- This page contains affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Detroit (31-16-4) at Minnesota (28-14-9)
- When: Jan 22 2026, 9:30 PM
- Where: Grand Casino Arena, St. Paul, MN, USA
- TV: ESPN
Detroit vs Minnesota NHL Preview & Pick
Moneyline: Minnesota -147
Spread: Minnesota -1.5 (+165)
Total: 6.0
Minnesota Wild
Minnesota skates into this one feeling pretty good about life, hockey, and whatever witchcraft Vladimir Tarasenko is currently practicing with the puck. The guy has been on an absolute heater lately, scoring goals like he suddenly remembered he is Vladimir Tarasenko. In his first season wearing Wild colors, he has been everything Minnesota hoped for and a little extra chaos on top. Five goals in his last four games suggests he is seeing the net like it is the size of a garage door.
The Wild just wrapped up a road trip that felt like a roller coaster designed by someone who hates goalies. They won in overtime in Buffalo, lit up Toronto, then dropped a tight one in Montreal. Back home in Saint Paul, Minnesota tends to play with extra bite, especially when they smell blood from a division rival. With two solid goaltending options available, Minnesota can afford to play aggressive and push pace instead of sitting back and praying.
From a betting angle, Minnesota makes sense as the favorite. They are deeper right now, more confident, and playing cleaner hockey overall. With Tarasenko rolling and the offense clicking, the Wild should control long stretches of this game.
Detroit Red Wings
Trying to keep the streak alive
Detroit arrives red hot, and that is not an exaggeration. Seven wins in their last eight games has the Red Wings feeling dangerous and extremely annoying to play against. They just knocked off Toronto in overtime and seem to thrive in tight, stressful games where everyone is gripping their stick a little too hard.
Patrick Kane remains the headliner. At 37, he is still pulling defenders out of position like it is 2013. He is also inching closer to a major milestone, which adds a little extra fuel to his engine. Detroit leans heavily on experience in big moments, and Kane is exactly the type of player who can ruin a betting ticket in one shift.
The concern for Detroit is sustainability. A lot of their recent wins have come in overtime or one goal situations. That is great for confidence but not always great when facing a structured team like Minnesota on the road. The Wings can absolutely compete here, but they need to stay disciplined and avoid chasing the game early.
Goaltending will be massive. Whoever gets the nod must be sharp from puck drop because Minnesota does not waste many chances at home.
Final Betting Take
They are playing more complete hockey and have the matchup edge at home. The total of 6.0 feels fair, but Minnesota controlling tempo tilts this toward a slightly lower scoring outcome than recent Detroit games.
Expect goals, expect physical play, and expect at least one moment where a goalie stares into the void questioning their career choices.
Score Prediction: Minnesota 4 Detroit 2
Pick: Minnesota -1.5 (+165)
Total: Under 6.0 Alt Lines (-135)
- NHL Odds source: Bovada Sportsbook
