The Chicago Blackhawks host the Detroit Red Wings in what we think will be a thrilling showdown as both teams look to gain some ground in the early NHL season.
With Detroit favored slightly on the road in this game, we’ll break down key stats, and betting trends, and give you a solid prediction for this bet.
Detroit comes into this game with a slight edge as the -125 moneyline favorite. Chicago, on the other hand, is priced at +105. The Red Wings also come in at -1.5 on the puck line, while the Blackhawks, playing as home underdogs, carry a puck line of +1.5.
For the most part, Detroit has been trending slightly upward. After overcoming the Buffalo Sabres 2-1 on Sunday, they moved to a 5-5-1 record for the season. Meanwhile, Chicago comes off a nice 4-2 win over the Anaheim Ducks, improving their record to 5-7-1.
Both teams are hoping to put together some consistency, and Detroit’s history against Chicago gives them an advantage here.
Detroit’s offense has shown a few sparks of life, this is due in most part to captain Dylan Larkin. He recently notched two power-play goals in Detroit’s win over Buffalo. Larkin leads the team with 7 goals, while key players like Alex DeBrincat and Lucas Raymond continue to put together plays as well with 9 points and 11 points respectively.
However, it hasn’t been all good news for the team. Detroit has struggled with giveaways, recording 15 in their recent game against the Sabres, which could expose them if Chicago makes the most of turnovers.
Goaltender Cam Talbot has been fairly solid. He’s stopped 96.9% of shots in the game against Buffalo, which contributed to his .923 save percentage this season.
Detroit’s defense remains steady as well as they’ve allowed just 2.9 goals per game on an average of 34.7 shots over the last 10 games. This robust defense should help them keep Chicago at bay, particularly with Talbot doing what he does best.
Chicago’s recent win over Anaheim simply showed off their scoring depth.
The Blackhawks racked up 4 goals from 4 different players which included Ryan Donato and Teuvo Teravainen. Both of them are looking strong offensively.
Rising star Connor Bedard also continues to impress us with his 9 assists this season. He’s giving the Blackhawks a much-needed playmaking boost.
In between the pipes, Arvid Söderblom had a stellar 38-save performance against the Ducks, holding a .950 save percentage. However, the goaltending doesn’t seem to be the problem. Chicago’s defense has had trouble holding down the fort later in games, giving up 2 big goals in the third period against Anaheim. Chicago also tends not to do so well at home. They have lost 3 of their last 4 at the United Center. We would love to give them the home-ice advantage, but it doesn’t look like that affects them too much.
BettorsInsider Best Bet: Detroit Red Wings on the Moneyline (-125)
Despite being on the road, Detroit’s blend of a solid defense, solid goaltending, and their track record against Chicago make them our confident pick here.
The Red Wings have won 3 games in a row against the Blackhawks and hold a 6-4 record over their last 10 meetings with them. Detroit’s defensive stability and Talbot’s recent performances give them a good edge over a Chicago team that has struggled to close out games at home.
The puck line at Chicago +1.5 could be a decent bet as well, as this game may stay close with both teams battling defensively. However, we think the safer bet remains for Detroit to pull off the win on the moneyline.
BettorsInsider Prediction: Detroit Red Wings 4, Chicago Blackhawks 3
Bet confidently on the Red Wings to secure a road win as they aim to build up some momentum early in the season.