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Detroit Red Wings vs Montreal Canadiens Betting Preview
The Detroit Red Wings begin their push to end a nine-year playoff drought Thursday night as they host the Montreal Canadiens at Little Caesars Arena. Detroit is leaning into youth under head coach Todd McLellan, with three rookies — Michael Brandsegg-Nygard, Emmitt Finnie, and Axel Sandin-Pellikka — earning opening-night roster spots. The Canadiens, meanwhile, are playing their second game of a back-to-back after dropping their opener 5-2 to Toronto on Wednesday.
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Puck drop is set for 7:00 PM ET on ESPN+, with the Red Wings listed as -130 favorites and the Canadiens at +110. The total is set at 6.0 goals (Over -115 / Under -106).
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Line Movement and Odds
Detroit opened as -125 favorites and has inched to -130 with steady action on the home side. Roughly 61% of bets and 68% of handle back the Red Wings, who will start John Gibson in goal following his trade from Anaheim. The total opened at 6.0 and has seen balanced betting, though the under is drawing interest with Montreal playing on tired legs.
“We may as well bundle [the rookies] up in a package,” McLellan said. “They’ve competed from Day 1 and earned this. The group believes they can help us — that’s a good sign.”
Matchup Breakdown
Montreal Canadiens Outlook
The Canadiens opened their season with a 5-2 loss to Toronto that was more competitive than the score suggests. Montreal outshot the Maple Leafs 31–27 but gave up a late tiebreaker and two empty-net goals. Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield led the offensive charge, while Sam Montembeault stopped 22 of 26 shots.
Head coach Martin St. Louis was pleased with the structure but wants more shooting volume:
“We’ve been focused on defense all camp. Now it’s time to build the offensive side — have more of a shooting mentality,” St. Louis said.
With limited rest and travel, Montreal’s young blue line, featuring Lane Hutson, will be tested against Detroit’s aggressive forwards. Expect Jake Allen or Cayden Primeau to get the start as Montembeault likely rests.
Detroit Red Wings Outlook
After narrowly missing the playoffs last year (39-35-8), Detroit has reloaded with youth and veteran stability. Captain Dylan Larkin (70 points), Lucas Raymond (80 points), and Alex DeBrincat (70 points) return as the offensive core, while newcomer Patrick Kane and second-year center Marco Kasper add creative depth.
The biggest change comes in net, where John Gibson takes over as the No. 1 goalie. Gibson’s .910 career save percentage should provide much-needed reliability behind an improving defensive corps anchored by Moritz Seider. Detroit’s young skaters, led by Sandin-Pellikka, bring mobility and energy — a key focus for McLellan’s system.
Injuries and Conditions
| Detroit Red Wings | Montreal Canadiens |
|---|---|
| F Robby Fabbri – Out (lower body) | D David Reinbacher – Out (upper body) |
| F J.T. Compher – Probable (illness) | G Sam Montembeault – Likely resting |
| D Ben Chiarot – Day-to-day (maintenance) | D Kaiden Guhle – Probable (lower body) |
| G John Gibson – Expected starter | G Jake Allen – Expected starter |
| Detroit Red Wings Injury Report | Montreal Canadiens Injury Report |
Weather: Indoors at Little Caesars Arena — no weather impact.
Best Bets and Prediction
Detroit’s youth movement injects energy, but the real story could be in net. Gibson’s debut provides stability, while Montreal faces fatigue after playing less than 24 hours earlier. The Canadiens will keep it competitive early, but the rested Red Wings should pull away late on home ice.
Pick: Red Wings Moneyline (-130)
Projected Final Score: Red Wings 3, Canadiens 2
Lean: Under 6.0 (-106)
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| Category | Detail |
|---|---|
| Best Bet | Red Wings ML (-130) |
| Confidence Rating | ★★★★☆ |
| Projected Score | Red Wings 3, Canadiens 2 |
| Total Lean | Under 6.0 (-106) |
| Market Split | 61% bets Detroit, 68% money Detroit |
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