Welcome back to NHL Predictions. Each day, Last Word on Hockey takes a look at the games that are scheduled then offers insight and analysis to help predict who will be victorious in head-to-head matchups. Today we are looking at the game between the Chicago Blackhawks vs. Detroit Red Wings. Be sure to check out more NHL Predictions as the 2024-25 season continues.
NHL Predictions
Chicago Blackhawks vs. Detroit Red Wings
Time: 7:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST)
TV: SN; NHLN; CHSN; FDSNDET
An Original Six rivalry is renewed as the Chicago Blackhawks (14-25-2) pay a visit to the Detroit Red Wings (18-18-4). This is the second, and final meeting between these teams this season. The Red Wings beat the Blackhawks 4-1 back on November 6th in Chicago. Since then both teams have new coaches. For Detroit they will be hoping for the same result. Can Chicago split the season series?
Blackhawks Bouncing Back from the Winter Classic
The Chicago Blackhawks were very unhappy after the St. Louis Blues went into Wrigley Field and beat them 6-2 in the 2025 NHL Winter Classic on December 31st. Many players spoke out about the performance after the game. Superstar Connor Bedard was quoted saying the team “got dog-walked”. Captain Nick Foligno said it was “just embarrassing” and “our fans deserve better”. Since then, the Blackhawks have won two of three and seem to have taken the words from their leaders to heart.
Bedard is backing up his words with his on-ice performance. He enters tonight on an eight-game point scoring streak. In those eight games he has four goals and 11 points. Despite some early season chatter about his production he looks every bit like the elite player he was hyped up to be entering the NHL. He will be expected to carry the offensive load once again in Detroit for a Blackhawks team only averaging 2.54 goals for a game.
Red Wings Riding New Coach Bump
Todd McLellan replaced Derek Lalonde as head coach of the Detroit Red Wings on December 26th. Since then Detroit has looked like a completely different team. They lost their first game under coach McLellan to the Toronto Maple Leafs but since then they have won five straight games heading into tonight. With how bunched together the bottom half of the Eastern Conference is the Red Wings are all of a sudden right back in the playoff hunt.
While the entire roster looks rejuvenated, two players in particular have had strong showings under their new coach. In net goalie Alex Lyon had won three straight starts allowing only two goals in each game before exiting his start against the Ottawa Senators with an upper-body injury. It sounds unlikely that he will be able to play tonight leaving it up to Cam Talbot to continue the winning streak. The other player is Patrick Kane. He is looking more like his “Showtime” self, scoring eight points in six games since McLellan took over. That included scoring the overtime winner in the Red Wings last game.
Prediction
This could be a fun game to watch tonight as both teams enter playing better hockey lately under their new head coaches. With both players coming in riding scoring streaks this feels like a game where the old Blackhawks superstar, Kane, and the new Blackhawks superstar, Bedard, put on a show. With both probable starting goalies, Petr Mrazek and Talbot, sporting GAA’s over 3 this could lead to a high scoring game. In the end Kane has more offensive help around him likely leading to the difference in the game.
Prediction: Red Wings win 5-4
Prop Bets of The Night
A bit of an under the radar goal scorer who has been finding the back of the net more lately is Tyler Bertuzzi. He has nine goals since December 2nd. He is +310 to score in the game tonight. For the Red Wings look for Kane to continue his hot streak against his former team. He is +270 to score.
Main Photo Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images
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The post NHL Predictions: January 10 Chicago Blackhawks vs. Detroit Red Wings appeared first on Last Word On Hockey.