A dangerous Minnesota power play against one of the NHL’s shakier early penalty kills could be the difference for fantasy hockey managers on Sunday. The Columbus Blue Jackets visit the Minnesota Wild on October 18, 2026, and the real question is whether Columbus can survive another night after playing overtime hockey just 24 hours earlier.
Kirill Kaprizov has produced nine goals and 14 points through eight games, while Quinn Hughes has 12 points from the blue line. Matt Boldy arrives following a hat trick against St. Louis. On the other side, Kent Johnson is scoring again, Zach Werenski continues to drive the attack, and Adam Fantilli has an intriguing matchup if Columbus can establish possession.
What I’m watching most isn’t simply who scores first. It’s Minnesota’s first power-play opportunity, the status of Kaprizov after he left Thursday’s game late, and Columbus’ goaltending choice on the second night of a back-to-back. Those three details could matter more to a daily fantasy lineup than the final result.
Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Minnesota Wild Game Information
Blue Jackets
- Date / venue
- Sunday, October 18, 2026
Grand Casino Arena · St. Paul, MN - Puck drop
- 6:00 PM ET · 5:00 PM CT · 4:00 PM MT
- Canada
- Sportsnet+; TVA Sports (listed; verify territory)
- United States
- CBJHN / CBJNHL; MINNHL / Wild+; NHL Power Play on ESPN+ out of market
- Radio
- Columbus: 97.1 The Fan · Minnesota: KFAN 100.3 FM
- Goalies / odds
- Starting goalies not confirmed · No verified game-specific odds
Broadcast availability can change and regional restrictions may apply. Check your provider shortly before puck drop.
The regular-season game begins at 6 p.m. ET (5 CT, 4 MT) at Grand Casino Arena. Columbus arrives after Saturday’s 1–0 overtime win over the Rangers. Neither starting goalie is confirmed for tonight.
Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Minnesota Wild Fantasy Hockey Matchup Outlook
Minnesota is 5–2–1 (11 points) with 26 goals for, 20 against and averages of 3.25 scored and 2.50 allowed. Columbus is 3–3–0 (six points), with 16 for and 21 against—2.67 and 3.50 per game. The scoring and defensive gaps favor Minnesota.
Minnesota’s 33.33% power play meets Columbus’ 66.67% penalty kill; the Wild’s own penalty kill is 88.46%, versus the Jackets’ 13.33% power play. These early rates may regress, but right now the Minnesota top unit is my highest-upside fantasy grouping.
Fantasy swing: 66.67% penalty kill leaves special-teams risk.
Fantasy swing: 33.33% power play vs. Columbus’ vulnerable PK.
Source: Hockey-Reference 2026–27 team statistics. Early-season sample sizes are small. NHL shootout outcomes can affect records without adding team goals.
Jet Greaves stopped 29 shots against New York on Saturday. I would watch whether Columbus turns to Cam Talbot with no rest; that is a possibility, not a confirmed start.
The teams split last season: Columbus won 7–4 on October 11, 2025, and Minnesota won the most recent meeting 5–2 on December 18. Both were fantasy-friendly scoring nights, although rosters have since changed.
NHL Fantasy Players to Watch in Blue Jackets vs. Wild
Kirill Kaprizov: His nine goals on 26 shots signal elite upside but an unusually high conversion rate. He is my top forward pick if healthy; confirm his status after leaving Thursday’s game late.
Matt Boldy: A hat trick and an assist against St. Louis have his arrow pointing up. More important for sustainable fantasy value: 35 shots through eight games, especially useful in shot-counting leagues.
Quinn Hughes: Two goals and 10 assists in eight outings make him a premier fantasy defenseman. Injuries on Minnesota’s blue line increase the importance of checking how his pairings and PP1 deployment shake out.
Kent Johnson: His overtime winner against the Rangers extended his goal streak to three games. I like his current confidence, especially if he stays alongside Adam Fantilli and Matthew Knies.
Adam Fantilli and Zach Werenski: Fantilli has upside through top-line opportunities and shots. Werenski has five assists while averaging nearly 30 minutes per game; usage, shots and blocks support his fantasy floor.
Deep watch: Minnesota’s Maxim Shabanov and Columbus defenseman Denton Mateychuk have intriguing opportunity, but neither has a confirmed first-unit promotion.
