Kirill Kaprizov scores his NHL leading 10th goal of the season, Danila Yurov opens the scoring, and Jesper Wallstedt makes 13 saves as Minnesota protects its perfect home record with a hard fought victory.
The Minnesota Wild earned a narrow 2-1 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Sunday, October 18, 2026, at Grand Casino Arena in St. Paul, Minnesota. Kirill Kaprizov scored the decisive power play goal in the second period, Danila Yurov contributed the opening goal, and goaltender Jesper Wallstedt made 13 saves to secure Minnesota’s fourth consecutive home victory. Adam Fantilli scored the lone goal for Columbus, while Cam Talbot stopped 32 shots in a strong performance despite the defeat.
The result improved Minnesota’s record to 6-2-1 and extended its winning run to four victories in five games. Columbus fell to 3-4-0 after being limited to just 14 shots, a season low at that point. Although the Blue Jackets responded quickly after conceding the opening goal, Minnesota’s special teams execution and defensive discipline ultimately made the difference.
Minnesota Establishes Early Pressure
The Wild began the contest aggressively, putting Talbot under pressure during the opening minutes. Minnesota generated eight shots on goal in the first 7:08, but the Columbus goaltender made several important stops to prevent the home side from establishing an early lead.
One of the most significant sequences came when Minnesota received a five on three power play lasting 1 minute and 52 seconds. Talbot stopped three shots during the disadvantage, helping Columbus survive a dangerous situation and keep the score level.
Despite the missed opportunity, Minnesota continued to look for openings through quick puck movement and pressure in the offensive zone.
The Wild eventually broke through at 18:12 of the first period. Yakov Trenin collected a loose puck in the neutral zone and helped create an odd man rush. He then delivered a crossing pass to Yurov, who finished with a wrist shot past Talbot.
The goal was Yurov’s fourth of the season and gave Minnesota a deserved 1-0 advantage late in the opening period. Trenin’s contribution was important, as his work in transition helped turn a loose puck into a scoring opportunity.
Fantilli Responds for the Blue Jackets
Columbus did not allow Minnesota to carry its advantage into the intermission.
At 19:12, just one minute after Yurov scored, the Blue Jackets tied the game at 1-1. With a delayed penalty against Minnesota, Columbus gained an extra attacker, and Fantilli took advantage of the additional offensive support.
The young forward fired a shot from the top of the right faceoff circle, beating Wallstedt to register his second goal of the season. Zach Werenski and Sean Monahan received assists.
The quick equalizer was an important response from Columbus. After spending much of the opening period defending against Minnesota’s attack, the Blue Jackets capitalized on their opportunity and restored parity before the first intermission.
Fantilli’s goal also demonstrated the value of remaining alert during a delayed penalty. Columbus used the extra attacker effectively, creating enough space for the forward to release his shot.
The teams entered the first intermission tied 1-1, leaving the outcome open heading into the second period.
Kaprizov Breaks the Tie on the Power Play
Minnesota regained the lead early in the second period, and its leading scorer supplied the decisive moment.
At 3:06, Kaprizov scored on the power play to put the Wild ahead 2-1. Positioned near the lower portion of the left faceoff circle, the Minnesota forward released a sharp angle shot that beat Talbot over the shoulder on the short side.
It was Kaprizov’s 10th goal of the season, making him the NHL’s leading goal scorer at that point. The goal also extended his point streak to six games, during which he had accumulated 12 points: seven goals and five assists.
The goal was especially significant because Minnesota had entered the game with the league’s second best power play, operating at 33.3 percent. The Wild finished the contest one for four with the man advantage, and Kaprizov’s conversion proved to be the difference between the teams.
His finishing ability gave Minnesota the lead, but the remaining challenge was protecting it against a Columbus team that needed only one goal to force overtime.
Wallstedt and Minnesota’s Defense Hold Firm
Following Kaprizov’s goal, Minnesota focused on maintaining its defensive structure and limiting Columbus’ opportunities.
Wallstedt completed the game with 13 saves, recording his fourth consecutive victory. While the relatively low save total reflected Minnesota’s defensive work, the goaltender still had to remain alert whenever Columbus managed to generate an attack.
Talbot was equally busy at the other end. His 32 saves kept the Blue Jackets within striking distance, particularly after Minnesota’s strong opening stretch and the go ahead power play goal.
However, Columbus struggled to generate enough shots to sustain pressure. The Blue Jackets finished with only 14 shots on goal, including seven over the final two periods. Minnesota successfully restricted the visitors’ opportunities and prevented them from finding the equalizer.
The defensive performance was crucial to the result. With only a one goal advantage, Minnesota could not afford a breakdown that would allow Columbus to return to the game. The Wild maintained their composure and saw out the victory.
A Significant Home Victory for Minnesota
The win improved Minnesota to 6-2-1 and kept the team unbeaten through its first four home games. The Wild also recorded their fourth victory in five games, continuing a promising start to the 2026-27 season.
Kaprizov remained the central figure offensively, but Minnesota received meaningful contributions from Yurov and Trenin. Wallstedt’s steady performance ensured that the team’s two goals were enough to secure the result.
For Columbus, the defeat followed a 1-0 overtime victory over the New York Rangers on October 17. Playing its second game in less than 24 hours, the Blue Jackets showed resilience by answering Minnesota’s opening goal but could not generate sufficient offense during the remainder of the contest.
Columbus will need to create more consistent scoring opportunities in subsequent games, while Minnesota can take confidence from its special teams production, defensive discipline and continued success at home.
Final Score and Key Statistics
Minnesota Wild 2, Columbus Blue Jackets 1
Minnesota secured the victory through timely scoring and effective defensive play. Kaprizov’s power play finish supplied the decisive goal, Yurov opened the scoring, and Wallstedt delivered the saves needed to preserve the lead.
The result was a narrow but important win for the Wild, who continued their strong home start. Columbus competed throughout the first period but ultimately could not overcome Minnesota’s defensive pressure.
Date clarification: The Blue Jackets and Wild played on October 18, 2026, not October 17. Columbus defeated the Rangers in overtime on October 17 before traveling to Minnesota for this matchup.
