St. Louis Blues vs Utah Mammoth Pick and Prediction for Friday January 9, 2026
The St. Louis Blues continue their road trip as they face the Utah Mammoth at the Delta Center on Friday, January 9, 2026. This 9:00 PM EST matchup features two Central Division rivals moving in opposite directions: Utah is gaining momentum at home, while the Blues are struggling to find defensive consistency on the road. For expert analysis and daily wagering insights on the full slate of NHL action, be sure to check out the latest free NHL picks over at Winners and Whiners.
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St. Louis Blues Fighting Through Defensive Woes
The Blues enter this contest at 17-19-8, currently sitting near the bottom of the Central Division. St. Louis has struggled significantly on the defensive end, ranking 31st in the league by allowing 3.43 goals per game. Their offense hasn't fared much better, averaging a league-low 2.50 goals per game. Despite these struggles, Robert Thomas continues to be a bright spot, leading the team with 30 points and recently netting a shorthanded goal against Montreal.
The Blues' injury list is substantial, particularly among their forward group. Pius Suter and Dylan Holloway are both sidelined with high ankle sprains, with Holloway expected to miss another month. Veterans Nick Bjugstad and Nathan Walker are also on Injured Reserve with upper-body injuries.5 On a positive note, defenseman Justin Faulk has been a iron man on the blue line, playing over 22 minutes a night and leading the team in goals from the point (11).
Utah Mammoth Gaining Ground in the Central
The Mammoth (21-20-3) return home after a successful road stint, currently holding a wild card spot. Utah averages 3.02 goals per game and has a much more stable defensive structure than St. Louis, giving up 2.84 goals per game. Captain Clayton Keller leads the charge with 38 points and is coming off a multi-assist performance in a 3-1 win over Ottawa.
Utah is dealing with a few health concerns but remains largely intact. Kevin Stenlund is day-to-day with an illness and missed Wednesday's game; his status for tonight is a game-time decision. The team remains without young star Logan Cooley, who is on Injured Reserve with a lower-body injury. In net, Karel Vejmelka has been the primary starter since returning from an upper-body injury in early January, posting a 2.65 GAA.
St. Louis Blues vs. Utah Mammoth Prediction
The Mammoth have been much more consistent at home than the Blues have been on the road. St. Louis is coming off a demoralizing 7-3 loss to Chicago where their defensive structure collapsed. Utah’s balanced scoring and superior special teams give them a clear edge in this matchup.
St. Louis Blues vs. Utah Mammoth ATS Pick
- Pick: Utah Mammoth -1.5 (+142)
St. Louis has struggled to keep games close on the road, often falling apart in the second half of games. Utah has the offensive depth to exploit a Blues defense that allows the second-most goals in the league. With the Blues missing several key checking forwards like Bjugstad and Walker, the Mammoth should be able to control the pace of play and secure a multi-goal victory.
St. Louis Blues vs. Utah Mammoth Total Pick
- Pick: Over 5.5 (-115)
While the Blues struggle to score, they also struggle to stop others from scoring. Utah has seen the over hit in 22 of their games this season, and the Blues have matched that number.10 Given the Blues' recent 7-3 loss and Utah’s ability to put up numbers against bottom-tier defenses, this game is likely to clear the 5.5 mark, potentially ending in a 4-2 or 5-2 Utah win.
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