St. Louis Blues Host Minnesota Wild in 2025-26 Season Opener

The St. Louis Blues are set to begin their 2025-26 NHL season on October 9, 2025, hosting the Minnesota Wild at the Enterprise Center at 7 p.m. This matchup marks a fresh start for both teams, who are looking to build on their previous season's playoff appearances. The Blues finished last season with 96 points, returning to the Stanley Cup Playoffs after a two-year absence, while the Wild secured a Wild Card spot with 97 points.

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The Blues have made several key additions to their roster this season. Center Pius Suter, who recorded career highs of 25 goals and 46 points with the Vancouver Canucks last season, will wear No. 22 and is expected to center the third line alongside Jake Neighbours and Mathieu Joseph. Veteran center Nick Bjugstad, a 760-game NHL player, has signed a two-year contract and will center Alexey Toropchenko and Nathan Walker. Additionally, defenseman Logan Mailloux, acquired from the Montreal Canadiens, is anticipated to pair with Tyler Tucker on the third defensive line. However, forward Oskar Sundqvist will miss the game due to a lower-body injury sustained in practice.

Projected Lineup: Oct. 9 vs. Minnesota

The Minnesota Wild enter the season opener with notable injury challenges. Veteran forward Mats Zuccarello is sidelined for 7-8 weeks with a lower-body injury, and center Nico Sturm is also out. Defenseman Jonas Brodin, who had surgery for an upper-body injury, was initially doubtful but has been ruled out for the game. The Wild will rely heavily on their star forward Kirill Kaprizov, who recently signed an eight-year contract extension, and young talents like Matt Boldy and Marco Rossi to fill the gaps left by injured players.

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Fans are encouraged to participate in the Opening Night Rally at Union Station, starting at 3 p.m., before the game. The Blues will unveil a new pregame presentation at 6:30 p.m. The matchup is expected to be competitive, with the Blues holding a slight edge in the betting odds at -125 compared to the Wild's +105. Analysts predict a close game, with projections suggesting a final score of Blues 3, Wild 2, largely due to the Blues' home-ice advantage and the Wild's injury woes.

Blues vs. Wild NHL Predictions, Picks and Odds - Oct. 9

Blues head coach Jim Montgomery emphasized the importance of starting the season strong, stating, “It makes your life a lot easier when you start out good. We feel like we can keep that momentum going from last year.” Montgomery also expressed confidence in his team's defensive capabilities, highlighting the sharpness of the goalies and defensemen during training camp.

KWMU - NPR - St. Louis

Despite the optimism surrounding the Blues, some analysts caution that the team must improve its power play and penalty kill, which were ranked low last season. The Wild, on the other hand, face scrutiny regarding their ability to advance past the first round of the playoffs, having not done so since the 2014-15 season.

NHL Predictions: October 9 St. Louis Blues Vs. Minnesota Wild

Following the season opener, both teams will look to solidify their lineups and strategies as they navigate the highly competitive Central Division. The Blues aim to capitalize on their home advantage, while the Wild will seek to overcome their injury setbacks and establish a strong start to their season.

NHL Predictions: October 9 St. Louis Blues Vs. Minnesota Wild