Minnesota Wild vs Columbus Blue Jackets Prediction, 12/18/2025 NHL Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Minnesota Wild vs Columbus Blue Jackets

Date: Thursday, December 18, 2025

Location: Nationwide Arena in Columbus, OH

TV: Fanduel Sports Network

Odds/Point Spread: Wild (-150) Blue Jackets (+125)

The Minnesota Wild (20-9-5) are on their way to Nationwide Arena on Thursday where they will meet the Columbus Blue Jackets (14-13-6). The moneyline on this contest has the Wild at -150 while the Blue Jackets are at +125. The total is set at 6.

The Minnesota Wild will head into their next game feeling good after earning a 5-0 win over the Capitals their last time out. Minnesota compiled 4 penalty minutes in this game. Additionally, they had 4 chances with the advantage and were able to net 1 goal. The Wild had a solid offensive output and it showed in the victory. In the game, they scored on 5 of the 32 shots they looked to score on.

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Minnesota Wild opponents have earned 81 power play opportunities (31st in professional hockey) and have scored 17 goals in those attempts. The Wild have seen 1,012 shots attempted against them and have earned a save percentage of .915. Minnesota has attempted 958 shots and has a shot percentage of 10.5%. When at even strength, the Wild have allowed the opponent to score 69 goals while notching 74 of their own. Minnesota comes into the game with 117 power play opportunities and they have notched 27 goals during those chances, earning them a percentage of 23.08%. For the current campaign, they sit with 45 points and their points percentage comes in at .662. When it comes to scoring goals, the Minnesota Wild have earned 101 goals (15th in the National Hockey League) this year and have conceded 86.

The player guarding the cage in this matchup is Jesper Wallstedt. Throughout his time in hockey, Wallstedt has 12 quality starts and his percentage for quality starts is .706. His save percentage currently is .921 for his 296 minutes guarding the cage. Wallstedt has seen 517 shot attempts against him and has recorded 476 saves. Opponents have scored 41 goals against Wallstedt in his professional career and his average for goals against per game is 2.41. He has amassed an overall mark of 11-4-2 and was named the starter in 17 games. Wallstedt has participated in 17 matchups throughout his pro hockey career.

In their last outing, Columbus faced off against the Ducks in a game where the Blue Jackets notched a win by a mark of 4-3. They had 2 opportunities on the power play in this outing but weren't able to notch a goal. The Blue Jackets recorded 4 goals of the 28 shots on goal they pursued.

Columbus has taken 1,000 shots (7th in pro hockey) and has a shot percentage of 9.60%, while allowing their opponents 1,028 shots. They have recorded a penalty kill rate of 72.83% on their oppositions 92 tries on the power play, and their save percentage is 88.9%. They have earned 81 power play chances and they have a power play rate of 18.52%. The Blue Jackets have tallied 81 goals at even strength and 15 goals (28th in professional hockey) while having more men on the ice. They have granted a total of 114 goals to be scored by of a combination of 89 goals at even strength and 25 goals while they had less men on the ice. For the year, the Columbus Blue Jackets have notched a total of 96 goals, 34 points, and a points percentage of .515.

On the other side of the ice you will find Jet Greaves in net. Greaves is the owner of a career record of 18-17-7 and has participated in 42 contests. Greaves' percentage of quality starts is 65.0% and he has qualified for 26 quality starting assignments in his pro career. He has tallied 1,213 saves out of the 1,325 shots attempted against him, which gives him a percentage of .915. Opponents are averaging 2.80 goals per game and he has yielded 112 goals altogether. He got the starting nod in 40 games and has racked up 1,166 mins.

Who will win tonight's NHL game against the spread or moneyline?

Parlays Pundit's Pick: Take Columbus (+125) and under 6 goals

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