Columbus Blue Jackets vs Minnesota Wild Prediction 10/18/2026 Today’s NHL Picks

The Columbus Blue Jackets and Minnesota Wild meet Sunday in NHL action at the Grand Casino Arena. Here’s a Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Minnesota Wild Prediction. This article will include a Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Minnesota Wild Pick.

Columbus Blue Jackets Betting Preview

The Columbus Blue Jackets lost to the Panthers, beat the Rangers, and play the Maple Leafs next. The Blue Jackets have lost 3 of their last 5 games.

The Columbus Blue Jackets are averaging 2.67 goals per game and are scoring on 13.3 percent of their power play opportunities. Kent Johnson leads Columbus with 4 goals, Charlie Coyle has 6 assists, and Adam Fantilli has 17 shots on goal. Defensively, the Columbus Blue Jackets are allowing 3.5 goals per game and are killing 66.7 percent of their opponent’s power plays. Jet Greaves has allowed 11 goals on 116 shots faced, and Cam Talbot has given up 8 goals on 45 shots.

Minnesota Wild Betting Preview

The Minnesota Wild lost to the Jets, beat the Blues, and they play the Oilers next. The Wild have won 3 of their last 4 games.

The Minnesota Wild are averaging 3.25 goals per game and are scoring 33.3 percent of their power play opportunities. Kirill Kaprizov leads Minnesota with 9 goals, Quinn Hughes has 10 assists, and Matt Boldy has 35 shots on goal. Defensively, the Minnesota Wild are allowing 2.5 goals per game and are killing 88.5 percent of their opponent’s power plays. Jesper Wallstedt has allowed 15 goals on 188 shots faced, and Calvin Pickard has given up 5 goals on 25 shots.

Why the Minnesota Wild will win

• The Blue Jackets have lost each of their last six road games following a win.
• The Wild have won each of their last four games against opponents who are on the second leg of a back-to-back.
• The Blue Jackets have failed to cover the puck line in each of their last five games.
• The Wild have covered the puck line in five of their last six games as a favorite when playing with a rest advantage.
• The Wild have won the second period in each of their last five games at Grand Casino Arena when trailing after the first period.

Why the Columbus Blue Jackets will win

• The Wild have lost each of their last four games as favorites against Metropolitan Division opponents.
• The Blue Jackets have won four of their last five games as an away underdog when playing with a rest disadvantage.
• The Blue Jackets have covered the puck line in each of their last 15 games at Grand Casino Arena.
• The Wild have failed to cover the puck line in each of their last four games against Metropolitan Division opponents.
• The Blue Jackets have won the third period in five of their last six road games against Western Conference opponents when leading after the second period.

Total Goals Facts

• Six of the Blue Jackets’ last seven road games following a win have gone UNDER the total goals line.
• Three of the Wild’s last four home games against the Blue Jackets following a win have gone OVER the total goals line.
• The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 1′ market has hit in each of the Blue Jackets’ last seven road games against Central Division opponents.
• The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 3’ market has hit in each of the Wild’s last nine games following a home win.

Minnesota Wild Player Prop Facts

• Matthew Boldy has scored a goal in five of the Wild’s last six home games against Metropolitan Division opponents.
• Quinn Hughes has recorded at least one assist in 17 of his last 18 appearances in night games.

Columbus Blue Jackets Player Prop Facts

• Valeri Nichushkin has scored at least one goal in five of his last six appearances with his team as a road underdog.
• Zach Werenski has recorded at least one assist in four of the Blue Jackets’ last five games as underdogs.

Columbus Blue Jackets vs Minnesota Wild Injury Report

The Wild will be without Olli Maatta, Jared Spurgeon, Brock Faber, Marcus Foligno, Nico Sturm, Nick Foligno, and Filip Gustavsson.

The Blue Jackets don’t have any players listed on their injury report.

Columbus Blue Jackets vs Minnesota Wild Prediction

The Blue Jackets have to prove they can string together positive results, and they’re still a mess defensively. It doesn’t help that the Blue Jackets are on the back end of a back-to-back, with a game that included overtime. The Wild have the rest advantage, have played their best hockey at home, and they’ve won 7 of the last 9 games against the Blue Jackets. Steep price, but I’m going with the Wild and will lay the PL to shave the number down.

Randy Chambers's Pick: Minnesota Wild -1.5