The St. Louis Blues faced off against the Nashville Predators on March 18, 2025, at Bridgestone Arena, securing a decisive victory with a score of 4-1. This win marked the Blues' third consecutive triumph and solidified their place in the pursuit of the Western Conference wild card spot.
Jordan Kyrou was the standout player of the match, netting two goals to lead his team. His performance was complemented by Dylan Holloway, who provided three assists, while Jake Neighbors and Justin Faulk each contributed two points.
The game saw a promising start for the Blues, who quickly took control of the match. Justin Faulk opened the scoring for St. Louis on a power play, beating Predators goaltender Juuse Saros on a one-timer after Nashville's Zach L'Heureux had tripped Nick Leddy. With the Predators struggling defensively, they found themselves down 1-0 early in the game.
As the first period progressed, the Blues continued to dominate the game, outshooting the Predators 8-7 after 20 minutes. By the second period, St. Louis had doubled their advantage when Neighbors scored his 19th goal of the season, beautifully slipping behind the defense to receive a pass from Faulk and deke Saros for a delicate finish. The scoreboard read 2-0, and St. Louis was firmly in the driver's seat.
However, the Predators managed to claw back just before the second intermission. Brady Skjei launched a powerful slap shot that found the net with only 0.6 seconds left in the period, giving Nashville a glimmer of hope heading into the final period.
The intensity of the match escalated following a critical moment when Predators forward Michael McCarron was ejected during the second period for a hit on Blues forward Pavel Buchnevich. The resulting altercation led to a roughing penalty being assessed to Neighbors as he retaliated against McCarron.
Spurred on by McCarron’s ejection, the Blues emerged in the third period looking to seal the victory. Kyrou scored his 28th goal of the season midway through this period, putting the Blues up 3-1. He found the back of the net off a 2-on-1 break, thanks to an assist from Holloway, and quickly erased any of Nashville's fleeting hopes of a comeback.
With the game nearing its conclusion, Kyrou put the final nail in the coffin with his second goal at the 13:45 mark, solidifying the Blues' commanding 4-1 lead. Joel Hofer, protecting the net for St. Louis, finished the match with 22 saves, while Saros made 17 saves, marking his league-leading 27th loss.
Following this loss, the Nashville Predators fell to 25 wins, 34 losses, and 8 overtime losses, leaving them clinging to 58 points in the standings. The Predators have now dropped three games in a row—including a disheartening shutout by the Los Angeles Kings just the night before, where they failed to score even once.
The Blues, meanwhile, improved their record to 34 wins, 28 losses, and 7 overtime losses, allowing them to collect 75 points in their quest for a playoff spot.
On the upcoming agenda, the Predators are set to host the Anaheim Ducks on March 20, while the Blues will take on the Vancouver Canucks in St. Louis on the same day. Both teams are looking to shake off their recent forms and secure crucial points in the lead-up to the postseason.
This matchup certainly showcased the fierce rivalry between these two teams as they head towards the closing stages of the season. Players and fans alike can expect more action in their next encounters as the Blues and Predators clash again on March 23 in St. Louis, and again to finish the season series on March 27 in Nashville.
The game was broadcasted on FanDuel Sports Network South and available for streaming on FUBO and ESPN+. With betting lines showing the Predators at +1.5 and the over/under set at 5.5 goals, this was a significant match for both teams hoping to climb the rankings.
As the NHL season winds down, the St. Louis Blues continue to show their strength while the Nashville Predators search for solutions as they navigate this challenging stretch.
