NHL Odds, Preview, Prediction: Red Wings vs Blackhawks (Sunday, February 25)
Via Jamie Sabau/Getty Images. Pictured: Connor Bedard #98 of the Chicago Blackhawks skates against the Philadelphia Flyers on February 21, 2024 at United Center in Chicago, Illinois.
Red Wings vs. Blackhawks Odds
| Red Wings Odds | -170 |
| Blackhawks Odds | +145 |
| Over / Under | 6 -110o / -110u |
Here's everything you need to know about the Detroit Red Wings vs. Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday, February 25 – our expert NHL prediction and pick.
The Blackhawks will honor Chris Chelios Sunday by officially retiring his no. 7 jersey with a pregame ceremony ahead of their matchup with the Red Wings. Patrick Kane will also return to the United Center for the first time since being traded last February. Kane was a key force in Chicago's 2010, 2013 and 2015 cup victories and should receive a tremendous response.
Chelios deserves to be the center of attention Sunday, but that might not entirely be the case with Kane returning in dominant form. However, the Hawks have another guy capable of stealing the show, and I'm targeting him with my best bet from this matchup.
Find my Red Wings vs. Blackhawks prediction and NHL betting pick below.
Under any circumstances, Kane's return to Chicago would have been an exciting event. Him playing tremendous hockey at age 35 for a Red Wings team likely to make the playoffs makes it all the more interesting. We aren't just talking about Kane because of who he was at his best, but also because he is so important right now to the Red Wings.
He enters this matchup on a seven-game point streak, with four goals and six assists over that span. He has found considerable success recently skating on the top line alongside Dylan Larkin and Alex DeBrincat as the trio has played to an xGF% of 59.2 and is doing better than expected by limiting chances against.
That hasn't been the case for the entire Red Wings roster recently, though, and even versus a stale Blackhawks attack, James Reimer will face some tough chances Sunday.
In the last 15 games, the Wings have played to an xGF% of just 44.39. They have allowed 31.62 Shots Against per 60 in that period as Reimer and Alex Lyon have combined for a .914 save percentage. This is confirmed to be a start for backup Reimer, who has played to a -1.9 GSAx and .904 save percentage across 15 appearances.
Things look pretty bleak for the Blackhawks, who enter this matchup in the midst of a 1-9-2 slump. Their current win percentage of .293 sits safely below the Sharks, which is surely viewed as a positive by the majority of Blackhawks fans with Macklin Celebrini set to be the reward for this season's lottery winner.
The Hawks likely have a slightly better chance in this matchup than their recent 1-9-2 record suggests. They have faced a tough schedule over this recent span, as their opponents combine to average 14.8th place in the league on current points percentage. On top of that, three of the so-called "soft matchups" came against the Wild, Senators and Flames, who are all playing really well recently.
Scrappy underdog play often won't be rewarded because those teams have no scoring upside, but on a number of nights recently, the Blackhawks have hung in fairly well versus quality opponents.
Connor Bedard has put only five Shots on Goal combined over the last three matchups, which came against a trio of elite defenses in the Jets, Hurricanes and Flyers. In the two prior games versus the Senators and Penguins, he put up nine. He has looked true to form since returning to the lineup, and I expect him to make a mark on this game in an easier matchup.
Petr Mrazek will be Chicago's starter in net on Sunday. He has played to a +5.8 GSAx and .909 save percentage across 40 games played.
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Red Wings vs. Blackhawks
Betting Pick & Prediction
Everyone will target Kane's props ahead of this matchup, as he has displayed great form recently and returns home to play one of the league's worst sides. I agree that Kane will show well here and factor in to the story, and I would not talk anybody out of those plays.
Just keep in mind some of his numbers are getting pretty juiced relative to a normal game, so there is a bit of a fee. If you have conviction he will show out here, stick to your guns, though.
However, the star narrative that isn't getting bet on enough is Bedard showing out in this high-profile spot. He's trending a lot lower than we should expect in terms of recent Shots on Goal, in part due to the strength of his competition. The Red Wings are playing well due to clinical finishing and elite goaltending, but they are still a well below average team in terms of Chances Allowed.
Betting Bedard to record Over 3.5 Shots at +155 on DraftKings (+150 on bet365) is my favorite prop from this matchup. Two points from Kane at +250 or two from Bedard at +270 are my next favorites.
Pick: Connor Bedard Over 3.5 Shots on Goal +155 (DraftKings | Play to +140)
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