Columbus Blue Jackets vs Minnesota Wild Betting Preview
The Minnesota Wild look to build on their strong season opener when they host the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday night at Grand Casino Arena. Minnesota goaltender Filip Gustavsson is coming off a shutout performance in Thursday’s 5–0 victory over St. Louis — and he’s focused on avoiding the same letdown that followed his season-opening shutout a year ago.
The Wild (1–0–0) will try to replicate their balanced attack that saw five different players score against the Blues. Meanwhile, the Blue Jackets (0–1–0) dropped a hard-fought 2–1 decision to Nashville in their debut and are looking to rebound behind either Jet Greaves or veteran Elvis Merzlikins in net.
Minnesota opened as -155 favorites and moved slightly to -163, while Columbus sits at +138. The total is set at 5.5 goals (Over -123, Under +103). For those tracking early-season trends and long-term projections, our NHL Conference Odds & Predictions
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Line Movement and Odds
The Wild have drawn roughly 68% of moneyline bets as of Saturday morning, with the public backing the home side after their dominant opener. Sharps, however, are showing light interest in the Under 5.5 (+103), citing both clubs’ early-season defensive structure and solid goaltending.
Minnesota is 5–1 in its last six home openers, while Columbus is 2–8 in its last 10 games played on the road against Western Conference opponents.
“I had a shutout in my first game last year and gave up seven in the next,” Gustavsson said. “So this time, I’ve got to be better in the second one.”


Matchup Breakdown
Columbus Blue Jackets Outlook:
Columbus may not have found the win column yet, but Jet Greaves was impressive in defeat, stopping 29 of 31 shots against Nashville. Rookie Dmitri Voronkov scored the Jackets’ only goal, while Kirill Marchenko led the team with eight shots on target. Head coach Dean Evason, returning to face his former team, praised his group’s effort but emphasized the need to improve puck control in the defensive zone.
“There were positives,” Evason said. “But we have to clean up some of those little mistakes if we want to get wins on the road.”
Minnesota Wild Outlook:
Minnesota’s 5–0 victory over St. Louis was a textbook team win. Ryan Hartman scored twice, Kirill Kaprizov added three assists, and Matt Boldy tallied a goal and assist. The Wild dominated puck possession and held the Blues to 26 shots, with Gustavsson looking sharp in net. Head coach John Hynes praised the team’s energy and commitment to defensive structure, especially after a long offseason.
“Juicy was outstanding,” said Filip Forsberg. “He’s the backbone of our team — one of the best in the league.”
Injuries and Conditions
Columbus Blue Jackets | Minnesota Wild |
---|---|
Adam Boqvist – Out (Upper Body) | Marcus Foligno – Out (Lower Body) |
Barrett Hayton – Questionable (Faceoff Wrist) | Frederick Gaudreau – Questionable (Groin) |
Zach Werenski – Probable (Maintenance) | Jake Middleton – Probable (Upper Body) |
— | Connor Dewar – Probable (Rest) |
Blue Jackets Injury Report | Wild Injury Report |
Venue Conditions: Indoor matchup, fast ice expected.




Best Bets and Prediction
Minnesota’s defensive depth and Gustavsson’s elite form make them the clear side to back. Columbus should keep this close with physical play, but their inability to finish chances and win faceoffs limits their upside on the road. The Wild’s special teams edge — especially the power play — should be decisive again.
Pick: Wild ML (-163)
Projected Final Score: Wild 3, Blue Jackets 2
Best Bet: Under 5.5 (+103)
Lean: Wild ML (-163)
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Home Opener Edge in St. Paul
With Gustavsson sharp and the offense clicking, the Wild look to start 2–0 for the first time since 2021. Explore more expert hockey picks →
Category | Detail |
---|---|
Best Bet | Wild ML (-163) |
Confidence Rating | ★★★★☆ |
Projected Score | Wild 3, Blue Jackets 2 |
Total Lean | Under 5.5 (+103) |
Market Split | 68% bets Wild, 55% sharp money Under |
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