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The Minnesota Wild (6-2-1) and Calgary Flames (2-6-0) will meet in the NHL tonight. Puck drop is set for 9:00 p.m. EDT at Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, AB. The game will broadcast live on ESPN+.
Minnesota is a 1.5 point favorite to stay hot Thursday night. The Wild are favored at -200 on the moneyline, with the Flames +165 to pull off the upset. The over/under is set at 5.5 (-137o / 117u).
Let's get into our Wild vs. Flames predictions and NHL picks.
Wild vs. Flames Prediction
- Pick: Wild -1.5 (+128, bet365)
Our Minnesota vs. Calgary best bet is on the Wild to cover, with the best odds currently available at bet365. For all of your NHL bets, be sure to find the best lines by using our live NHL odds page.
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Wild vs Flames Odds
- Wild vs. Flames puck line: -1.5 (+128), +1.5 (-153)
- Wild vs. Flames over/under: 5.5 (-137o / 117u)
- Wild vs. Flames moneyline: Wild -200, Flames +165
- Wild vs. Flames best bet: Wild -1.5 (+128, bet365)
Wild vs. Flames Preview
The Wild are off to a smooth six-win start in 2026 — leading the Central division — with their only two losses coming after regulation to the Sabres and, most recently, the Oilers. Left wing Kirill Kaprisov has been the man to beat, leading the league outright with 11 goals (the next nearest skater has eight). Kaprisov is also fifth in the nation with 17 total points.
In their overtime loss to Edmonton on Tuesday, the Wild's downfall was discipline. The team suffered five penalties, playing down a man for 10 minutes. In that time, the Oilers scored three of their four goals while the Wild scored nothing on their three power plays. If Minnesota skates a touch (or a lot) more cleanly, the squad will find itself almost impossible to stop.
The Flames, on the other hand, are finally looking to get started. Sitting at the bottom of the Pacific division with only two wins, Calgary opened the season with five straight losses.
On the bright side, the Flames have won two of their last three matches. Sunday night, the Flames fended off the Carolina Hurricanes — winners of seven in a row — three goals to two. Calgary earned twice as many power play opportunities, which turned into the extra goal needed to pull away. Additionally, they 56.9% of faceoffs, and are finally showing sparks of life.
Evan Abrams' Early Road Puckline system is based on the idea that early season road favorites often struggle to separate themselves by margin — even when they win games.
Over the first couple weeks of the season, teams are building chemistry, rotations are in flux, and travel creates inconsistencies in performance. When favorites are listed as the visitor or on neutral ice, the public tends to overestimate their ability to dominate, yet the outcomes often remain tighter than expected.
By focusing on spread ranges that capture moderate market confidence, the system identifies value in fading early season road favorites on the puckline since the grind of travel and lack of midseason rhythm reduce their likelihood of covering larger margins.
Despite recent success from Calgary, Minnesota looks elite this season, and cannot afford to lose give-me games. With a manageable spread, and a clear distinction between the quality of these two squads, take the favorites at home.
Best Bet: Wild -1.5 (+128, bet365)
