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Detroit (23-14-3) at Pittsburgh (17-12-9)
- When: Jan 1 2026, 7:00 PM
- Where: PPG Paints Arena, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- TV: SportsNet PT
Detroit vs Pittsburgh NHL Preview & Pick
Moneyline: Pittsburgh -130
Spread: Pittsburgh -1.5 (+185)
Total: 6.5
Welcome to New Year Chaos on Ice
The calendar flips, the confetti falls, and somehow the Pittsburgh Penguins find themselves feeling good again. Yes, that sentence is real. Pittsburgh welcomes Detroit on home ice Thursday night, chasing something rarer than a clean Zamboni blade: a three game winning streak. The Penguins have not seen one of those since October, which in hockey time feels like three geological eras ago.
Pittsburgh enters as a slight Moneyline favorite at -130, with the total sitting at 6.5. Translation for gamblers: someone expects goals, emotions, and probably one goalie yelling at his defense.
Pittsburgh Penguins: Suddenly Remembering How To Score
Since the holiday break, Pittsburgh has turned into a goal scoring machine that apparently runs on leftover turkey and spite. Twelve goals in two games is impressive, especially after an ugly stretch where the offense disappeared like socks in a dryer. From early December through the twentieth, the Penguins lost eight straight and looked like a team trying to score with rubber marshmallows.
Now the big bodies are doing big body things. Justin Brazeau is parked near the crease like a legally questionable moving truck, scoring goals and causing chaos. Anthony Mantha is heating up as well, which is always fun because when Mantha is rolling, opposing defenders look deeply confused.
Then there is Sidney Crosby, who continues to age like expensive wine stored in a very angry cellar. At thirty eight years old, he still leads the team in scoring and casually reminds everyone that retirement rumors are fictional storytelling.
Detroit Red Wings: Calm, Collected, Slightly Annoying
Detroit rolls into Pittsburgh after a fantastic December, winning eleven of fifteen games. This is not the Red Wings of recent seasons that panic at the first sign of adversity. This version plays smarter, safer hockey, which is code for boring but effective.
Dylan Larkin continues to lead the charge, Lucas Raymond keeps piling up assists, and the Wings generally look like a team that knows exactly what it is doing. That is unsettling for opponents and very annoying for bettors hoping for chaos.
Cam Talbot could get the start in net, and while his numbers are not flashy, he has seen everything hockey can throw at him. Pittsburgh counters with Stuart Skinner, who seems comfortable against Detroit and enters with some confidence after his last outing.
How This Game Gets Weird
This matchup screams contrast. Pittsburgh wants speed, forecheck pressure, and goals flying in bunches. Detroit wants structure, patience, and everyone to calm down immediately. When those styles collide, things tend to get strange late in games, especially with six point five looming over the total.
Final Prediction
Pittsburgh rides the momentum and home ice energy into the new year. Detroit keeps it tight but eventually cracks under pressure.
Expect goals, noise, and at least one moment where both fan bases scream at their television for completely different reasons.
Score Prediction: Penguins 4, Red Wings 3
Pick: Pittsburgh (-130)
Total: Over 6.5 (-110)
- NHL Odds source: Bovada Sportsbook