NHLTradeRumor.com Fantasy Matchup Projection
Columbus Blue Jackets
Kent Johnson
Scoring wing · recent game winner
PROJECTED: 0–1 PTSThree-game goal streak; finishing form
Adam Fantilli
Top-line centre · high-usage scorer
PROJECTED: 0–1 PTSTop-unit opportunities and shot volume
Zach Werenski
Top-pair D · offensive distributor
PROJECTED: 0–1 PTSHeavy minutes and power-play touches
Minnesota Wild
Kirill Kaprizov
Elite scoring wing · top unit
PROJECTED: 1–2 PTSExplosive goal pace; confirm availability
Matt Boldy
Top-line goal scorer · PP threat
PROJECTED: 0–2 PTSFresh off hat trick, strong shot volume
Quinn Hughes
Top-pair D · power-play creator
PROJECTED: 0–2 PTSPrimary puck mover and assist upside
Conditional forecast: These projections assume the player dresses and receives meaningful minutes. Point ranges are editorial estimates for this game, not guaranteed results or season-long projections. Starting goalies and final units remain unconfirmed.
Projections below are single-game estimates conditional on lineup confirmation, not guarantees.
Top Five Blue Jackets and Wild Fantasy Scorers This Season
Through October 17, Minnesota is led by Kaprizov (14 points) and Hughes (12), ahead of Boldy (seven). Columbus has a flatter distribution: Coyle (six), then Werenski, Johnson and Sillinger (five each). Concentration matters when stacking players.
Columbus Blue Jackets · top five
Minnesota Wild · top five
NHLTradeRumor.com Scoring Index: Each player’s point total is indexed against his team’s leading scorer. This visualization describes past production and is not a future projection. 2026–27 totals through games on October 17, 2026. Percentage = player points ÷ team leader points × 100; the index is calculated within each team.
In 2025–26, Columbus’ top five were Werenski (22–59–81), Kirill Marchenko (27–40–67), Fantilli (24–35–59), Coyle (20–38–58) and Boone Jenner (13–25–38). Minnesota’s were Kaprizov (45–44–89), Boldy (42–43–85), Mats Zuccarello (15–39–54), Hughes (5–48–53) and Brock Faber (15–36–51), tied with Joel Eriksson Ek at 51 points. Marchenko and Jenner have left Columbus, Zuccarello left Minnesota, and Faber is injured. The index therefore shows current-season leaders.
Injuries and Absences That Could Affect Fantasy Value
Minnesota lists goaltender Filip Gustavsson on LTIR (hip) and Brock Faber on injured reserve. Spurgeon, Maatta, Nico Sturm, Nick Foligno and Marcus Foligno have also appeared among the club’s injury-related absences. Wallstedt and Calvin Pickard remain relevant in goal; exact return dates need checking.
Increased minutes could benefit Hughes, Wallstedt and replacement defenders. But a defender deployed only for tough defensive assignments might gain ice time without improving point-scoring potential.
Columbus has Ivan Provorov and Dante Fabbro on injured reserve and Isac Lundestrom on LTIR. That can push Werenski and Mateychuk into greater responsibility and alter defensive combinations against Minnesota’s top line.
Kaprizov left the October 15 game late; his status for tonight still needs an official update. Leaving early does not automatically mean he is ruled out.
Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Minnesota Wild Fantasy Hockey Prediction
MY SCORE PREDICTION: Columbus Blue Jackets 2 – Minnesota Wild 4.
I favor Minnesota because its offense is clicking, its defensive numbers are stronger, and Columbus played overtime Saturday.
If Kaprizov dresses at full strength, I expect him, Boldy and Hughes to drive Minnesota’s best chances. The 33.33%-versus-66.67% special-teams matchup supports that edge. I see a strong fantasy night for the Wild’s stars, not necessarily a wide-open shootout.
For Columbus, I’m looking for Johnson’s finishing, Fantilli’s chances around the net and Werenski’s breakouts. A standout performance from whichever goalie starts could keep this to a one-goal game.
More important than the final score: Watch Minnesota’s first PP1 deployment and Columbus’ offensive-zone starts. If Kaprizov is limited, Boldy could see more shots; if Werenski spends too long defending, his scoring upside shrinks.
How to Watch Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Minnesota Wild
October 18 at 6 p.m. ET / 5 CT / 4 MT, Grand Casino Arena. Canada: Sportsnet+ and TVA Sports listings (rights permitting). United States: local CBJHN / CBJNHL and Wild+ / MINNHL; NHL Power Play on ESPN+ for eligible out-of-market viewers. Radio: 97.1 The Fan (CBJ), KFAN 100.3 FM (MIN).
Regional blackouts mean local rights can block an out-of-market stream. Check your provider’s listing and geographic restrictions before puck drop.
For the next game, use the Columbus Blue Jackets TV schedule, Minnesota Wild TV schedule and 2026–27 NHL point leaders. While you’re here, join our NHL Fantasy Hockey Pool, test your GM skills and compete for bragging rights.
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