Minnesota Wild vs Nashville Predators Prediction, 10/1/2026 NHL Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Minnesota Wild vs Nashville Predators

Date: Thursday, October 1, 2026

Location: Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, TN

TV: ESPN+

Odds/Point Spread: Wild (-135) Predators (+122)

The Nashville Predators (38-34-10 last season) host the Minnesota Wild (46-24-12 last year) at Bridgestone Arena on Thursday. The moneyline on this game has the Wild at -135 and the Predators are sitting at +122. The total comes in at 6.5.

The Minnesota Wild will look for better times on the ice after their 4-3 loss to the Avalanche their last time out. Minnesota recorded 2 penalty minutes in this contest. In addition, they had 1 power play chance but weren't able to score. The Wild offense showed they have some room for improvement in the loss. In the game, they were able to notch a goal on 3 of the 20 shots they tried.

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In reference to their goal scoring prowess, the Minnesota Wild earned 268 goals (10th in the NHL) during the previous year and gave up 235. For the prior season, they recorded 104 points and their points percentage finished at .634. Minnesota accounted for 258 power play opportunities and tallied 65 goals out of those attempts, garnering them a percentage of 25.19%. At even strength, the Wild gave up 192 goals while earning 203. Minnesota took 2,393 shots and were the owners of a shooting percentage of 11.2%. The Wild had 2,410 shots tried against them and held a save percentage of .902. Minnesota Wild opposition had 213 power play opportunities (29th in professional hockey) and had a total of 43 goals in those attempts.

Protecting the goal for this matchup will be Jesper Wallstedt. Wallstedt has participated in 40 matchups during his NHL career. He has an overall record of 20-12-6 and he has started in 38 games. The opposition has racked up 104 goals versus Wallstedt in his pro career and his goals against average is 2.74. Wallstedt has seen 1,158 shots against him and has garnered 1,054 total saves. His save percentage currently is .910 for his 348 minutes in the crease. Over the course of his career, Wallstedt has earned 25 quality starts and his rate for quality starts is .658.

When they were on the ice last, Nashville opposed the Ducks in a game where the Predators ended up losing by a tally of 5-4. They had 3 opportunities on the power play in this game and recorded 2 out of those attempts. The Predators recorded 4 goals of the 21 shots on goal they tried.

Last year, the Nashville Predators had 242 goals, 86 points, in addition to a points percentage of .524. They permitted 267 goals to be scored by way of 222 goals at even strength and 45 goals while they were shorthanded. The Predators tallied 187 goals at even strength and 55 goals (11th in professional hockey) while having a power play advantage. They had 238 power play chances and they have a power play percentage of 23.11%. Nashville has tried 2,285 shots (19th in hockey) and accumulated a shot percentage of 10.59%, while allowing the opposition 2,430 shots. They accumulated a penalty kill percentage of 81.71% on their opposition's 246 power play tries, and their save percentage was 89.0%.

Across the ice you will find Juuse Saros defending the net. Saros has accrued a career mark of 230-172-46 and has played in 467 games. Saros' quality start percentage comes in at 57.3% and he has 258 quality starts in his professional career. He has accrued 12,650 stops out of the 13,876 shots attempted, which gives him a rate of .912. The opposition is averaging 2.72 goals per game and he has relinquished 1,226 goals altogether. He has made the start in 450 contests and his ice time sits at 21,767 minutes.

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

Parlays Pundit's Pick: Take Nashville (+122) and under 6.5 goals

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