NHL Results: Sunday, October 18, 2026

Cam Talbot did everything in his power to play the spoiler in Saint Paul, but Minnesota’s suffocating defense proved insurmountable for Columbus. Talbot turned aside 32 shots, keeping the Blue Jackets within striking distance on a night where they managed just 14 pucks on Jesper Wallstedt. The game broke open late in the first period when Danila Yurov tucked home a feed from Yakov Trenin, only for Adam Fantilli to counter precisely sixty seconds later off a crisp setup by Zach Werenski. Early in the second period, Kirill Kaprizov delivered the decisive blow on the power play, burying a chance orchestrated by Maxim Shabanov and Joel Eriksson Ek. Despite Columbus laying 29 hits to claw back into contention, Minnesota shut the door through a scoreless third frame. The 2-1 victory solidifies the Wild’s grip on first place in the Central Division at 6-2-1, and with this brand of disciplined hockey, they will be a nightmare for any opponent rolling into town this week.

Nobody saw this coming. The struggling Flames had managed just one win all autumn, while Carolina arrived cruising atop the Metropolitan Division. Yet Devin Cooley stole the spotlight in Calgary, turning aside 34 shots to frustrate the high-octane Hurricanes in a shocking 3-2 victory. After Jesperi Kotkaniemi broke the ice six minutes into the second period, the game descended into madness during the final ninety seconds of the frame. Matvei Gridin and Morgan Frost struck 69 seconds apart to vault Calgary ahead, only for Jalen Chatfield to counter for Carolina with just four seconds left before the intermission. Frost was not finished making an impact. With under five minutes remaining in regulation, he fed Yegor Sharangovich off the rush to slip the decisive marker past Brandon Bussi. It was a gritty, badly needed upset for the Flames, who will try to use this monumental triumph to jumpstart their season.