Minnesota Wild vs Calgary Flames Picks and Predictions for Thursday October 22 2026
Minnesota probably spent part of the flight to Calgary talking about that overtime penalty in Edmonton. The Wild had battled back to tie the Oilers, got themselves into overtime, and then got caught with too many men on the ice. Against Edmonton’s power play. That’s about the last team you want to give a free chance, and Evan Bouchard made them pay. Minnesota lost 4-3, and you can bet that penalty wasn’t forgotten in the dressing room.
Calgary, meanwhile, had a little something to celebrate after beating Carolina 3-2 Sunday. The Flames haven’t had many nights like that, so taking down a Hurricanes team that had won seven straight was a welcome change. Devin Cooley made 34 saves, Yegor Sharangovich scored the winner, and Calgary finally had a game where things went its way.
The Wild visit Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, Alberta, on Thursday, October 22, 2026. Puck drop is scheduled for 9:00 PM ET. Minnesota is favored, although a reliable moneyline price wasn’t available when this preview was prepared. The total also needs to be confirmed. You can find more predictions in our free NHL picks.
Minnesota Wild Have More Going For Them Than Calgary
Minnesota is 6-2-2, and I don’t think that overtime loss to Edmonton is anything to get worked up about. The Wild had beaten St. Louis 5-4 and Columbus 2-1 before that, and they gave the Oilers all they could handle. Kirill Kaprizov scored again, Joel Eriksson Ek found the net, and Ryan Hartman chipped in with another. They had enough offense to win. One lousy penalty in overtime changed the result. It happens, although that doesn’t make it any less aggravating.
Sign Up Get $30 Premium Picks Credit + Exclusive Offers
Subscribe Now
The Wild have scored 31 goals and allowed 25 through ten games. That’s a pretty decent start, especially when you look at how many players they’ve had missing. They’ve been able to score without needing Kaprizov to do everything, although he’s certainly been doing his share. Calgary isn’t going to give Minnesota the same kind of offensive challenge Edmonton did. The Flames have had trouble finishing chances, and the Wild should be able to spend more time with the puck. Still, Minnesota can’t get careless in its own end. Calgary showed against Carolina that it can take advantage when the other team gives it an opening.
Kaprizov already has 11 goals. Eleven, and we’re barely into the season. That’s the kind of start that gets everybody talking, and Calgary will have its hands full trying to keep him quiet. Matt Boldy and Eriksson Ek give Minnesota some other dangerous options, while Jesper Wallstedt has been excellent in goal with a .922 save percentage and 1.99 goals-against average. The injury list is ugly, though. Filip Gustavsson is out with a hip problem, Brock Faber is recovering from surgery, and Jared Spurgeon, Marcus Foligno, Nick Foligno, Nico Sturm, and Olli Maatta have all been dealing with injuries. That’s a lot of regulars missing.
Calgary Flames Finally Had Something To Smile About
Calgary beat Carolina 3-2 Sunday, and I imagine the Flames were pretty happy to get that one over with. They’d been struggling, and Carolina came in looking like one of the better teams in hockey. Morgan Frost had a goal and an assist, Matvei Gridin scored his first of the season, and Sharangovich put Calgary ahead in the third period. Cooley was the big story, though. He made 34 saves and kept the Hurricanes from turning the game around. Calgary needed every one of them.
The Flames have been having trouble putting together a full game. They’ll look good for a period, maybe even two, then something goes wrong. Against Minnesota, they can’t afford that. Kaprizov doesn’t need many chances, and the Wild have enough scoring behind him to make Calgary pay for mistakes. The Flames would probably love another 3-2 game, with Cooley stopping everything he can see and the offense doing just enough. That’s not a bad plan, but it’s hard to keep winning that way when you’re not scoring consistently.
Sharangovich’s goal against Carolina was a big one, and Frost played one of his better games with two points. Gridin getting his first goal was encouraging, too. Calgary needs more production from different players instead of waiting for one or two guys to carry the offense. Cooley has been giving the Flames a chance when he’s in net, but asking him to make 34 saves every night isn’t much of a long-term plan. Minnesota has more scoring talent than Calgary, and the Flames are going to have to work awfully hard to keep this one close.
Minnesota Wild vs Calgary Flames Picks and Predictions
Minnesota Wild Moneyline
I’ll take Minnesota. Calgary deserves some credit for beating Carolina, and if Cooley plays like he did Sunday, the Flames could make this uncomfortable. But the Wild have been the better team, and I don’t think it’s particularly close. Kaprizov is scoring almost every night, Wallstedt has been excellent, and Minnesota has enough offense to win even with all those injuries. Calgary has been struggling to score, and one good game against Carolina doesn’t convince me that’s suddenly fixed. Give me the Wild, assuming the moneyline isn’t priced out of reach.
Under 6.5 Goals
I’m leaning under 6.5. Calgary would love to turn this into another low-scoring game, and Minnesota has the goaltending to cooperate. Wallstedt has been terrific, and Cooley just held Carolina to two goals. The danger is Kaprizov getting loose and Minnesota putting four or five on the board. That’s certainly possible. But Calgary hasn’t been scoring enough to make me expect a wild night, and I think the Flames will try to keep things tight. Minnesota 3, Calgary 2.
Final Picks: Minnesota Wild Moneyline and Under 6.5 Goals (conditional on available odds)
This preview was completed October 21, 2026. Betting lines, injuries, and starting goaltenders may change before puck drop.
Never Tried Picks and Parlays? Now Is Your Chance
- Get your first daily picks package for ONLY $1 using coupon code BUCK
- If the pick loses, we credit your account with 3 Flex Picks
- If the pick wins, we still give you 1 Flex Pick on the house
- Win or lose, you walk away ahead. One dollar. No catch.
Up To $1500 in Bonus Bets Paid Back if your First Bet Does Not Win
New Users – Get $350 in Bonus Bets when you wager $5 for 7 days
New DraftKings Customers: Bet $5, Get $200 + 3 Months of NBA League Pass!
