Blackhawks vs Red Wings Picks and Predictions: Goalies Shine As Offenses Sputter

It's an Original Six matchup — albeit without much (any?) playoff implications — when the Chicago Blackhawks visit the Detroit Red Wings tonight.

The Red Wings exceeded expectations through the first half of the season but are currently in a slump, sit eight points out of a playoff spot, and are unlikely to catch the likes of Boston, Toronto, or Washington. NHL betting lines have them as a favorite at home tonight, however, as the Blackhawks are even worse, sitting 14th in the Western Conference.

Here are our best free NHL picks and predictions for Blackhawks vs. Red Wings on Wednesday, January 26.

Blackhawks vs Red Wings odds

Odds via the Covers Line, an average comprised of odds from multiple sportsbooks.

This line opened with Detroit -121/Chicago +108 and has shifted in favor of the 'Hawks, with the line sitting anywhere from Chicago +105 to a flat -110 pick'em. The total is still at 5.5, shaded towards the Under.

Use the live odds widget above to track any future line movements right until puck drop and be sure to check out the full NHL odds before betting to ensure you get the best number.

Blackhawks vs Red Wings predictions

• Prediction: Blackhawks ML (+100)
• Prediction: Under 5.5 (-115)
• Best bet: First period Under 1.5 goals (-110)

Predictions made on 1/26/2022 at 11:20 a.m. ET.
Click on each prediction to jump to the full analysis.

Blackhawks vs Red Wings game info

• Location: Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, MI
• Date: Wednesday, January 26, 2022
• Puck drop: 7:30 p.m. ET
• TV: TNT

Blackhawks vs Red Wings betting preview

Key injuries

Blackhawks: Tyler Johnson C (Out).
Red Wings: Jakub Vrana RW (Out), Thomas Greiss G (Out).
Find our latest NHL injury reports.

Blackhawks vs Red Wings head-to-head record (2020-present)

Blackhawks: 6-3-0, 33 goals for.
Red Wings: 3-5-1, 22 goals for.

Betting trend to know

The Under is 5-0 in the last five head-to-head meetings. Find more NHL betting trends for Blackhawks vs. Red Wings.

Blackhawks vs Red Wings picks and predictions

Our predictions are compiled from the analysis of the spread and total and are indications of where we are leaning for this game.
Our best bet is the play that we like the most for this game, which we would actually put some of our bankroll behind.

Moneyline analysis

Neither Chicago nor Detroit comes into tonight's classic matchup with any form of winning momentum, but they are playing slightly different levels of hockey.

The Blackhawks have lost four straight but that comes off of a four-game win streak and their two most recent defeats were tightly contested road matchups against Colorado (2-0) and Minnesota (4-3 in OT), two of the four best teams in the West. The Red Wings have lost six of their last eight games, with the only two victories both coming against Buffalo — a team currently with the fifth-fewest points in the league.

Looking back over this recent eight-game stretch for both sides, analytically they profile quite similarly at 5 on 5 (per Natural Stat Trick):

- Corsi For Percentage: 26th and 27th.
- Shots for per 60 minutes: 24th and 25th.
- Scoring chances for per 60: 26th and 29th.
- High-danger chances for per 60: 28th and 29th.
- Power play percentage: 20th and 23rd.
- Save percentage: First and ninth.
- High-danger save percentage: Sixth and seventh.

So, the offenses are generally disappointing and the biggest standout for each team has been their No. 1 netminders: Marc-Andre Fleury for Chicago and Alex Nedeljkovic for Detroit.

Flower has posted a .938 SV% in last seven starts, with a 1.88 goals-against average, while Nedeljkovic has a .930 SV% over his last seven starts (although he has struggled in his last two outings) — but overall they're both playing very good hockey right now.

So with the 5-on-5 offense basically a wash, the goaltending relatively equal, and the man-advantage units both lackluster, we're looking at two pretty evenly matched teams with home/road ice not really a factor (Detroit 2-4 in last six at home, Chicago 2-3 in last five on the road).

So what do we do when nothing really separates these teams? Take the value: Chicago is getting plus money, has at least shown some competitiveness against elite teams, and is 5-2 in its last seven visits to Little Caesars Arena, including going 3-1 last season.

Prediction: Blackhawks ML (+100)

Over/Under analysis

More on how bad both of these offenses have recently been: Going back the last 2.5 weeks, Chicago is 29th in 5-on-5 goals per 60 minutes (1.68) and Detroit is 31st (1.6). It's not even bad luck either, as when you compile all the statistical futility mentioned above, the Blackhawks have 1.98 expected 5-on-5 goals per 60 minutes (28th) with the Wings sitting right on their heels at 29th with 1.96.

In terms of operating with the man advantage, Chicago is dead last during this span in scoring chances generated per 60 minutes — while Detroit is a passable 17th — but high-danger power-play chances per 60 sees a return to sadness, with Detroit sitting 28th and Chicago 31st.

And, again as mentioned above, Fleury and Nedeljkovic aren't going to do the offenses any favors, even against difficult shots. Flower is sporting an .864 HDSV% in all situations during Chicago's last eight games, while Nedeljkovic checks in an .855 HDSV%.

The Under is 5-1-2 in Chicago's last eight games, 5-1 in Detroit's last six, and has cashed in five straight head-to-head meetings in Hockeytown.

Prediction: Under 5.5 (-115)

Best bet

Both teams are playing some pretty boring hockey as of late, but they are especially uneventful in the first period.

Over their last eight games, the Blackhawks have managed a whopping four first-period goals (28th in the league) and surrendered six goals (with three of them coming in one game). Not to be outdone, Detroit has scored just thrice in its last eight opening periods — going scoreless in six of those games — while giving up seven first-period tallies.

With hot goaltending and offenses that have been struggling out of the gate, we're banking on the first 20 minutes tonight playing out without a lot of action, so we're going Under the 1.5-goal total.

Pick: First period Under 1.5 goals (-110)

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