St. Louis Blues vs Edmonton Oilers Picks and Predictions for Sunday, January 18, 2026

The St. Louis Blues head north to take on the Edmonton Oilers at Rogers Place on Sunday, January 18, 2026. Puck drop is set for 8:00 PM EST, with coverage available on ESPN+. Edmonton enters as the home favorite at -185 on the moneyline, while St. Louis is priced at +154. The total is set at 6.5 goals, with the over at +105 and the under at -125. On the puck line, the Blues are +1.5 (-162) and the Oilers -1.5 (+136). Make sure to check out our free NHL picks for more daily NHL betting insights.

St. Louis Still Searching for Road Stability

St. Louis comes into this matchup with a 19-21-8 overall record and has struggled away from home, posting a 7-12-3 road mark. Over their last five games, the Blues have shown flashes of defensive competence with a shootout win over the Lightning and a shutout victory against the Hurricanes, but those positives have been offset by losses to the Golden Knights, Mammoth, and Blackhawks. The inconsistency reflects a team still trying to find balance when the competition intensifies.

From a numbers perspective, St. Louis is averaging just 2.48 goals per game while allowing 3.35, a gap that becomes problematic against teams with high offensive ceilings. They generate 24.7 shots per game and surrender 28.4 shots against, often spending extended stretches in their own zone. Special teams have also been an issue, with the power play converting at 16.8% for 21 goals, while the penalty kill has allowed 30 power play goals against and sits at 76%.

One positive for St. Louis has been short-handed production, as they’ve scored five short-handed goals. While that shows opportunistic pressure, it’s not a sustainable formula for covering defensive shortcomings over a full game.

Edmonton’s Firepower Sets the Tone at Home

Edmonton enters with a 23-17-8 overall record and has been solid on home ice at 11-6-4. Their last five games include wins over the Jets and Blackhawks, with losses to the Islanders, Predators in overtime, and Kings in a shootout. While the results have been uneven, Edmonton’s ability to generate offense remains a constant.

The Oilers are averaging 3.31 goals per game while allowing 3.23, supported by 29.2 shots per game and 27.1 shots against. Special teams are where Edmonton separates itself. The power play has been elite, producing 44 power play goals at a staggering 33.3% conversion rate, while the penalty kill has held at 79.7% with 27 power play goals allowed.

Edmonton’s ability to control pace through shot volume and punish opponents on the power play gives them a built-in matchup advantage, particularly against a St. Louis team that has struggled defensively on the road.

St. Louis Blues vs Edmonton Oilers Pick

Moneyline Pick

• Pick: Edmonton Oilers -185

Edmonton is the side I’m backing because the matchup strongly favors their offensive strengths against St. Louis’ defensive weaknesses. The Oilers’ elite power play aligns perfectly with a Blues penalty kill that has already allowed 30 power play goals, and playing at home only magnifies that edge. Edmonton doesn’t need a flawless performance—special teams execution alone should be enough to tilt this game in their favor.

St. Louis Blues vs Edmonton Oilers Total Pick

• Pick: Over 6.5 (+105)

I’m playing the over here because Edmonton games can escalate quickly once special teams get involved. St. Louis allows 3.35 goals per game, while Edmonton gives up 3.23, creating a realistic path to both teams contributing to the total. Even if the Blues are limited offensively, Edmonton has the scoring depth to push this number past 6.5 on their own.

Final Score Prediction:

Oilers 5, Blues 3

This prediction was written before the completion of game play on Saturday.