Minnesota and Columbus will play in a tense battle for points. The Wild show confidence at home, while the Blue Jackets are weak on the road. Columbus is struggling with their roster after the departure of Laine, which will impact the team's offensive game. A victory for Minnesota in this match seems likely, especially considering the home-ice advantage and strong start to the preseason. I suggest betting on Minnesota to win in regulation time at odds of 1.78.
Minnesota hasn't changed much, keeping their leaders and adding a couple of new players. Personally, I feel like the team remains as strong as before. Columbus, on the other hand, is going through a rebuild under a new general manager, which may lead to instability. Looking at the results of recent preseason games, one could speculate that Minnesota is starting off stronger.
Forecast: Currently, the home team has the advantage with five goals scored and a solid defense. This could pose serious problems for the away team's defense. Therefore, the likelihood of the home team winning is very high.