The 18-18-and-4 Detroit Red Wings host the 14-25-and-2 Chicago Blackhawks this evening (7 PM EST start on FanDuel SportsNet Detroit/CHSN/NHL Network/97.1 FM).
While the Blackhawks have had a difficult season, they’re feeling good about themselves after winning 2 of their last 3 games, having most recently defeated the Colorado Avalanche 3-1 on Wednesday, and all is well in Chicago: Connor Bedard and the resurgent Tyler Bertuzzi have found a connection, Petr Mrazek is healthy, and the Hawks’ “kids” are also contributing to the cause.
There’s also this, per the Blackhawks’ website:
The Blackhawks are 15-9-1 in their last 25 games against Detroit since the 2015-16 season. Chicago is also 4-3-0 in their last seven games at Little Caesars Arena. Blackhawks forward Ilya Mikheyev has seven points (2G, 5A) in nine career games against the Red Wings while Tyler Bertuzzi appeared in 305 games with Detroit from 2016-23, posting 202 points (88G, 114A), including a 30-goal season in 2021-22.
As this is an NHL Network game out-of-market in the U.S. (sorry, streamers), the NHL is hyping tonight’s game as the “game of the day”…
Chicago Blackhawks at Detroit Red Wings (7 p.m. ET; FDSNDET, CHSN, NHLN, SNW, SNO, SNE)
It’s still novel to see Patrick Kane face off against the Blackhawks, the team he epitomized for 16 seasons. This marks Kane’s third game against his old team, with the forward recording two points (one goal, one assist) in his previous two games. It’s made even more fun by the run the Red Wings are on, propelling themselves back into the race for the Stanley Cup Playoffs with a season-long five-game winning streak, their latest coming on a power-play overtime goal by Kane to defeat the Ottawa Senators 3-2 on Tuesday. Detroit (18-18-4) is 5-1-0 since Todd McLellan replaced Derek Lalonde as coach and has captain Dylan Larkin on a four-game goal streak (five goals) and a six-game point streak, with nine points (five goals, four assists). Chicago (14-25-2) has center Connor Bedard on an NHL career best eight-game point streak (11 points; four goals, seven assists).
MLive’s Tyler Kuehl summarizes tonight’s match-up as follows…
The Red Wings continue to chug along into 2025, and, as of Friday, have the longest active winning streak in the NHL, winning each of their last five games. It certainly has not been easy for the club. Along with pulling out wins over the Columbus Blue Jackets and Washington Capitals, Detroit was tasked with beating the Central Division-leading Winnipeg Jets, and rallying back in the third period to beat the Ottawa Senators in overtime on Tuesday night.
It is a testament to how this team has bought into what new head coach Todd McLellan has been selling. The team is 5-1 under their new bench boss and, despite still being seventh in the Atlantic Division, are four points back of a Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference.
The Blackhawks are nowhere near any postseason conversation. Even with the bright young star of theirs, reigning Calder Trophy winner Connor Bedard, the team has been abysmal for long stretches this year. Along with getting embarrassed by the St. Louis Blues at the Winter Classic on New Year’s Eve, Chicago has lost six of its last eight games, and hold the worst record in the NHL.
This will be the final meeting of the season between the longtime Original Six rivals. The Wings beat the Hawks 4-1 in Chicago in early November.
And here are tonight’s game notes:
The Red Wings hit the ice at Little Caesars Arena for their morning skate just before 10:30 AM:
Maybe the best rink in the league. If there guys ever make the playoffs again, I want to be here for it. pic.twitter.com/aZ18GzSiuA
— Mark Lazerus (@MarkLazerus) January 10, 2025
#RedWings skate before hosting Blackhawks tonight (7, @FanDuelSN_DET):
— Ansar Khan (@AnsarKhanMLive) January 10, 2025
Kasper-Larkin-Raymond
DeBrincat-Copp-Kane
Berggren-Compher-Tarasenko
Rasmussen-Veleno-Motte
Fischer
Chiarot-Seider
Edvinsson-Johansson
Gustafsson-Holl
Lagesson
Talbot starting. Husso back-up. pic.twitter.com/ZeVXh5kbMb
#RedWings power play units:
— Ansar Khan (@AnsarKhanMLive) January 10, 2025
1. DeBrincat (net front), Larkin (bumper), Raymond-Kane (flanks), Seider (point).
2. Rasmussen (net front), Compher (bumper), Kasper-Tarasenko (flanks), Gustafsson (point). pic.twitter.com/6tLzEbj2lq
Detroit Hockey Now’s Kevin Allen also notes the following:
The Red Wings, owning a season-high five-game winning streak, are home to play the Chicago Blackhawks, Seattle Kraken and San Jose Sharks over the next five days.
The Sharks and Blackhawks ranked 31st and 32nd in the NHL, and the Kraken are 28th. The Red Wings host the Blackhawks tonight (7 p.m., FanDuel Sports Network).
There’s no guarantee the Red Wings, ranked 23rd, will beat those teams. But they need to take down that trio of games because those games are followed by a four-game road trip against teams that will be far more challenging.
On that trip, the Red Wings are on the road against the defending Stanley Cup champions Florida Panthers, Tampa Bay Lightning, Dallas Stars and Philadelphia Flyers. Detroit is 2-17-2 in their last 21 games in Philadelphia.
The Red Wings know they have to take advantage of the next three games if they want to keep battle for a playoff spot. Detroit is four points out of a playoff spot.
