Wild vs. Predators Prediction & Picks - Oct. 1

The Minnesota Wild and Nashville Predators hit the ice at Bridgestone Arena for a season opener on Thursday, Oct. 1 at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN+.

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As action begins for the beginning of the NHL season, here is who we project to take home the victory in Thursday's action.

Wild vs. Predators Predictions for Thursday

Our computer projections model for this game predicts a final score of Predators 4, Wild 3.

• Moneyline Pick: Predators (+123)
• Total Pick: Over 6 (computer predicts 6.3 goals on average)
• Spread Pick: Predators (+1.5)

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Wild Splits and Trends

• The Wild were 16-14-30 in overtime games as part of a 46-24-12 overall record last season.
• Minnesota picked up 43 points (17-5-9) in the 31 games it played that were decided by one goal.
• The 11 times last season the Wild ended a game with just one goal, they went 1-8-2 (four points).
• Minnesota scored exactly two goals in 20 games last season (4-12-4 record, 12 points).
• The Wild were 46-8-8 when they scored more than two goals (to record 100 points).
• In the 38 games when Minnesota scored a lone power-play goal, it had a 20-11-7 record (47 points).
• In the 40 games when it outshot its opponent, Minnesota was 23-12-5 (51 points).
• The Wild were outshot by their opponent in 51 games, going 27-15-9 to register 63 points.

Predators Splits and Trends

• The Predators had a record of 38-34-10 last season and were 10-10-20 in overtime games.
• Nashville picked up 38 points (15-8-8) in its 31 games decided by one goal.
• Last season the Predators recorded only one goal in nine games, and they picked up two points (1-8-0).
• Nashville accumulated 19 points (6-16-7) when scoring two goals last season.
• The Predators scored three or more goals in 41 games, earning 65 points from those contests.
• Nashville scored a single power-play goal in 35 games last season and picked up 38 points.
• When it outshot its opponent last season, Nashville posted a record of 15-14-4 (34 points).
• The Predators were outshot by their opponents in 46 games last season, going 20-20-6 to record 46 points.

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Team Stats Comparison (2025-26)

Wild vs. Predators Game Time and TV Channel

• When: Thursday, October 1, 2026 at 8 p.m. ET
• TV Channel: ESPN+
• Live Stream: Watch this game on ESPN+
• Where: Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee

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