Columbus Blue Jackets vs Minnesota Wild Prediction, 10/18/2026 NHL Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Columbus Blue Jackets vs Minnesota Wild

Date: Sunday, October 18, 2026

Location: Grand Casino Arena in Saint Paul, MN

TV: Blue Jackets Hockey Network, Wild+

Odds/Point Spread: Blue Jackets (+165) Wild (-190)

The Minnesota Wild (5-2-1) will compete against the Columbus Blue Jackets (2-3-0) at Grand Casino Arena on Sunday. The line on this matchup has the Blue Jackets at +165 while the Wild are coming in at -190. The betting total is set at 6.5.

The Columbus Blue Jackets were on the losing side of the ice with a 7-3 defeat to the Panthers in the last game they played. Columbus accounted for 25 minutes in the box in this outing. The Blue Jackets had an average offensive performance in this defeat. Furthermore, they had 2 chances on the power play but weren't able to convert one of them into a goal. In the game, they scored on 3 of the 27 shots they looked to score on.

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Columbus Blue Jackets opponents have amassed 18 power play opportunities (31st in pro hockey) and have racked up 7 goals in those attempts. The Blue Jackets thus far have had 134 shots tried against them and are the owners of a save percentage of .843. Columbus has taken 139 shots and holds a shot percentage of 10.8%. When at even strength, the Blue Jackets have given up 14 goals while having 13 on offense. Columbus skates onto the rink with 12 power play chances and they have tallied 2 goals during those advantages, giving them a rate of 16.67%. For the current campaign, they have recorded 4 points and their points percentage comes in at .400. In reference to their scoring, the Columbus Blue Jackets have tallied 15 goals (29th in the league) for the year and have surrendered 21.

The man protecting the net in this game is Cam Talbot. Talbot has been involved in 569 games over the course of his NHL career. He has accumulated an overall record of 279-205-53 and he was named the starter in 535 games. The opposition has notched 1,450 goals against Talbot in his NHL career and his goals against average per game is 2.71. Talbot has had 16,234 shots taken against him and has amassed 14,786 total saves. His save percentage is at .911 for his 5 mins in the crease. Throughout his time in hockey, Talbot has 294 quality starts and his quality starts percentage is .550.

In their last contest, Minnesota squared up with the Blues in a matchup where the Wild ended up with the win by a final of 5-4. They had 5 opportunities on the power play in this matchup and scored 1 out of those chances. The Wild recorded 5 goals of the 38 shots on goal they took.

Minnesota has taken 233 shots (6th in the NHL) and has a shot percentage of 11.16%, while allowing the opposition 214 shots. They have accumulated a penalty kill rate of 88.46% on their oppositions 26 chances on the power play, and their save percentage sits at 90.7%. They have a total of 24 power play chances and they have earned a power play rate of 33.33%. The Wild have earned 18 goals at even strength and 8 goals (4th in the NHL) while on the power play. They have permitted 20 goals to be scored by of a combination of 17 goals at even strength and 3 goals while they were shorthanded. For the year, the Minnesota Wild have tallied 26 goals, 11 points, in addition to a points percentage of .688.

On the other side of the ice you are likely to see Jesper Wallstedt in goal. Opponents are averaging 2.64 goals per contest and he has relinquished 119 goals overall. Wallstedt's percentage of quality starts is 71.1% and he has qualified for 32 quality starting assignments in his NHL career. He has started in 45 games and has accumulated 113 minutes. Wallstedt is sitting with a lifetime record of 25-13-7 and has been in goal for 47 games. He has accounted for 1,229 stops out of 1,347 shots taken against him, which gives him a save percentage of .912.

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

Tony's Pick: Take Columbus (+165)

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