Our Blackhawks vs Red Wings prediction starts in the crease, where neither team has named a starter for Thursday night in Detroit. The Chicago Blackhawks arrive still chasing their first road win of the season. The Detroit Red Wings come home from a 2-1-1 western trip as -177 moneyline favorites, with the total set at 6.0. Below, we weigh an unsettled Detroit net against the league’s quietest attack and land on two plays.
Last Updated: October 29, 2026
Chicago Blackhawks vs. Detroit Red Wings — Game Info
| Where | Little Caesars Arena, Detroit Michigan |
| When | October 29 – 7:30 PM ET |
| TV | ESPN+ |
Chicago Blackhawks vs. Detroit Red Wings Betting Preview
Goaltending is the biggest open question, and neither starter was confirmed at publication. Daily Faceoff lists Spencer Knight and John Gibson as unconfirmed projected starters. Knight is 4-6-0 with a .897 save percentage and a 3.23 goals-against average. Still, he made 25 saves in Tuesday’s 2-1 win over Los Angeles. Gibson has struggled more, going 3-4-1 with a .867 save percentage and a 3.44 GAA.
Detroit’s crease is crowded. Rookie Michal Postava made 25 saves in his first NHL start, a 4-3 shootout win in Edmonton on Monday. He also stopped all three shootout attempts in a game we previewed in our Red Wings vs. Oilers prediction. Daniil Tarasov owns a .940 save percentage in four appearances and returned to practice Wednesday. However, the Detroit Free Press expects Gibson or Postava to start Thursday. Treat every read below as provisional until Detroit names its goaltender.
Detroit is 5-4-3 with 13 points and has won four of its last six. The road trip opened with a 5-2 win in Vancouver and included a 4-1 loss in Calgary before the comeback in Edmonton. Dylan Larkin forced overtime there with 1:17 left in regulation. Viktor Arvidsson has five goals and 10 points since arriving in the offseason. Lucas Raymond has seven points over the last six games. Larkin skipped Wednesday’s practice for what coach Todd McLellan called a maintenance day, and he is expected to play. Marco Kasper and Mason Appleton remain out.
Chicago is 4-8-0 with eight points and has been outscored 44-26. The Blackhawks are 0-4 on the road and went 3-4-0 on the seven-game homestand that just ended. We tracked that homestand in our Panthers vs. Blackhawks prediction. Patrick Kane, back in Chicago after three seasons in Detroit, has one goal and seven assists. Rookie Roman Kantserov leads all NHL rookies with five goals, according to NHL.com. Ryan Ellis is out for the season.
Neither team is on a back-to-back. Chicago played at home Tuesday, while Detroit has been off since Monday night. The teams split two meetings last season. Chicago won 5-1 in Detroit, and the Red Wings answered with a 4-0 shutout in Chicago.
Chicago Blackhawks vs. Detroit Red Wings Odds
| Puck Line | Moneyline | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blackhawks | +1.5 (-175) | +153 | O 6.0 (-108) |
| Red Wings | -1.5 (+150) | -177 | U 6.0 (-112) |
Odds accurate as of October 29, 2026 via TheSpread.com. Odds change, get the latest NHL Odds – Futures – Props
Chicago Blackhawks vs. Detroit Red Wings — Who Is the Public Betting?
| Blackhawks | 75% | 25% | Red Wings |
See the latest NHL Public Betting Splits and make smarter wagers!
Blackhawks vs. Red Wings Prediction — A 31st-Ranked Power Play Meets a 30th-Ranked Kill
Start with shot volume, because it drives this number. Chicago averages 21.8 shots per game, which ranks 31st in the league. The Blackhawks also score just 2.17 goals per game, 31st as well. Detroit allows only 25.7 shots per game, a top-10 mark. Meanwhile, Detroit’s own attack averages 2.58 goals per game, which ranks 26th despite healthy shot totals. Neither offense has produced much in the first month.
Goaltending decides how far that logic goes. Knight’s .897 mark is below league average, so Detroit’s healthy shot volume still carries danger. On the other hand, the Blackhawks have needed long stretches to break through. Kantserov’s power-play goal on Tuesday was their only tally until Wyatt Kaiser’s third-period winner. Low event volume on one side of the ice tends to cap a game, even when the goaltending is ordinary.
