Vancouver Canucks vs Minnesota Wild Prediction, 4/2/2026 NHL Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Vancouver Canucks vs Minnesota Wild

Date: Thursday, April 2, 2026

Location: Grand Casino Arena in Saint Paul, MN

TV: Fanduel Sports Network

The Vancouver Canucks (21-44-8) are hitting the road to Grand Casino Arena on Thursday where they will meet the Minnesota Wild (41-21-12).

The Vancouver Canucks will be looking to get a win in their next outing after their 4-2 defeat to the Golden Knights in the last game they played. Vancouver had 11 penalty mins for this contest. They also had 1 chance on the power play and scored 1 goal. The Canucks had a rough night on the offensive side of the ice in this defeat. For the game, they netted 2 of the 24 shots they tried.

Vancouver Canucks opponents have totaled 210 power play opportunities (19th in pro hockey) and have a total of 61 goals in those chances. The Canucks so far have had 2,169 shots tried against them and have a save percentage of .873. Vancouver has taken 1,906 shots and holds a shooting percentage of 9.6%. While at even strength, the Canucks have conceded 214 goals while having 140 of their own. Vancouver has accumulated 213 power play opportunities and they have added 42 goals out of those attempts, giving them a rate of 19.72%. For the current season, they have scored 50 points and their points percentage sits at .342. When it comes to their scoring capabilities, the Vancouver Canucks have racked up 182 goals (32nd in the NHL) on the year and have conceded 275.

The player guarding the cage in this matchup is Nikita Tolopilo. Tolopilo has taken the ice for 18 contests throughout his pro hockey career. He has earned a mark of 6-8-2 and he has gotten the start in 14 games. The opposition has notched 53 goals versus Tolopilo in his professional career and his goals against rate is 3.79. Tolopilo has had 464 shots taken against him and he has 411 total saves. He has a save percentage of .886 during his 141 mins guarding the cage. Over the course of his pro career, Tolopilo has compiled 5 quality starts and his quality starts percentage sits at .357.

When they were on the ice last, Minnesota faced the Bruins in a matchup where the Wild took a loss by a mark of 6-3. The Wild netted 3 goals of the 34 shots on goal they tried. They had 3 power play chances in this game and scored 1 out of those chances.

Minnesota has tried 2,178 shots (7th in the league) and has a shot percentage of 10.93%, while allowing their opponents 2,191 shots. They have earned a penalty kill percentage of 78.76% on the other teams 193 chances on the power play, and their save percentage currently sits at 90.4%. They have recorded 240 power play opportunities and they have a power play percentage of 25.00%. The Wild have earned 178 goals at even strength and 60 goals (3rd in pro hockey) while on the power play. They have permitted 211 goals to be scored by of a combination of 170 goals at even strength and 41 goals while they had less men on the ice. So far this year, the Minnesota Wild have a total of 238 goals, 94 points, in addition to a points percentage of .635.

For the opposition you will find Filip Gustavsson defending the net. He has racked up 5,702 stops out of the 6,254 shots attempted against him, giving him a save percentage of .912. Gustavsson has accumulated a career record of 109-72-26 and has been in goal for 215 games. He got the starting nod in 206 games and has racked up 9,071 minutes. Gustavsson's quality start rate is 61.2% and he has qualified for 126 quality starts in his pro career. His opponents are averaging 2.68 goals per game and he has allowed 552 goals overall.

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

Josh's Pick: Take Vancouver

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