Minnesota vs Columbus Prediction 18 October 2026
🔊 Minnesota are starting to build momentum. The Wild have won three of their last four games, putting five past St. Louis in their previous outing. Columbus also gave their fans something to cheer about, snapping their losing streak with a win over the Rangers. That said, the Blue Jackets needed more than 60 minutes to get it done, with the only goal coming in overtime. Now the visitors face the challenge of containing one of the league’s most dangerous offenses early this season. Can they repeat last year’s success in St. Paul?
They tend to perform better on the road.
📊 Last season, the teams traded away victories. Columbus came out on top in St. Paul with a 7-4 win, highlighted by a Kirill Marchenko hat-trick. In December, Minnesota got their revenge on the road, claiming a 5-2 victory. Kirill Kaprizov and Matthew Boldy each racked up three points in that matchup. Both games were high-scoring affairs, with a total of 18 goals scored across the two meetings.
Head-to-head statistics Minnesota - Columbus
Boldy woke up on time
Minnesota have taken three wins from their last four games, solidifying their place in the Western Conference playoff picture. John Hynes’ side have been especially sharp on the power play, converting roughly one out of every three opportunities-a mark bettered by only one other team in the league. Kirill Kaprizov has also hit the ground running this season, tallying nine goals in eight appearances. However, the Wild are dealing with a lengthy injury list: Faber, Gustavsson, both Folignos, Sturm, and Spurgeon are all sidelined, while Kaprizov and Määttä remain questionable for the upcoming fixture.
In their most recent outing, Minnesota edged St. Louis 5-4, though the closing stages nearly saw the game slip away. The Wild led 5-2 midway through the third period but allowed the Blues to claw back to within a single goal. Matthew Boldy was the standout performer, registering a hat trick and an assist. Kaprizov chipped in with a goal and two assists, while Quinn Hughes extended his point streak to eight games. Minnesota outshot their opponents 39-26 and dictated play for much of the contest. Still, conceding twice late on highlighted that even with a commanding advantage, Minnesota sometimes struggle to see games out comfortably.
Match Results: Minnesota Wild
After a seven-goal thriller, a clean sheet follows
Columbus have had a rocky start to the season. Rick Bowness’s side picked up three wins from their opening six games, but their last two defeats were particularly tough to swallow. St. Louis put five past the Blue Jackets, while Florida torched them for seven-four of those coming on the penalty kill. It’s little wonder their special teams are under scrutiny: Columbus have killed off just 61.1% of opposing power plays so far. That’s a worrying stat heading into a trip to Minnesota.
However, Columbus looked like a different team in their most recent outing. The Blue Jackets edged the Rangers 1-0 in overtime, with Jet Greaves stopping all 29 shots he faced. The defensive effort was much improved, and they successfully killed off all three penalties. Rick Bowness called it his team’s best performance of the campaign so far. Kent Johnson netted the winner four minutes into OT-his third straight game with a goal. Still, Columbus’s offense failed to beat the Rangers’ goalie during regulation. Now, they’ll put their revamped defense to the test against a much more prolific Minnesota attack.
Match Results: Columbus Blue Jackets
Prediction for the 1st period
In their last seven head-to-head meetings, Minnesota have scored fewer than two goals in the opening period. At home, this streak extends to five consecutive games. The recommended bet is Minnesota’s individual total under 1.5 goals in the first period.
Total Prediction
Minnesota have scored at least three goals in each of their last six meetings with Columbus. The Wild are in strong scoring form right now as well, having found the net five times against St. Louis in their previous outing. The recommended bet is on Minnesota Individual Total Over 2.5 Goals.
Match Outcome Prediction
Minnesota have avoided defeat in regulation time in 12 of their last 13 head-to-head clashes with Columbus. On home ice, the Wild are unbeaten in regulation in 11 of their previous 12 games, while the Blue Jackets have failed to secure a regulation win in seven of their last eight outings. The pick: Minnesota to avoid defeat in regulation (1X).
⭐️ Editor's Prediction
Minnesota are looking sharper offensively at the moment. In their clash with St. Louis, the Wild put up five goals, with Boldy and Kaprizov combining for seven points. Columbus, meanwhile, bounced back from a heavy defeat to Florida by edging out the Rangers, but managed just a single overtime goal. Greaves' shutout certainly stands out, but facing Minnesota, the visitors will have to contend with one of the league’s most dangerous power-play units. The Wild have also taken four of the last five head-to-head meetings. That said, the hosts have shown some late-game vulnerability, as we saw against St. Louis. For that reason, I won’t limit my pick to regulation time. My prediction is a Minnesota win including overtime and shootout.
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Betting Tips: Minnesota Wild - Columbus Blue Jackets
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