Special teams usually push totals higher, but this matchup cancels itself out. Detroit’s penalty kill sits 30th at 65.85%. In contrast, Chicago’s power play is 31st at 10.26%, with four goals on 39 chances. The weakest piece of Detroit’s game meets the weakest piece of Chicago’s. Chicago games have averaged about 5.8 total goals this season, and Detroit games about 5.5. The total has not moved off its 6.0 opener, so the market offers no confirmation either way.
The case against is real. Both projected starters sit below .900, and a Gibson start is the biggest threat to this read. A Tarasov start would strengthen it. Late empty-net goals routinely turn one-goal games into two-goal games, and a game tied after 60 minutes adds at least one more goal. Detroit’s power play is also a threat at 21.43%, against a Chicago kill that sits at 78.38%. The price asks for a 52.8% win rate, and a finish on exactly six refunds the stake.
The Pick: Under 6.0 (-112)
Blackhawks vs. Red Wings Prediction — Detroit’s First Night Home After a Four-Game Western Swing
The shot-share gap is the core of this side. Detroit takes 29.8 shots per game and allows 25.7. Chicago takes 21.8 and allows 30.3. That is a swing of about eight shots per night in Detroit’s favor before home ice enters the picture. Chicago’s winless road record and minus-18 goal differential point the same way. Detroit also has two days of rest, while Chicago travels after Tuesday’s home game.
The price is the problem. At -177, Detroit must win about 63.9% of the time to break even, which leaves a thin margin. Detroit already has three overtime or shootout losses, so close games have not always broken its way. Public bettors hold 75% of puck line tickets on Chicago +1.5, yet the price has not budged from its opener. That freeze hints at quiet support for Detroit, but it is a soft signal on its own. The puck line at +150 needs a two-goal margin, which is a lot to ask of a 26th-ranked offense with shaky goaltending. Note that this read also leans on Chicago’s weak attack, the same input behind the Under.
The Pick: Red Wings Moneyline (-177)
Our Final Word on Blackhawks vs. Red Wings
Everything here hinges on Detroit’s crease, so check the confirmed starter before puck drop. A Gibson start keeps both picks live but adds risk to the total. Chicago’s shot volume is the steadiest input on the board, and both plays draw on it.
Under 6.0 (-112) is our top play because Chicago’s 31st-ranked shot volume and power play meet a Detroit team that limits chances. Red Wings Moneyline (-177) is our second play, backed by an eight-shot nightly edge in shot share for Detroit on home ice.
NHL Blackhawks vs. Red Wings FAQ: October 29, 2026
What time does the Blackhawks vs. Red Wings game start?
The Blackhawks vs. Red Wings game starts at 7:30 PM ET on Thursday, October 29, 2026. Puck drop is at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit. It is Detroit’s first home game since returning from a four-game road trip, and the broadcast streams on ESPN+.
How can I stream the Blackhawks vs. Red Wings game?
You can stream the Blackhawks vs. Red Wings game on ESPN+, which carries Thursday’s broadcast in the United States. The game is also listed on Disney+ and Hulu for subscribers with ESPN access. Viewers in Canada can find the game on Sportsnet+.
Where are the Blackhawks and Red Wings playing?
The Blackhawks and Red Wings are playing at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. It is Detroit’s first home game after a four-game road trip, and Chicago’s first game since finishing a seven-game homestand with a 2-1 win over Los Angeles on Tuesday.
What are the Blackhawks’ and Red Wings’ records this season?
The Blackhawks are 4-8-0 with eight points, and the Red Wings are 5-4-3 with 13 points entering Thursday. Chicago is still looking for its first road win after an 0-4 start away from home. Detroit has won four of its last six games.
Who won the last meeting between the Blackhawks and Red Wings?
The Red Wings won the last meeting, beating the Blackhawks 4-0 in Chicago on December 13, 2025. Alex DeBrincat scored twice and John Gibson posted the shutout. That result split last season’s two-game series after Chicago won 5-1 in Detroit on November 9, 2025.