Red Wings vs Blackhawks Betting Preview (January 22nd, 2021)

The longest-played rivalry in all of the National Hockey League resumes once again on Friday night at the United Center as the Chicago Blackhawks host the hated Detroit Red Wings. Notably, this is the first local market game of Michigan online sports betting. It is also the 740th meeting between these two Original Six clubs and the first of eight meetings on the season.

Let’s take a look at this showdown in our Red Wings vs. Blackhawks Betting Preview with odds, picks and predictions.

Red Wings vs. Blackhawks Betting Preview

The Chicago Blackhawks return to the West Side after a disastrous 0-4 start to this season, losing a pair of games to both Tampa Bay and Florida.

 

Both goaltenders Malcolm Subban and Colin Delia looked bad over three combined starts, which prompted Hawks head coach Jeremy Colliton to promote Kevin Laninken off the taxi squad to make his NHL debut against Florida. The 25-year old Finnish native was uneven in his debut, making 25 saves over 30 shots on goal as Chicago lost in OT by a 5-4 final. Detroit skates into town with a 2-2 record over their first four contests of 2021. The Wings lost both series openers to Carolina & Columbus only to bounce back and exact revenge two nights later with wins.

The Wings have allowed 29 or more shots on goal in three consecutive games, and will try to take advantage of Chicago’s porous defensive scheme, with the Blackhawks allowing five goals in all four contests thus far.

Red Wings vs. Blackhawks Odds

Here are the odds for Red Wings vs. Blackhawks at DraftKings Illinois:

Spread: Red Wings (+1.5 -230); Blackhawks (-1.5 +188)
Moneyline: Red Wings (+112); Blackhawks (-132)
Over/Under: Over 6 (-118)/Under 6 (-104)

Bets We Like With a Red Wings Win

Bobby Ryan to Score a Goal Anytime (+235, FanDuel)

Veteran winger Bobby Ryan is having a resurgence to start the year with Detroit, currently leading the team with four goals. The 33-year old former No. 2 overall draft pick is just one tally away from tying last season’s total goal mark, which was the lowest of his 14-year career. He will need to keep producing on offense if the Wings are going to have a chance to earn two points.

Click here to get a $1,000 risk-free first bet or 25-1 odds for UFC 257/NFL conference championship games with FanDuel Sportsbook.

 

Bets We Like With a Blackhawks Win

Patrick Kane to Score a Goal Anytime (+148, DraftKings)

The 14-year veteran they call “Showtime” is going to need to shine once again in this home opener, regardless of the lack of fans at the “Madhouse on Madison”. In his career, Kane has scored 15 goals and added 29 assists in 49 contests against the Red Wings, with his first NHL point coming back in the 2007-08 home opener versus Detroit. The former league MVP should get on the board in this rivalry battle.

Click here to get up to $1,000 in free bets or 100-1 odds on either NFL conference championship game with DraftKings Sportsbook.

 

Bets We Like Independent of the Outcome

Full Game OVER 6 Goals (-118, DraftKings)

The Blackhawks have one of the worst defense and goaltending units in the league, which always makes it a decent time to back the over nearly every game, even with a Detroit club that doesn’t have the most consistent offensive attack. The over has cashed in five of the last eight meetings between these teams, with one of those unders being a 4-2 decision in a game that had a 6.5 line. I anticipate these teams, who are expected by many to finish in the bottom two spots of the Central Division, will battle and trade goals back and forth throughout this contest.

Red Wings vs. Blackhawks Prediction

Even when both franchises are in bad places overall, these two still put on an entertaining contest whenever they meet, and now with Chicago looking to put their road woes past them, they look to start a clean slate on home ice. I think the odds are telling us something in this spot, so I like the Blackhawks to beat Detroit by a score of 5-3 on Friday night.

 

Click here to get a $300 risk-free first bet at William Hill with promo code BLEACHERXL300.