If you’ve been watching the St. Louis Blues lately, you know it’s been a bit of a roller coaster. One night they’re shutting out the Hurricanes, and the next, it feels like the wheels are falling off. As of Sunday, January 18, 2026, the stl blues playoff standings situation is, well, complicated. Honestly, looking at the raw numbers can be a little depressing if you’re a die-hard fan. They’re sitting at 19-21-8 with 46 points.
That puts them 6th in the Central Division. In the broader Western Conference, they’re basically treading water in 12th place. It’s not exactly the "Gloria" days of 2019, but there's more to the story than just a sub-.500 record.
The West is a complete mess right now. Usually, by mid-January, you can tell who’s cooked. This year? Not so much. The Blues are currently chasing a pack of teams—the Ducks, Kings, Sharks, and Kraken—who are all hovering around that final Wild Card spot with about 51 points. Being five points back isn't a death sentence, but the margin for error has basically vanished.
The Reality of the stl blues playoff standings and the January Gauntlet
Jim Montgomery has had his hands full since taking over. You’ve seen the flashes of brilliance. The 3-0 win against Carolina on January 13th was a masterclass in defensive structure. Then they followed it up with a gritty 3-2 shootout win over Tampa Bay. Taking down two Eastern Conference giants back-to-back? That’s the kind of stuff that makes you think this team has a run in them.
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But then there's the "Chicago Problem." Losing 7-3 to the Blackhawks on January 7th was a gut punch. You can't drop games to divisional bottom-feeders when you're fighting for your life in the standings.
Breaking Down the Wild Card Race
Right now, the Western Conference playoff picture looks like a crowded elevator.
- Vegas and Edmonton are starting to pull away in the Pacific.
- Colorado is basically in a different league at the top of the Central with 74 points.
- The "Middling" Pack: This is where the Blues live. San Jose, Los Angeles, and Anaheim are all tied up at 51 points.
The Blues have 46 points. To bridge that 5-point gap, they don't just need to win; they need to win in regulation. Those "loser points" (OT losses) are starting to haunt them. They have 8 overtime/shootout losses this year. If even half of those were wins, we’d be talking about a team comfortably in a playoff spot.
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Why the Roster is Screaming for Help
Injuries haven't just been a nuisance; they've been a wrecking ball. The news that Robert Thomas is out until at least late January with a lower-body injury is devastating. He’s the engine of that offense. When Thomas isn't on the ice, the transition game looks... slow. Sorta sluggish, if I'm being honest.
Then you have the defensive core. Philip Broberg recently had a scare with a concussion protocol after that hit from Mark Stone in the Vegas game. He’s back now, which is huge, because the Blues' blue line is already thin with Torey Krug out for the season.
- The Bright Spots: Jake Neighbours is playing like a man possessed. He’s found a scoring touch that this team desperately needs.
- The Youth Movement: Jimmy Snuggerud and Dalibor Dvorsky are getting real minutes. It's cool to see the future, but asking rookies to carry a playoff push is a big ask.
- The Goalie Split: Jordan Binnington has been "Good Binner" lately, but Joel Hofer has actually been the more consistent presence in January. Montgomery seems to be riding the hot hand, which is the only way to survive this stretch.
What Needs to Happen for a Playoff Berth
If the Blues want to fix their stl blues playoff standings situation, they have to survive the rest of January. They have a brutal schedule coming up: Dallas, Florida, and Columbus are all waiting at the end of the month.
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They basically need to go on a "9-out-of-10" type of run. They’re currently on a two-game winning streak. If they can push that to five or six, the narrative changes instantly. The problem is the Goals Against. They’ve given up 161 goals while only scoring 119. That -42 goal differential is the second-worst in the Western Conference, only "topped" by Vancouver. You can't consistently lose by three or four goals and expect the math to work in April.
Actionable Insights for the Trade Deadline
General Manager Doug Armstrong is in a weird spot. Does he sell off pieces like Justin Faulk or Cam Fowler to stock up on picks? Or does he try to find a stop-gap center while Thomas is out?
- Watch the Power Play: It’s been hovering around 16.8%, which is bottom-tier. If they can’t fix the man advantage, they won't climb the standings.
- Home Ice Advantage: They play much better at the Enterprise Center (12-9-5). They have a heavy home schedule to close out January. They have to sweep those games.
- The Target Number: Historically, it takes about 95 points to make the playoffs in the West. To hit that, the Blues need 49 points in their remaining 34 games. That’s a 24-9-1 record. It’s a mountain to climb, but in hockey, stranger things have happened.
Keep a close eye on the games against the Kings and Ducks. Those are "four-point games." If the Blues win those, they pull their rivals down while moving up. If they lose those, it's time to start looking at mock drafts for the summer.
Next Steps for Fans:
Track the "Games in Hand" metric. The Blues have played 48 games, which is about average for the league right now. However, teams like Vegas have only played 46. If those teams win their extra games, the gap for St. Louis gets even wider. Check the daily waiver wire and injury reports specifically for Robert Thomas' return date, as that will be the single biggest factor in whether the Blues can actually make a dent in the wild card race.