Wild beat Predators on goals from Kirill Kaprizov, Blake Coleman and Nick Foligno

Sarah McLellan, The Minnesota Star Tribune on Oct 1, 2026

Published in Hockey

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Welcome to the new Wild.

Led by a perfect penalty kill, Kirill Kaprizov deflection and veterans stepping up on offense, the Wild dismissed the Predators at Bridgestone Arena in a 3-1 season-opening victory.

Their home opener is Saturday versus Boston at Grand Casino Arena.

Nick Foligno scored the first goal of the season, burying a Michael McCarron rebound in the first period, and newcomer Blake Coleman widened the Wild’s lead to 2-0 on the power play 4 minutes later.

A third puck ended up behind Nashville goalie Juuse Saros in the first when Yakov Trenin shot around a Ryan Hartman screen, but the Predators challenged for goaltender interference and overturned the goal; video review determined Hartman’s presence in the crease impeded Saros’ ability to play the position.

That was a key break for Nashville.

Instead of staring down a rout, the Predators were back in the game in the second period on a Roman Josi one-timer just after a Hartman penalty expired.

But Nashville’s pressure waned after that, and the Wild took over.

In his first game without longtime linemate Mats Zuccarello, who wasn’t brought back and signed with Los Angeles, Kaprizov tipped in a Quinn Hughes shot in the third period.

The penalty kill, a perennial problem for the Wild, finished 4 for 4 after not getting scored on in the preseason. Jesper Wallstedt had five of his 19 saves on the PK.