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Detroit (28-15-4) at Boston (25-19-2)
- When: Jan 13 2026, 7:30 PM
- Where: TD Garden, Boston, MA, USA
- TV: TNT
Detroit vs Boston NHL Preview & Pick
Moneyline: Boston -130
Spread: Boston -1.5 (+190)
Total: 6.0
Boston Bruins Breakdown
The Boston Bruins spent the weekend reminding everyone that hockey makes absolutely no sense and that chaos is the real head coach. On Saturday they turned the New York Rangers into traffic cones with a ten goal explosion that felt illegal in several states. On Sunday they followed that up by winning one to nothing, which is the hockey equivalent of eating one celery stick for dinner and calling it balance.
Boston is rolling anyway you slice it. They are chasing a fourth straight win on this homestand and they are doing it with defense, goaltending, and random scoring nights that feel like they were selected by spinning a wheel. One night it is fireworks. The next night it is lock the doors and hide the puck.
Joonas Korpisalo just recorded the team’s first shutout of the season, which means he officially entered dad mode. No flash. No drama. Just stops shots and nods politely. Viktor Arvidsson is also heating up after shaking off earlier injury issues and is once again playing like a human wrecking ball with skates.
The Bruins are comfortable winning ugly, pretty, and downright confusing. At home they control pace, protect the middle of the ice, and rarely panic. That matters against a Detroit team that thrives on momentum swings.
Detroit Red Wings Breakdown
Detroit is playing confident hockey right now and confidence in hockey is dangerous. They just survived being outshot heavily and still found a way to win in overtime against Carolina. That is not luck. That is belief mixed with stubbornness.
Alex DeBrincat continues to be the engine, driving offense and creating problems every shift. Andrew Copp is living around the net like he pays rent there, and the Red Wings as a whole are embracing the idea that style points do not matter as long as the scoreboard smiles back.
Detroit has learned how to win games they used to lose. They bend. They absorb pressure. Then they strike when you least expect it. That makes them a tricky road opponent, especially against a Boston team that can sometimes drift into cruise control after big wins.
Betting Outlook and Prediction
This matchup screams tight game. Boston has the edge at home, the better defensive structure, and the steadier goaltending. Detroit has momentum, confidence, and a habit of refusing to go away.
Expect a slower pace than Boston’s recent goal festival, with both teams trading chances and leaning on structure. The total at 6.0 feels fair, but Boston’s home ice and discipline should tilt the final result.
Boston wins the game, probably while making fans sweat until the final horn, which is very on brand.
Score Prediction: Bruins 3, Red Wings 2
Pick: Boston (-130)
Total: Under 6.0 (+100)
- NHL Odds source: Bovada Sportsbook