Boston Bruins vs St Louis Blues prediction: Blues bring a 123-minute goal drought into Swayman and Boston's defense
St. Louis has gone more than two full games without a goal, and the Bruins allow fewer goals than almost anyone in the league.
| Line | St. Louis Blues -113 (puck line -1.5) |
|---|---|
| Total (over/under) | 6 |
- Expect a tight, low-event game: St. Louis is stuck in a scoring drought and Boston keeps winning on finishing and goaltending.
- Watch Jeremy Swayman, the probable Bruins starter at .921, against a Blues attack that hasn't scored in 123:55.
- St. Louis is a slim -115 home favorite with the total unmoved at 6.0; Boston has gone under in 8 of 13 games.
Two games, zero goals
The Blues enter Thursday having gone 123:55 without a goal. Their last two home games, against Carolina and Montreal, ended in shutouts, the first time St. Louis has been blanked in consecutive home games since October 2009. Montreal's Jacob Fowler stopped all 46 shots on Tuesday, so the problem hasn't been volume.
That fits the season. St. Louis owns a healthy 50.3% shot share (its share of all shots in its games), 12th in the league. The finishing has lagged: the Blues convert just 10.4% of their shots, 20th of 32. Now they face a Boston team allowing 2.15 goals per game, 2nd in the NHL. Captain Robert Thomas, with four goals and two assists in nine career games against the Bruins, has one goal this season.
Boston wins without the puck
The Bruins sit at 9-3-1 despite getting outshot most nights. Their shot share is 47.5%, 25th in the league. They make up for it at both ends: Boston shoots 14.8%, 2nd in the league, and its team save percentage is 1st.
David Pastrnak drives it, with 18 points in his first season as captain. Thirteen games is a small sample, and shooting and save percentages that high tend to drift back. Tuesday's 2-1 loss at Carolina was Boston's first regulation defeat since early October.
The crease
Jeremy Swayman is expected to start for Boston after Wednesday off. He carries a .921 save percentage and a 2.19 goals-against average. Michael DiPietro has been sharp in limited work behind him.
For St. Louis, Joel Hofer is the probable starter, though the team hasn't confirmed it. Jordan Binnington started Tuesday against Montreal and has struggled, at an 84.5 save percentage. Hofer has been far steadier at .917. If Binnington goes again, the matchup tilts toward Boston.
Boston's penalty problem
The one crack in the Bruins' game is discipline. Boston is shorthanded 3.54 times per game, 28th in the league. St. Louis is a poor team at drawing calls, but its penalty kill (the share of opponent power plays it kills off) runs at 84.4%, 7th in the league. A Blues team that can't score at even strength needs Boston to keep handing it chances.
The injury list thins the home side's blue line. Torey Krug is on season-ending long-term injured reserve, and Dillon Dube remains on IR with a neck injury. Ross Johnston's IR listing, last updated Oct. 19, carried a Thursday target date, so his status is unsettled. Alexey Toropchenko returned Tuesday from an upper-body injury.
What the market says
Books have the Blues as a narrow home favorite at -115, with Boston at -105. The total of 6.0 hasn't moved since our feed first saw the game. That's a modest price on a team that has gone 5-6-1, with Boston the better team by record and goal differential.
- Boston is 11-2 against the puck line this season.
- Boston has gone under in 8 of 13 games; St. Louis has gone over in 7 of 12.
- Boston swept last season's series, winning both games 5-2.
- Blues coach Jim Montgomery faces the team that fired him in November 2024.
Boston Bruins vs St Louis Blues line movement and odds
| Book | Bruins ML | Blues ML | Bruins spread | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BetMGM | -105 | -115 | +1.5 (-250) | o6 (-102) |
| DraftKings | -105 | -115 | +1.5 (-250) | o5.5 (-125) |
| ESPN BET | -105 | -115 | +1.5 (-325) | o5.5 (-125) |
| Fanatics | +100 | -120 | +1.5 (-255) | o5.5 (-135) |
| FanDuel | +100 | -120 | +1.5 (-250) | o5.5 (-130) |
| Hard Rock Bet | -105 | -125 | +1.5 (-300) | o5.5 (-115) |
| Caesars | -105 | -115 | — | o6 (+102) |
Key players
- David Pastrnak (Boston Bruins): Leads Boston with 18 points, including 7 goals, in 13 games this season.
- Jeremy Swayman (Boston Bruins): Has a .921 save percentage and 2.19 goals-against average in 10 games this season.
- Fraser Minten (Boston Bruins): Has 10 points this season but also 18 penalty minutes on a team that struggles to stay out of the box.
- Mason McTavish (St. Louis Blues): Shares the team lead with 6 goals on 36 shots this season.
- Jimmy Snuggerud (St. Louis Blues): Has 6 goals while converting 22.2% of his shots this season.
- Joel Hofer (St. Louis Blues): Has a .917 save percentage in 8 games this season, well ahead of Binnington.
Numbers that matter
| Blues scoreless streak | 123:55 | St. Louis hasn't scored in more than two full games, both shutout losses at home. |
|---|---|---|
| Bruins goals allowed per game | 2.15 | Ranks 2nd of 32, a tough draw for a team in a drought. |
| Bruins shot share | 47.5% | 25th in the league; Boston wins on finishing and goaltending, not volume. |
| Bruins times shorthanded per game | 3.54 | 28th of 32, the opening for a Blues kill ranked 7th. |
| Bruins puck line record | 11-2 | Boston has covered in nearly every game this season. |
Boston Bruins vs St Louis Blues: quick answers
What is the over/under for Boston Bruins vs St Louis Blues?
The total is 6 goals.
When is Boston Bruins vs St Louis Blues?
Thursday, October 29, 2026 at 8:10 PM ET.
Has the line moved for Boston Bruins vs St Louis Blues?
No: Boston Bruins has stayed at +1.5, and the total is still 5.5 (consensus of the regulated US sportsbooks since we first saw the game).