The Minnesota Wild visit the Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, in an early-season matchup complicated by uncertainty in both creases. Puck drop at Canada Life Centre is scheduled for 7:15 p.m. Central Daylight Time (8:15 p.m. Eastern).
Game Details
- Matchup: Minnesota Wild at Winnipeg Jets
- Date: Tuesday, October 13, 2026
- Time: 7:15 p.m. CDT
- Venue: Canada Life Centre, Winnipeg
The fixture remains listed as scheduled, with no reported postponement or cancellation. The start time and venue are confirmed by the NHL schedule listing.
Matchup Breakdown
Recent head-to-head results point toward Winnipeg. The Jets have won eight of their past 10 meetings with Minnesota, including a 6-2 victory on January 16, 2026. Winnipeg also holds a narrow 35-32-1 advantage through 68 games in the all-time series, according to Pucky’s matchup history.
That history matters, but it should not be treated as decisive for this game. Both teams are at the beginning of a new season, and the absence of their established starting goaltenders changes the matchup substantially. Neither side is reported to be playing on a back-to-back, so fatigue and difficult travel do not appear to create an obvious advantage.
Minnesota’s potential edge is special teams. The CBS Sports preview lists the Wild with a 36.4% power play. Winnipeg’s listed 0.0% power-play figure appears incomplete or otherwise unreliable, so a direct comparison would be misleading. Still, Minnesota’s reported production with the man advantage could become important if Winnipeg takes avoidable penalties.
At even strength, this looks more balanced than the recent series results suggest. The available scoring averages are nearly identical—2.94 goals per game for Minnesota and 2.95 for Winnipeg—although early-season figures can move quickly and should be interpreted cautiously.
Goalies and Injury Watch
No starting goalie has been confirmed for either team. Minnesota’s Filip Gustavsson is out with a hip injury and is expected to return around October 31. Jesper Wallstedt is a possible starter for the Wild, but that is only a projection and not an official designation.
Winnipeg will also be without its regular No. 1, as Connor Hellebuyck is suspended until at least October 16. The Jets’ replacement starter remains unconfirmed. The eventual goalie announcements are the most important pregame updates because they could affect both the moneyline and total.
Minnesota also has notable uncertainty outside the crease. Defenseman Brock Faber is listed out until at least October 15 with a skull injury, while forward Nick Foligno is day-to-day with an upper-body issue. For Winnipeg, Walker Duehr is listed out with a lower-body injury. Garrett Brown had been listed with a lower-body injury and an approximate October 9 return, leaving his availability for this game unconfirmed.
Odds and Betting Considerations
Odds aggregated by AgentBets.ai, last updated October 12, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. UTC, showed an almost even moneyline:
- Wild: -105 at DraftKings and Fanatics
- Jets: -104 at FanDuel
- Wild -1.5: +220 at betPARX
- Jets +1.5: -260 at FanDuel
- Over 6.5: +110 at DraftKings
- Under 6.5: -130 at DraftKings
The near pick’em pricing is appropriate given the competing factors. Winnipeg has home ice and a strong recent record against Minnesota, while the Wild have the more encouraging reported special-teams profile. Both teams must compensate for missing starting goalies.
The total is harder to assess. Backup goaltending could create scoring opportunities, but the under carries a substantial price at -130. Without confirmed starters, neither side of 6.5 offers enough clarity to be the preferred angle.
Prediction
Prediction: Wild 4, Jets 3.
Minnesota is the narrow pick. The Wild’s reported power-play success provides a plausible way to overcome Winnipeg’s home-ice advantage, and the absence of Hellebuyck removes one of the Jets’ most important strengths. At DraftKings’ listed -105 price, Minnesota’s moneyline is the most reasonable betting consideration if that number remains available.
The main uncertainty is goaltending. Minnesota is also missing Gustavsson, while Faber’s absence could weaken the defense in front of an unconfirmed starter. Winnipeg’s recent dominance of the series is another reason to keep confidence modest. This projects as a close game rather than a comfortable Minnesota win, making confirmed goalie and lineup news essential before placing a wager.
