Blue Jackets vs. Wild Prediction & Picks - Oct. 18

Vegas Golden Knights v Minnesota Wild

Photo: Brad Rempel / Getty Images Sport / Getty Images

The Minnesota Wild (5-2-1), winners of three home games in a row, host the Columbus Blue Jackets (3-3) at Grand Casino Arena on Sunday at 6 p.m. ET on ESPN+.

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Here's our pick for who will claim the win in Sunday's matchup.

Blue Jackets vs. Wild Predictions for Sunday

Our computer projections model for this contest expects a final result of Wild 5, Blue Jackets 1.

  • Moneyline Pick: Wild (-199)
  • Total Pick: Under 6.5 (computer predicts 6.0 goals on average)
  • Spread Pick: Wild (-1.5)

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Wild Splits and Trends

  • The Wild (5-2-1 overall) have a -1-1 record in games that have gone to overtime.
  • Minnesota is 1-1-1 (three points) in its three games decided by one goal.
  • Minnesota finished 0-2-1 in the three games this season when it scored exactly two goals (registering one point).
  • The Wild have scored at least three goals five times, and are 5-0-0 in those games.
  • In the six games when Minnesota has capitalized on a single power-play goal, it went 4-1-1 to register nine points.
  • In the five games this season in which it has outshot its opponent, Minnesota is 4-1-0 (eight points).
  • The Wild's opponents have had more shots in three games. The Wild finished 1-1-1 in those matchups (three points).

Blue Jackets Splits and Trends

  • The Blue Jackets have earned a record of 2-0-2 in overtime contests on their way to an overall mark of 3-3.
  • Columbus has won its only game that was decided by one goal.
  • This season the Blue Jackets registered only one goal in two games and they've earned two points (1-1-0) in those contests.
  • Columbus has won the only game this season when it scored a pair of goals (1-0-0, two points).
  • The Blue Jackets have scored more than two goals three times, posting two total points across those games.
  • Columbus is undefeated (1-0-0, two points) when outshooting its opponent this season.
  • The Blue Jackets have been outshot by opponents four times this season, and earned just two points in those games.

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Team Stats Comparison

Wild Rank Wild AVG Blue Jackets AVG Blue Jackets Rank
11th 3.25 Goals Scored 2.67 24th
7th 2.5 Goals Allowed 3.5 23rd
11th 29.1 Shots 28 14th
17th 26.8 Shots Allowed 27.2 20th
2nd 33.33% Power Play % 13.33% 27th
5th 88.46% Penalty Kill % 66.67% 29th

Blue Jackets vs. Wild Game Time and TV Channel

  • When: Sunday, October 18, 2026 at 6 p.m. ET
  • TV Channel: ESPN+
  • Live Stream: Watch this game on ESPN+
  • Where: Grand Casino Arena in Saint Paul, Minnesota

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