St. Louis Blues vs Arizona Coyotes Picks and Predictions April 15th 2025

Blues vs. Utah: Win or Watch? Final Game Determines Playoff Fate

The St. Louis Blues walk into Game 82 with everything on the line. Sitting at 43-30-8 (94 points), the mission is crystal clear: beat the Utah Hockey Club in regulation, and a Western Conference wild-card spot is theirs.

But here’s the catch—anything less than that (overtime win, overtime loss, or regulation loss), and they’ll need help from other teams to sneak in. That’s not the kind of nail-biter anyone in St. Louis wants.

Just over a week ago, the Blues were red-hot, winners of a franchise-best 12 straight games. Then came the crash: three consecutive losses (0-2-1), including a gutting 4-3 shootout defeat in Seattle where they blew a third-period lead.

That slump turned a feel-good playoff lock into a full-blown win-or-wait scenario.

For a full breakdown of the playoff race, check the NHL Conference Odds.

Home Ice Advantage: One Last Push

Playing at home for Game 82 could be a blessing. The atmosphere at Enterprise Center is expected to be electric—loud, emotional, and full of playoff-level energy.

“We’ve been here before,” said veteran netminder Jordan Binnington. “And that crowd? They’ll lift us.”

Binnington has been the stabilizing force behind the Blues’ late surge. Since returning from the 4 Nations Face-Off break where he helped Canada win the tournament, he’s looked sharper and more locked in than he has in months:

• 12-3-1 record
• .907 SV%
• 2.31 GAA

Compare that to his pre-break stats—15-19-4 with a .897 SV% and 2.89 GAA—and it’s clear: Binnington is back.

Get more goalie insights from our NHL Expert Betting Guide.

Thomas Leading the Charge Offensively

One of the biggest reasons the Blues are even in this position? Robert Thomas.

He’s currently on an 11-game point streak, tallying 4 goals and 19 assists in that stretch. He leads the team with 79 points (21G, 58A) despite missing 12 games earlier this season due to a fractured ankle.

What makes Thomas so valuable isn’t just his point production—it’s his composure. In high-stress moments, he slows the game down and finds open ice with elite-level vision. He’s two assists away from matching last year’s personal best, and Tuesday night would be a fitting time to hit that mark.

Explore his season performance against divisional rivals on the NHL Central Division Blog.

Blues Supporting Cast Needs to Deliver

St. Louis isn’t a one-man band. To punch that playoff ticket, they’ll need key contributions from:

• Brandon Saad: physical play and net-front presence
• Pavel Buchnevich: sneaky good in tight spaces
• Jordan Kyrou: speed and shot threat on the rush
• Torey Krug & Colton Parayko: anchoring the blue line and keeping Utah honest at the point

The entire squad will need to show up—and clean up the late-game miscues that have cost them the last three.

From Faceoff to Final Buzzer

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Utah’s Spoiler Role: Offense Clicking at the Worst Time for Blues

Talk about a plot twist—Clayton Keller, a St. Louis-area native, could be the reason his hometown team doesn’t make the playoffs.

Now with the Utah Hockey Club, Keller has been scorching hot:

• 4 goals, 5 assists in his last 5 games
• 600th NHL game on Monday (4 points vs. Nashville)

Keller has embraced his leadership role with Utah, a team in its first season since relocating from Arizona. He’s helped them stay competitive, even as they fell just short of postseason contention.

He’s not alone, either. The Utah offense has scored 22 goals in their last 4 games while going 3-0-1. They’re fast, opportunistic, and confident.

Curious about Utah’s season-long performance? Visit the NHL Pacific Division Odds.

Vejmelka Expected in Net After Rest

Karel Vejmelka, who had started 23 straight games before resting Monday, is expected to return for the season finale. His numbers over that span:

• 13-6-4
• .902 save percentage
• 2.45 GAA

Vejmelka is calm under pressure and capable of stealing games. If the Blues don’t crash the crease, create screens, and force second-chance shots, they may get stonewalled.

Get the latest on goalie matchups via the NHL Odds Page.

What Happens If Blues Don’t Win in Regulation?

Here’s how it plays out:

• Win in regulation = playoff berth locked
• Win in OT/SO = maybe in, but need help
• Loss = scoreboard watching begins

That’s pressure—and this team knows it. The good news? They’ve responded well to pressure in recent weeks, putting together that massive 12-game win streak when the season could’ve gone off the rails.

Want to see who might go the distance? Visit the latest Stanley Cup Odds.

Final Word: It’s Not Just Game 82—It’s Game 1 of the Playoffs

Tuesday night is more than the regular-season finale. It’s effectively Game 1 of the playoffs for St. Louis. With a win, they earn a shot at a real postseason run. With anything less, they risk seeing the lights go out on what was once a promising season.

Will Thomas stay hot? Will Binnington steal the show? Or will hometown-kid Clayton Keller spoil the script?