Minnesota Wild vs Buffalo Sabres Prediction, 10/6/2026 NHL Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Minnesota Wild vs Buffalo Sabres

Date: Tuesday, October 6, 2026

Location: KeyBank Center in Buffalo, NY

TV: Wild+, MSG Network

Odds/Point Spread: Wild (-106) Sabres (+100)

The Buffalo Sabres (1-1-0) will go up against the Minnesota Wild (2-0-0) at KeyBank Center on Tuesday. The moneyline on this contest has the Wild at -106 while the Sabres are coming in at +100. The betting total is set at 6.5.

The Minnesota Wild will head into their next game feeling good after earning a 4-1 win against the Bruins in the last game they played. Minnesota garnered 6 penalty minutes in this contest. The Wild had a good offensive outing in the win. They also had 3 power play opportunities and were able to net 2 goals. In the game, they converted 4 out of the 30 shots they attempted.

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At even strength, the Wild let the opposition score 2 goals while getting 4 themselves. Minnesota Wild opponents have amassed 7 power play opportunities (17th in pro hockey) and have scored 0 goals in those attempts. In reference to their scoring capabilities, the Minnesota Wild have notched 7 goals (13th in the league) on the campaign and have given up 2. Minnesota has tried 60 shots and has a shooting percentage of 11.7%. For the year, they sit with 4 points and their points percentage comes in at 1.000. The Wild so far have had 47 shots attempted against them and have a save percentage of .957. Minnesota has accounted for 7 power play opportunities and they have scored 3 goals out of those attempts, garnering them a rate of 42.86%.

The player protecting the goal in this game is Jesper Wallstedt. Opponents have been able to score 106 goals against Wallstedt in his career and his goals against rate is 2.65. Wallstedt has been involved in 42 matchups over the course of his hockey career. His save percentage sits at .912 for his 101 mins on the ice. He has accumulated a record of 22-12-6 and was named the starter in 40 games. In his career, Wallstedt is sitting with 27 quality starts and his quality starts rate sits at .675. Wallstedt has had 1,205 shots taken against him and has recorded 1,099 total saves.

In their last game, Buffalo played the Blackhawks in a game where the Sabres got the win by a mark of 4-3. They had 3 power play attempts in this contest but weren't able to finish one of them with a goal. The Sabres scored 4 goals of the 28 shots on goal they took.

The Sabres have accumulated 7 goals at even strength and 0 goals (30th in hockey) while having more men on the ice. Buffalo has taken 54 shots (25th in pro hockey) and has accumulated a shot percentage of 12.96%, while allowing their opponents 38 shots. On the campaign, the Buffalo Sabres have 7 goals, 2 points, and a points percentage of .500. They have granted a total of 9 goals to be scored by way of 7 goals at even strength and 2 goals while they were shorthanded. They have earned 8 power play chances and they have accumulated a power play percentage of 0.00%. They have accumulated a penalty kill rate of 60.00% on the other teams 5 tries on the power play, and their save percentage is 76.3%.

Across the ice you are likely to see Colten Ellis defending the goal. Ellis has accrued a lifetime record of 8-4-2 and has been in goal for 16 contests. Ellis' quality start rate sits at 50.0% and he has qualified for 7 quality starts in his professional career. He has recorded 411 saves out of the 455 shots tried, giving him a save % of .903. His opposition is averaging 3.14 goals per contest and he has relinquished 44 goals altogether. He has made the start in 14 games and has been on the ice for 38 minutes.

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

Josh's Pick: Take Buffalo (+100)

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