Wild Defeated Predators 3-1 in Season Opener
The Minnesota Wild opened their campaign with a victory over the Nashville Predators in Tennessee.
Updated on Oct. 2, 2026 in Hockey
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The Minnesota Wild defeated the Nashville Predators 3-1 on Thursday night. Goals from Nick Foligno, Blake Coleman, and Kirill Kaprizov powered the visitors to the win.
Why it matters
The victory provides an early boost for Minnesota as the team begins a challenging start to the season. The squad is attempting to secure a third consecutive postseason berth.
Jesper Wallstedt recorded 19 saves for Minnesota, while Nashville goaltender Juuse Saros stopped 27 shots. Filip Forsberg extended his streak to 11 consecutive season openers with an assist.
The players
Nick Foligno
He is an experienced forward for the Minnesota Wild who scored the opening goal of the game.
Kirill Kaprizov
He is a star forward for the Minnesota Wild who added a third-period goal to secure the win.
Roman Josi
He is the captain and a top defenseman for the Nashville Predators who scored his team's lone goal.
Jesper Wallstedt
He is the goaltender for the Minnesota Wild who anchored the defense with 19 saves.
Juuse Saros
He is the starting goaltender for the Nashville Predators who stopped 27 shots during the season opener.
The details
Nick Foligno opened the scoring at 9:35 of the first period from a rebound, followed by a power-play goal from Blake Coleman. Despite a goal from Roman Josi and a disallowed effort by Yakov Trenin due to goaltender interference, Nashville failed to overcome the deficit.
Timeline
Thursday night, October 1, 2026
Saturday night
Season Trajectory
This win is crucial for Minnesota, as the team must navigate a demanding schedule featuring 21 road games out of their first 31 contests. Securing points early against division rivals is essential to maintaining a viable path toward the postseason.
The 0-for-4 power play performance highlights a critical area for improvement in Nashville's offensive execution. Minnesota's defensive efficiency, led by Wallstedt's 19 saves, provides a stable rotation baseline for fantasy participants and team observers.
The takeaway
Minnesota's ability to win on the road during the season opener demonstrates their readiness for a difficult travel-heavy start to the year. Nashville will need to sharpen its special teams performance to ensure success in upcoming matchups.
What happens next
Minnesota is scheduled to host the Boston Bruins for their home opener this Saturday night.
Further reading
For more news on the team, visit the Hockey section.
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