Wild vs. Predators Prediction & Picks - Oct. 1

The Minnesota Wild and Nashville Predators meet at Bridgestone Arena in the first game of the season on Thursday, Oct. 1 at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN+.

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As teams hit the ice for the beginning of the NHL season, here is who we pick to take home the victory in Thursday's action.

Wild vs. Predators Predictions for Thursday

Our computer model for this encounter calls for a final result of Predators 4, Wild 3.

• Moneyline Pick: Predators (+121)
• Total Pick: Under 6.5 (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 matchups on their way to a 46-24-12 overall record last season.
• Minnesota was 17-5-9 (43 points) in its 31 games 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 took 12 points from the 20 games last season when it scored exactly two goals (4-12-4 record).
• The Wild scored more than two goals in 62 games (46-8-8, 100 points).
• In the 38 games when Minnesota recorded a single 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's opponent had more shots in 51 games last season. The Wild went 27-15-9 in those contests (63 points).

Predators Splits and Trends

• The Predators put up a record of 10-10-20 in overtime games last season on their way to an overall mark of 38-34-10.
• Nashville accumulated 38 points (15-8-8) in its 31 games that finished with a one-goal margin.
• Last season the Predators scored only one goal in nine games, and they picked up two points (1-8-0).
• When Nashville scored two goals last season, they amassed 19 points (6-16-7 record).
• The Predators picked up 65 points in their 41 games when they scored three or more goals.
• Last season Nashville recorded a lone power-play goal in 35 games, posting a record of 17-14-4.
• 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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