The Detroit Red Wings close a three-game western road trip Saturday night in Calgary, and our Red Wings vs. Flames prediction starts in the crease. Detroit is a -147 road favorite, with the total sitting at 6.0. However, the Red Wings arrive with real questions in goal after Thursday’s win in Vancouver. Calgary, meanwhile, has won three of its last four games behind a goaltender who has caught fire. Below, we break down the goaltending, the special teams and the market before landing on two picks.
Last Updated: October 24, 2026
Detroit Red Wings vs. Calgary Flames — Game Info
| Where | Scotiabank Saddledome, Calgary Alberta |
| When | October 24 – 10:00 PM ET |
| TV | Detroit SportsNet, ESPN+ |
Detroit Red Wings vs. Calgary Flames Betting Preview
Goaltending shapes this game more than anything else, and neither starter was confirmed at the time of writing. Detroit’s situation is the messier one. John Gibson left Thursday’s 5-2 win in Vancouver after two periods. The team first listed an upper-body injury, while coach Todd McLellan said Gibson had something in his eye. McLellan did not believe it was serious, but Gibson’s status for Saturday was undetermined. Even when healthy, Gibson has struggled, posting an .871 save percentage and a 3.35 goals-against average.
Daniil Tarasov is the other option, and he has been Detroit’s best goaltender. Tarasov carries a .940 save percentage and a 1.40 GAA. However, he aggravated something at Wednesday’s practice and is listed as day-to-day. That pushed 24-year-old Michal Postava into his NHL debut, where he stopped seven of eight shots in relief. Daily Faceoff projects Gibson without confirmation, so every read below is provisional until Detroit names its starter.
Calgary’s crease is calmer. Devin Cooley has started and won the last two games, stopping 70 of 73 shots against Carolina and Minnesota. He made 36 saves in Thursday’s 2-1 win over the Wild. Daily Faceoff projects him to start again, though that is also unconfirmed. His form is the clearest difference between this team and the one that lost five of its first six games.
Detroit is 4-3-3 and has earned a point in six straight games. Half of its 10 games have gone past regulation, including three shootouts. The Red Wings outshot Vancouver 31-13 on Thursday, and Lucas Raymond scored twice. Alex DeBrincat leads the club with six goals and 12 points.
Calgary sits at 3-6-0 and has been outscored 38-19. Still, the Flames have won three of their last four, all in regulation. In fact, not one Calgary game has reached overtime this season. Mikael Backlund is day-to-day with an upper-body injury. The teams last met on March 16, when Detroit won 5-2 at Little Caesars Arena.
The schedule spot is fairly even. Both teams played Thursday, so each has two days of rest. Detroit is finishing a trip through Seattle and Vancouver, with a visit to Edmonton waiting Monday. The Red Wings have been in the West all week, so the time-zone change is already behind them. Calgary plays the third game of a four-game homestand in the Saddledome’s final season.
Special teams tilt toward the home side. Calgary’s power play ranks fifth at 26.1%, and its penalty kill ranks sixth at 83.9%. Detroit’s power play sits 13th at 22.2%. The Red Wings’ penalty kill, by contrast, ranks among the weakest in the league.
Detroit Red Wings vs. Calgary Flames Odds
| Puck Line | Moneyline | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red Wings | -1.5 (+175) | -147 | O 6.0 (-110) |
| Flames | +1.5 (-210) | +127 | U 6.0 (-110) |
Odds accurate as of October 24, 2026 via TheSpread.com. Odds change, get the latest NHL Odds – Futures – Props
Detroit Red Wings vs. Calgary Flames — Who Is the Public Betting?
| Red Wings | 16% | 84% | Flames |
See the latest NHL Public Betting Splits and make smarter wagers!
Red Wings vs. Flames Prediction — Who Starts in Goal After Detroit’s Thursday Scare?
The full-game total asks whether these teams combine for seven or more goals, with exactly six producing a push. Several signals point the same way here. Detroit’s crease could hold a goaltender with an eye issue, a goaltender returning from a practice injury, or a rookie making his first NHL start. Each version carries more risk than a healthy, in-form starter would.
