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Puck Management Key for Red Wings in First of Pair vs. Blues
After a five-game winning streak had Detroit fans buzzing, the Red Wings stumbled this week — and now face a pivotal chance to reset when they host the St. Louis Blues on Saturday night at Little Caesars Arena.
Detroit dropped back-to-back games on the road, falling 4-2 to Buffalo and 7-2 to the New York Islanders in what head coach Todd McLellan called a regression in structure and discipline. The team’s puck management — particularly in the neutral zone — unraveled in both losses, leading to a string of odd-man rushes and defensive lapses.
“Our puck management through the neutral zone led to multiple rushes going the other way,” McLellan said. “They found the fourth man, they found the third man, they scored off rebounds — areas we thought we corrected after game one showed up again.”
Captain Dylan Larkin, who extended his point streak to eight games with a power-play goal Thursday, echoed his coach’s frustration.
“It wasn’t good enough,” Larkin said. “We didn’t execute and made it easy on them. We need to simplify, stick to our system, and make smarter plays.”
The Red Wings, now 5-3-0, will look to reestablish their pace and possession game before embarking on a five-game road trip — starting with a rematch against these same Blues on Tuesday.
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Game Information
Matchup: St. Louis Blues vs Detroit Red Wings
Venue: Little Caesars Arena – Detroit, MI
Date: Saturday, October 25, 2025
Time: 7:00 PM ET
Broadcast: ESPN+
Odds: Red Wings -115 | Blues -104 | Total 6.0
Detroit Must Clean Up Puck Play
The Red Wings’ success this season has hinged on efficient puck movement and quick-zone transitions — both of which broke down in their last two outings. Detroit was outshot 38–24 by the Islanders and committed 14 giveaways, well above their season average.
Still, there are positives. Larkin remains one of the league’s most productive centers with 13 points (6G, 7A) in eight games. Rookie linemate Emmitt Finnie has three goals in his last three outings, showing early chemistry on Detroit’s top line.
McLellan’s group has also played tough defensively at home, ranking in the top 10 in blocked shots (127) and hits (176). With Cam Talbot expected in net, the Wings will aim to control pace through strong puck possession and fewer turnovers.
Detroit’s form and trends can be tracked through the NHL Scores & Odds hub, which shows their growing reliability as home favorites this season.
St. Louis Seeks Defensive Stability
The Blues enter with a 3-3-1 record, and like Detroit, they’re looking to stop the bleeding after consecutive losses — a 2-1 OT defeat to Los Angeles and a 7-4 setback to Utah. Head coach Jim Montgomery didn’t mince words following Thursday’s loss.
“Right now, we’re giving up too many goals,” Montgomery said. “It’s not one thing. It’s not one line. We just have to improve our intensity.”
St. Louis’ offense hasn’t been the issue — they rank 13th in goals scored and 7th in power-play conversion — but defensive breakdowns have cost them. The Blues have allowed five or more goals in all three of their regulation losses.
Veteran goaltender Jordan Binnington, who allowed only one goal across two wins vs. Detroit last season, will likely start. Offensively, Jake Neighbours leads with four goals, and Pavel Buchnevich has emerged as the primary playmaker with four assists.
Fans can find deeper stat breakdowns and betting edges for the Blues in the NHL picks section, which covers daily matchups and team performance analytics.
Injury Reports
Detroit Red Wings
| Player | Status | Injury |
|---|---|---|
| Shai Buium (D) | Out | Undisclosed |
| Patrick Kane (RW) | Questionable | Upper Body |
St. Louis Blues
| Player | Status | Injury |
|---|---|---|
| Zach Dean (C) | Out | Personal |
| Torey Krug (D) | Out | Ankle |
| Alexey Toropchenko (RW) | Questionable | Lower Body |
Analysis
Both teams enter this matchup with defensive concerns, but Detroit’s superior transition play and home-ice advantage make them the more balanced side. If the Red Wings manage the puck cleanly and avoid turnovers, they should dictate tempo and generate sustained pressure.
The Blues’ path to an upset lies in special teams — their power play has been dangerous — and Binnington’s ability to steal a game. But unless St. Louis tightens up defensively, Detroit’s top line could be too much to handle.
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Prediction
The Red Wings are slightly favored at home and have more scoring depth, even if Patrick Kane remains out. Expect an uptempo, physical game with both teams pressing early before Detroit’s consistency takes over late.
Projected Score: Red Wings 4, Blues 3
Best Bets: Detroit ML (-115), Over 6.0 (+100)
For real-time odds movement, betting insights, and expert NHL projections, visit the ScoresAndStats NHL Odds page and get daily matchup previews on the NHL Picks hub.
