St. Louis Blues vs Detroit Red Wings Picks, Prediction, Odds, and Line Movement for Saturday October 31 2026

The St. Louis Blues travel to Little Caesars Arena for a Halloween matinee against the Detroit Red Wings, with both clubs coming off encouraging victories. St. Louis beat Boston 4-1 on Thursday after a difficult stretch, while Detroit defeated Chicago by the same score with a Viktor Arvidsson hat trick. The Red Wings have collected points in eight of their last nine games, but the matchup comes amid major upheaval: Dylan Larkin remains away from the team under suspension. That absence changes Detroit’s center deployment without erasing its recent progress.

St. Louis is a slight road favorite on the early market, with BetMGM showing the Blues -115 and Detroit -105. Another opening-weekend board had St. Louis near -112 and Detroit around -101, so the quotes remain close to a pick’em rather than showing a decisive market swing. The full-game total has appeared at both 5.5 and 6 depending on the operator. Those are meaningfully different goal thresholds, but neither side offers an obvious bargain on the total. The more useful decision is whether Detroit’s recent form deserves a near-even home price.

The Blues have enough offensive balance to make this a difficult afternoon for the home side. Robert Thomas and Jake Neighbours are projected together with Jimmy Snuggerud, while Pavel Buchnevich helps a second group built around Mason McTavish. St. Louis can pressure defenders through multiple lines and does not need one player to take over. Its victory in Boston also demonstrated the value of protecting the slot and turning possession into controlled chances. Joel Hofer is listed among the projected goalies, though the final starting assignment should be confirmed closer to the opening faceoff.

Detroit’s response to the Larkin situation has been more important than the distraction itself. Arvidsson’s three goals against Chicago provided a finishing boost, and Alex DeBrincat and Lucas Raymond remain dangerous when the Red Wings can move the puck through the middle. Moritz Seider continues to anchor the defense, with John Gibson appearing as a projected option in net. The loss of Larkin creates extra responsibility for Andrew Copp and Detroit’s other centers on faceoffs and defensive shifts. That adjustment is substantial, yet the Wings have shown an ability to stay connected and compete for sixty minutes.

St. Louis will attempt to put Detroit’s reorganized middle of the ice under pressure. If the Blues control neutral-zone entries and force extended shifts below the goal line, Detroit’s forwards could spend too much energy defending. The Red Wings need their defensemen to complete the first outlet and allow Raymond or DeBrincat to attack with speed. Detroit also has to avoid penalties after losing a key two-way forward, because repeated special-teams situations could expose new combinations. St. Louis can win by keeping the game patient; Detroit benefits from selective pace rather than an all-out trading of chances.

An early lead would be particularly helpful to Detroit. Playing ahead lets the Red Wings manage matchups and avoid asking replacement centers to chase against Thomas for an entire period. Gibson has the experience to handle an afternoon start, provided his teammates protect the second opportunity in front. On the other side, Hofer can keep St. Louis in this contest even if Detroit creates a burst of chances. Nothing about the projected goalie listings establishes a confirmed starter. The tactical issue is which team converts a rebound or offensive-zone turnover during an otherwise closely played game.

The moneyline is appropriately narrow: St. Louis has the continuity advantage, while Detroit owns home ice and a strong recent points run. The Blues’ Thursday performance against Boston deserves respect, but the Red Wings’ response to adversity has also been tangible. Detroit’s ability to roll its remaining attacking talent and limit the number of dangerous rushes is a credible route to a home victory. At a market price hovering just below even money, the Red Wings offer a reasonable side without needing to cover a multiple-goal spread.

Detroit Red Wings moneyline (-105 at BetMGM). This is a modest home-side opinion, not an expectation of a dominant performance. Detroit’s improving results, the availability of several proven finishers and the chance to control matchups at home provide enough support to prefer the Red Wings at this number. The Larkin absence increases uncertainty and argues against chasing Detroit at a materially worse price.

Detroit Red Wings 3, St. Louis Blues 2. Expect the teams to trade controlled scoring chances for most of the afternoon, with Detroit finding one decisive opportunity in the third period and then defending a narrow lead. A tight five-goal finish makes more sense than assuming either team overwhelms the other.