Published Oct 8, 4:22am ET by
Alex Dudley - Betting Preview Analyst and Sports Writer
Last updated Oct 8, 4:22am ET
Credit: AI Generated
Updated Oct 8, 4:22am ET
The first NHL action of the new season at Enterprise Center is set for Thursday evening, as the Blues welcome the Minnesota Wild.
There was little to separate these sides last term, with the Wild finishing a place higher than St. Louis in the Western Conference standings. But, which team will make a winning start in 2025-26? You can find the odds and our picks here.
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|---|---|
| St. Louis Blues | -125 |
| Minnesota Wild | +110 |
There was immediate improvement after Jim Montgomery took over at the St. Louis Blues in late November.
His appointment would form as the springboard for the team to make a late charge toward the playoff places, securing a top-eight spot for the first time since 2021-22.
However, their playoff journey would end in spectacular fashion after giving up a two-goal lead in their game seven against the Winnipeg Jets. Bouncing back from that disappointment will be a huge question, but it's hard to overlook the progress made under Montgomery.
The Minnesota Wild will be massive underdogs for the clash this week. However, they should bring confidence into the opening night after winning each of their last two pre-season games.
John Hynes' team finished last term in seventh in the Western Conference standings, and their playoff journey ended in the first round at the hands of the Vegas Golden Knights.
The Wild have added quality on the ice this season following the arrival of Cameron Butler. However, they have also lost talented stars such as Travis Boyd and Gustav Nyquist.
It will be fascinating to see how the Wild perform without a couple of their main stars from last season.
The Blues showed excellent progression under their coach in the second half of the regular season last term, and a repeat of that will make them very challenging to oppose on opening night this week.
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Pick
St. Louis Blues (-125)
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