck possession and defensive zone structure. Florida’s ability to limit opponent shot volume has been a key factor in keeping games manageable, even when defensive breakdowns occur.
One area where Florida quietly excels is special teams discipline. The Panthers’ penalty kill sits at an impressive 82.5 percent, and they have not allowed a shorthanded goal this season. While their power play has been less consistent at 18.1 percent, Florida often compensates with strong five-on-five play and aggressive forechecking. When the Panthers establish their physical identity early, they are difficult to push off the puck and tend to wear opponents down over the course of the game.
St. Louis Blues Searching for a Reset at Home
The St. Louis Blues enter Thursday night with a 19-25-9 overall record and have struggled to gain traction even on home ice, where they are 12-10-6. St. Louis is mired in a difficult stretch, having dropped five consecutive games, and confidence has clearly taken a hit. In their last five contests, the Blues have recently lost to Dallas twice, Los Angeles in a shootout, and Winnipeg and Edmonton on the road. That run has exposed defensive lapses and scoring droughts that have been hard to overcome.
Offensively, St. Louis has had significant difficulty generating consistent scoring. The Blues average just 2.43 goals per game, one of the lower marks in the conference, while allowing 3.40. Shot production has also lagged, with St. Louis generating only 24.8 shots per game and allowing nearly 28. That imbalance has put constant pressure on their goaltending and limited their margin for error.
Special teams have been a major weakness for the Blues. Their power play is converting at just 16.9 percent, and the penalty kill sits at a concerning 73.9 percent. With 37 power-play goals allowed, St. Louis has struggled to survive against teams that can capitalize on man-advantage opportunities. Against a disciplined Florida team that thrives on wearing opponents down, those issues could be magnified.
Florida Panthers vs St. Louis Blues PickFlorida Panthers vs St. Louis Blues Pick Florida Panthers -162 (Moneyline)
Florida’s consistency and physical style give them a clear edge in this matchup. St. Louis has struggled to score and protect leads, and their special teams issues are particularly concerning against a Panthers team that excels at controlling play at five-on-five. While Florida is not flawless defensively, their ability to limit shots and dictate tempo makes them the more reliable side to secure the win on the road.
Florida Panthers vs St. Louis Blues Total Pick
I’m backing the under here because St. Louis has consistently struggled to generate offense, especially against structured defensive teams. Florida is comfortable protecting leads and slowing the pace when ahead, and both teams’ recent trends point toward tighter, lower-scoring games. Unless special teams unexpectedly explode, this matchup profiles as a game that stays under 5.5 goals.
Final Score Prediction: Florida Panthers 3, St. Louis Blues 1
This prediction was written before the completion of game play on Wednesday.
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