Chicago Blackhawks vs Minnesota Wild 22 September 2026 Prediction

  Prediction by   Gevorg Danielyan     September 20, 2026 

The Chicago Blackhawks and Minnesota Wild will meet for the second straight game to begin the preseason. This time, Chicago will be at home. The Blackhawks have an opportunity to reverse the result of the first matchup and are expected to dress several offseason additions. Minnesota, meanwhile, is unlikely to use its strongest lineup.

Wild Won Their Preseason Opener Without Kaprizov

Minnesota had a strong regular season, finishing comfortably in the top three of the Western Conference. The Wild were eliminated by the Colorado Avalanche in the second round of the playoffs, losing the series 4-1. Their offseason roster changes were relatively limited, although Mats Zuccarello left for the Kings.

Minnesota played its first preseason game against Chicago without Kirill Kaprizov. The Wild trailed for much of the game before Nico Sturm tied it in the 55th minute. New addition Olli Määttä recorded an assist on the goal. Tyler Pitlick then scored in overtime to give Minnesota a 3-2 win.

Chicago Looks to Improve After a Difficult Season

Chicago finished second from the bottom in both the Western Conference and the overall NHL standings last season. Unlike several other teams that struggled, the Blackhawks did not make changes to their front office or coaching staff.

The roster was more active during the offseason, although most of the additions were veterans. Patrick Kane returned to Chicago, while 37-year-old defenseman Ian Cole joined from Utah after recording 23 points, including three goals and 20 assists, last season. The Blackhawks also signed Cole Smith to a three-year contract after he played for Nashville and Vegas. None of the three appeared against Minnesota in the first preseason meeting.

Head-to-Head Meetings Have Been Close

The latest game continued a recent trend of close meetings between these teams. Three of the previous five went to overtime, while six straight were decided by one goal. Minnesota won three of four regular-season matchups last season and also took the first preseason meeting.

Chicago Blackhawks vs Minnesota Wild Prediction: Chicago Blackhawks Moneyline

Main prediction: Chicago remained competitive on the road in the first game and nearly won in regulation despite using a weakened lineup. The Blackhawks are expected to dress more of their offseason additions at home. They also won the most recent regular-season meeting between the teams. With home-ice advantage included, the preferred bet is the Chicago Blackhawks moneyline.

Totals prediction: Neither team produced much offense in the first preseason game. They scored four regulation goals and finished with a 26-16 shot count. The most recent regular-season meeting also produced only three goals. Based on those numbers, under 5.5 goals is worth considering.