Calgary’s process numbers add fuel. Natural Stat Trick data compiled by The Win Column shows the Flames fourth in expected goals for per 60 minutes. However, they rank 26th in expected goals against. Their 5-on-5 shooting and save percentages both rank last in the league. That profile describes a high-event team whose finishing should recover. Add Calgary’s top-five power play against Detroit’s leaky penalty kill, and the goal outlook rises again. The market has moved the same way. The Over opened at -103 and now costs -110, while the Under drifted from -117 to -110.
The case against is real, though. Cooley has stopped 70 of 73 shots across two starts, and Calgary’s last two games produced five and three total goals. If Tarasov is healthy and starts, his .940 save percentage undercuts much of this read. On the other hand, a 3-3 tie after 60 minutes would still clear the number. Overtime or a shootout adds a goal to the final score.
The Pick: Over 6.0 (-110)
Red Wings vs. Flames Best Bet — How Much Do Calgary’s Last Four Games Change the Price?
Detroit at -147 implies a 59.5% win probability, while Calgary at +127 needs only 44.1% to break even. The season record argues for the favorite. However, the Flames’ underlying numbers tell a closer story. Calgary’s expected goal share sits above 51%, which ranks 13th in the league despite a 3-6-0 record. Cooley’s form and two straight home wins suggest the early collapse was partly bad luck. The moneyline has also drifted slightly toward Calgary, moving from +130 at open to +127.
Public bettors hold 84% of puck line tickets on the Flames, and that price has moved with them, so it carries little signal. Laying -210 to protect a one-goal loss also leaves little value. Detroit’s habit of extra time matters for the vehicle, too. Half of its games have gone past regulation, and this full-game moneyline includes overtime and the shootout. Still, Detroit has the deeper scoring and just outshot Vancouver by 18. The edge here is thin. It also leans on the same Detroit goaltending question as the Over, so these two picks are not independent.
Our Best Bet: Flames Moneyline (+127)
Our Final Word on Red Wings vs. Flames
This game turns on the Detroit crease. A healthy Tarasov would tighten both reads. In contrast, a limited Gibson or a first career start for Postava would strengthen them. Calgary’s recent play behind Cooley gives the home side a real path at a plus price. For more on how the Flames handled a stronger opponent last weekend, see our Hurricanes vs. Flames prediction.
The Over 6.0 (-110) is our top play, driven by Detroit’s unsettled goaltending against Calgary’s high-event underlying numbers. The Flames moneyline (+127) is our second pick, because Calgary’s expected-goal profile and recent form outpace a price that asks for only 44.1%.
NHL Red Wings vs. Flames FAQ: October 24, 2026
What time does the Red Wings vs. Flames game start?
The Red Wings and Flames face off at 10:00 p.m. ET on Saturday, October 24, 2026. That is 8:00 p.m. local time at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, Alberta. The game is the last stop on Detroit’s three-game road trip through Seattle, Vancouver and Calgary.
What channel is the Red Wings vs. Flames game on?
In the United States, the game airs on Detroit SportsNet in the Red Wings’ home market. Viewers outside that market can watch on ESPN+. Regional restrictions may apply depending on where you live, so check local listings before puck drop.
How can I stream the Red Wings vs. Flames game?
Out-of-market viewers in the United States can stream the game on ESPN+. Fans in Detroit’s home market can stream Detroit SportsNet through the MLB App. Access comes either by signing in with a participating TV provider or through a direct in-market subscription, which carries no local blackouts.
What are the Red Wings’ and Flames’ records this season?
Detroit enters Saturday at 4-3-3 with 11 points and a six-game point streak. Calgary is 3-6-0 with six points after losing five of its first six games. The Flames have since won three of their last four, including two straight at home to open their current homestand.
Who won the last meeting between the Red Wings and Flames?
Detroit won the last meeting 5-2 on March 16, 2026, at Little Caesars Arena. Patrick Kane scored twice in the second period, and John Gibson made 25 saves on 27 shots for the win. Saturday marks Detroit’s final visit to the Scotiabank Saddledome.