Florida Panthers vs St. Louis Blues Game Preview
The Florida Panthers head to Enterprise Center to face the St. Louis Blues on Thursday, January 29, 2026. Puck drop is set for 8:00 PM ET on ESPN+. Florida is 28-21-3 and living out of a suitcase right now, with this game marking the 10th road date in a 12-game span. St. Louis is 19-25-9, sliding hard, and now dealing with a pile of injuries that’s starting to change the way they can even deploy lines.
Florida’s road form is the main angle. They’ve won six of their last seven away games and have quietly turned into a team that travels well, even with limited practice time. The Blues, meanwhile, are winless in five (0-4-1) and have been losing games in the most annoying way possible, hanging around and then giving one away late.
The betting market has Florida favored at -158 on the moneyline. The puck line is Panthers -1.5 (+161) and Blues +1.5 (-196). Total is 5.5 with the Over at -121 and Under at -102.
Florida Panthers vs St. Louis Blues Odds
These are the current betting lines, and bettors should always monitor updated prices and shop numbers throughout the day using the latest NHL odds.
| Team | Moneyline | Puck Line | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florida Panthers | -158 | -1.5 (+161) | O 5.5 (-121) |
| St. Louis Blues | +133 | +1.5 (-196) | U 5.5 (-102) |
Florida Panthers Betting Form
Florida’s schedule has been brutal, but the results haven’t been. They’ve turned their season around away from home after a slow start on the road, and the important part is they’re not playing scared in these travel spots. Even in the 4-3 loss to Utah, the Panthers created chances. It wasn’t one of those games where they looked flat and accepted it.
The concern is health in the middle of the lineup. Anton Lundell leaving early matters because Florida’s depth is part of what makes them reliable across long road stretches. Aaron Ekblad taking soreness after blocking a shot is another thing to track because if Florida’s blue line starts getting thin, you feel it in their defensive-zone exits and in how much time they spend chasing.
For recent results and team splits, check the Florida Panthers stats and results. Availability matters here, so monitor the Florida Panthers injury report before puck drop.
St. Louis Blues Betting Form
St. Louis is in a rough spot, and it’s not just the losing streak. They’re losing bodies mid-game and then trying to patch together a third period with shortened lines. There was some real fight in that rally against Dallas, but you can’t live on “scrappy” for very long when you’re down multiple top-six forwards. If Jordan Kyrou and Jake Neighbours sit, that’s a lot of speed and scoring removed from their best path to offense.
The Blues also have that frustrating profile where they can look competitive for long stretches, then the special teams or a late breakdown flips the game. That becomes a betting problem because it makes their moneyline tough to trust, but it can keep the +1.5 alive. The issue is the price, because -196 asks you to pay a lot for “maybe they lose by one.”
For form and home splits, the St. Louis Blues schedule and stats page is the quick reference. And with so many questionable tags, monitor the St. Louis Blues injury report before betting.
Florida Panthers vs St. Louis Blues Matchup Breakdown
The clean handicap here starts with manpower. Florida is dealing with some bumps, but St. Louis is dealing with absences that change lineup structure. If the Blues are missing multiple forwards again, their margin at five-on-five gets thin, and they become more dependent on power plays and opportunistic bounces. That’s not a comfortable plan against a Florida team that can roll four lines when healthy.
Pace matters too. Florida can play fast when it wants, but it doesn’t have to. They can also grind you down with forecheck pressure and force you to take penalties or throw pucks away under pressure. St. Louis, short-handed up front, could struggle to get out clean, and that turns into long shifts and tired legs in the third.
If you want a sharper framework for weighing injuries and game state in side and total decisions, the NHL betting guide is useful. This one feels like a game where late lineup news can reshape the total quickly.
Florida Panthers vs St. Louis Blues Predictions and Best Bets
My lean is Florida moneyline at -158. I don’t love laying mid-range road chalk, but this matchup sets up well if St. Louis is missing Kyrou and Neighbours and still without other key forwards. Florida’s road consistency gives them a higher floor, and the Blues’ recent pattern of late mistakes is hard to ignore.
The puck line is tempting at +161, but I’m not sure I want to rely on Florida winning by margin on the road in a spot where fatigue is real and travel has been constant. I’d rather take the safer path and win the game, even if it’s 3-2 and a little sweaty.
On the total, 5.5 is low, and Florida games can get there quickly if special teams show up. But if St. Louis is short on offense and Florida chooses to manage the game, the Under is live. I’m not making it the primary bet because the Blues’ defensive breakdowns have been random, and random is a total killer.
Best Bet: Florida Panthers moneyline (-158).
NHL Picks and Handicappers on ScoresAndStats
If you bet NHL regularly, injury and lineup news is where the edge shows up, especially with teams juggling workloads before a break. Checking today’s NHL picks helps you compare multiple opinions and see where the sharpest leans are landing.
ScoresAndStats is also built for transparency. You can compare styles across the top sports handicappers, validate long-term performance on the handicapper leaderboard, and if you want more volume beyond the free board, you can buy expert picks. For more matchups in this format, the NHL previews hub keeps the slate organized.


