Chicago Blackhawks at Detroit Red Wings odds, picks and predictions
The Chicago Blackhawks (7-13-0) and Detroit Red Wings (11-7-3) tussle in an Original Six battle Thursday. The opening puck drop at Little Caesars Arena is slated for 7 p.m. ET (ESPN+). Below, we analyze BetMGM Sportsbook's lines around the Blackhawks vs. Red Wingsodds, and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
The busy Blackhawks played on Tuesday, downing the Seattle Kraken 4-3. Chicago heads into Thursday's road tilt having played 6 games in the last 11 days.
Detroit played Wednesday at the New York Rangers and lost 3-2. The loss at Madison Square Garden snapped a 3-game win streak that included 13 goals.
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Blackhawks at Red Wings odds
BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 9:26 a.m. ET.
Blackhawks at Red Wings projected goalies
Petr Mrazek (5-6-0, 3.22 GAA, .906 SV%) vs. Alex Lyon (2-1-0, 1.35 GAA, .952 SV%)
Mrazek started Tuesday and rebounded from a dodgy effort in his previous turn between the pipes on Nov. 22 (5 goals allowed). Against Seattle, he made 33 saves on 36 shots.
Lyon is one of 3 netminders on the Detroit roster yet did not see action the 1st 6 weeks of the season. Now he's the hot hand after 3 impressive outings over the last 2 weeks. The journeyman backup owns a .970 SV% in even-strength situations.
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Blackhawks at Red Wings picks and predictions
Prediction
Blackhawks 4, Red Wings 3
Recent puck-possession numbers show good things for a young, prone-to-struggles Chicago team. The Blackhawks own a 52.9% Corsi-for over their last 6 games.
Similar analytics swing the other way across recent Detroit games, and Lyon figures to be over-bet on a small-sample surge, The Red Wings are 7-9-1 over their last 17 games with no rest day. Point-per-game C Dylan Larkin is on the shelf with an undisclosed injury.
The line jumped toward the 'Hawks early in the day Thursday. Consider going in on CHICAGO (+170) with a partial-unit play unless the price tag get back to the +175-180 region.
Four of Chicago's last 5 losses have been by 2 goals or more. A Blackhawks +1.5 at -135 or better would make for some value. But PASS on the current offering.
The Over has cashed in 4 straight Chicago-Detroit meetings, and a bit of looseness can be expected in this one. But an even-6 would be the target number to leverage. PASS on a total of 6.5-or-higher.
