In a meeting of two of the NHL’s Original Six, the Chicago Blackhawks (0-3-1) host the Detroit Red Wings (2-2-0) Friday at United Center to open a two-game series at 8 p.m. ET. Below, we analyze the Blackhawks-Red Wings odds and lines, with NHL picks and predictions.
Red Wings at Blackhawks: Odds, spread and lines
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 2:02 p.m. ET.
- Money line: Red Wings +120 (bet $100 to win $120) | Blackhawks -140 (bet $140 to win $100)
- Against the spread/ATS: Red Wings +1.5 (-225) | Blackhawks -1.5 (+185)
- Over/Under: 6.0 (O: -120 | U: +100)
Red Wings at Blackhawks: Projected starting goalies
Thomas Greiss (0-2, .930 SV%, 2.59 GAA) at Kevin Lankinen (0-0-1, .821 SV%, 4.79 GAA)
Greiss has played OK, as both his SV% and GAA are better than his career average. The problem is the Wings scored zero and 2 goals, respectively, in his two starts – they need to give him more help. Chicago averages 2.25 goals/game on 31.5 shots/game.
Lankinen, in his first NHL season, was in the starter’s net during Friday’s morning skate. He has just one game under his belt and gave up 5 goals on 30 shots in the process. Ouch. He won’t be as tested against the Wings, who average. 2.25 goals/game on 24.75 shots/game, but he’ll be a liability in this one.
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Red Wings at Blackhawks: Odds, betting lines, predictions and picks
Prediction
Red Wings 4, Blackhawks 2
Money line (ML)
The Blackhawks (-140) have only been competitive in one of their games, a 5-4 OT loss to the Florida Panthers Tuesday. Before that, the Blackhawks managed just 5 goals in three games.
The Red Wings (+120), coming off a 3-2 OT win over the Columbus Blue Jackets Tuesday, have shown more grit and hustle than they did a season ago, splitting their first two series with the Carolina Hurricanes and Columbus so far.
It won’t be often I recommend a Wings ML bet, but it’s the best value here. BET DETROIT (+120).
Against the spread (ATS)
While the Red Wings are one of the NHL’s worst teams, the Blackhawks, who have scored two or less goals in three of four games, have looked worse. The Wings are 3-1 ATS; while not explosive, they’re staying with competition thus far. The Blackhawks are 1-3 ATS.
The oddsmakers have a lot of juice (-225) on the Wings at staying within 1.5 goals. It’s not a bad play. There just isn’t much profit – a $100 wager returns just $44.44 profit if Detroit outright wins or loses by just one goal. There is better value on the money line if you think the Wings can pull the upset. PASS on the puck line.
Over/Under (O/U)
It is tough to depend on two teams who lack much scoring punch, but these squads should be able to put on an OK showing and Chicago’s netminder has been awful. The total is set at 6 (Over: -120, Under +100/EVEN).
Chicago is 3-1 vs. the O/U, through very little of its own doing, but the Blackhawks are at least peppering the net. The Red Wings are 1-3 vs. the O/U. While this line is likely to move down half-a-point and my lean is the Under (+100), I’ll PASS on the Total.
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Also see: Red Wings at Blackhawks: Time, TV, more info
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