There are eight NHL games taking place tonight, but the most interesting of them all might just be the one that features two of the worst teams in the NHL in the Detroit Red Wings and Chicago Blackhawks. This matchup also happens to come on the day where Michigan betting officially, finally has launched!
Why would I want to watch a game with two of the worst teams you ask? That answer is easy. Quality entertainment!
Sometimes when you get teams together who are struggling like the Detroit Red Wings and the Chicago Blackhawks both are, it is a breath of fresh air for them and they leap at the opportunity to play well against even competition.
I think that is what we get tonight between the Red Wings and Blackhawks. It won’t be your classic perfectly played hockey game, but I assure you it will be entertaining.
Let’s take a look at some of the season stats for the Red Wings and Blackhawks.
Red Wings vs Blackhawks | Michigan Betting
Goals and Goalies
In a combined eight total games these two teams have two wins to speak of. Both of them belong to the Red Wings.
While neither team has eclipsed the four goal mark in a single game, they each have nine goals as a team.
The difference tonight will likely be the play in between the pipes.
The Blackhawks have already started three different goalies in net this season, and all have given up a minimum of five goals. This revolving door of instability is no surprise after long time goaltender and Stanley Cup champion Corey Crawford retired from the Blackhawks this off season.
Tonight, the Blackhawks will be rolling with Kevin Lankinen, a young goalie out of Finland who played in his first NHL game just three nights ago. He made 23 saves on 28 shot attempts, and helped propel the Blackhawks to OT against the Florida Panthers, but would allow the game winning goal halfway through OT.
On the opposite end of the ice we will likely see Thomas Greiss. He has also split time for the Red Wings, but has been the better of the two options thus far.
Greiss came to the Red Wings from the New York Islanders where he had been splitting time almost dead evenly for the last five seasons, so he is used to this kind of roll.
The Red Wings goaltending tandem has also only given up 10 goals on the season compared to the Blackhawks 20 in the same amount of games.
Odds and Predictions
I will be totally honest with you and say that this game between the Detroit Red Wings and Chicago Blackhawks is very difficult to cap. However, I do have a couple picks I think will be winners for you.
All NHL odds and Michigan betting odds courtesy of Bovada Sportsbook.
Moneyline: DET: +118 | CHI: -137
Puck Line: DET: +1.5 (-220) | -1.5 (+180)
Total: 6 – Over: (-107) | Under: (-114)
For the Blackhawks, this is as good of an opportunity as they will possibly have to pick up their first victory of the season. The laws of hockey say that they are due, and they are on home ice tonight against sub par opponent with a new goalie in net, so it makes sense that they are favorites.
With that said, there is absolutely no way that I’m laying money with the Hawks right now.
I like the Red Wings tonight. Mobile sports gambling was just legalized in Michigan literally today, so they will likely have the entire state backing them. In addition to that, I think both teams will be able to score tonight, which is why I also like the over.
I see this game ending somewhere in the neighbourhood of a 5-3 final score.
If and when the Blackhawks lose tonight, I would maybe consider them in the upcoming rematch to finally get one in the W column. It wont happen tonight though.
Red Wings vs Blackhawks NHL Picks
NHL Picks – Detroit Red Wings ML (+118) / Game total o6 (-107)
