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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