by Chuck Sommers
Wednesday, Jan 25, 2023
Time: 7 p.m. ET
Venue: Bell Centre, Montreal, QE
Where to watch: RDS, TSN2, BSDETX
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: NL
FanDuel: Red Wings -164, Canadiens +136
BetMGM: Red Wings -150, Canadiens +125
Caesars: Red Wings -161, Canadiens +135
Season record
Red Wings: 20-18-8
Canadiens: 20-25-3
We’ve hit the halfway mark in the NHL season. Yes, you read that right. We’re really hit that halfway mark that quickly. If you blinked, you probably missed a lot of good things happen in the hockey world. And with football about to be out of the way, look for our champion handicappers to get back on the rink. Oskeim Sports is on a 13-5-0 run in the NHL over the last 30 days, as is Will Rogers. Sean Murphy has also cashed in with a 16-10-0 run in the last month. Make sure you’re following our champion handicappers at bigal.com to get on this winning action!
Red Wings - Canadiens preview, prediction and analysis
Recent results
Red Wings: won 3-2 (OT) vs. San Jose on Tuesday
Canadiens: lost 4-2 vs. Bruins on Tuesday
The Detroit Red Wings will be playing the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday, January 26 in Montreal.
The Detroit Red Wings won against the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday, January 24 in Detroit, Michigan with a score of 3-2 in overtime. The Detroit Red Wings currently rank 6th in the Atlantic Division. Andrew Copp scored 25 seconds into overtime to give the Detroit Red Wings a 3-2 win against the San Jose Sharks. Copp scored at the right post after James Reimer stopped Michael Rasmussen's shot at the edge of the crease.
"[Rasmussen] said we won a battle, but he's the one who won it," Copp said. "I lost the face-off, but he won the puck battle and drew both guys to him. I just waited for the puck and put it in the empty net."
Rasmussen had a goal and an assist, and Ville Husso made 28 saves for the Red Wings.
"I had [Rasmussen on a line] with [Dylan] Larkin and [Lucas] Raymond, but I put him back with Copp and [David Perron] because they've created some nice chemistry," Detroit coach Derek Lalonde said. "I rarely single a player out for an effort, especially on a team where we all need to play well to win games, but [Rasmussen] deserves it tonight."
San Jose captain Logan Couture tied it 2-2 with seven seconds left when he one-timed a rebound from a sharp angle and the puck went in off the skate of Red Wings defenseman Moritz Seider.
"That could have been a screaming-and-yelling moment -- I think I've had one of those this season and it worked, so I didn't want to waste another one," Lalonde said. "I just told them that's not how we play -- we don't give up goals like that."
Nico Sturm had a chance to give the Sharks the lead late in the third period when he skated in alone on Husso, but the goalie kicked out his left pad at the right post to stop the backhand shot at 16:01.
"Ville was really good for us again tonight," Lalonde said. "It feels like he's getting back to the rhythm he had early in the season, which is a good sign for us."
There are a lot of teams that could use the bye week coming up. The Red Wings are one of them in the hopes that they get a mental pause and regroup. They've lost six of their last 10 on the money line and could use a break with how much they've surpassed expectations this year.
The Montreal Canadiens lost against the Boston Bruins on Tuesday, January 24 in Montreal with a score of 4-2. The Montreal Canadiens currently rank 7th in the Atlantic Division. Kirby Dach scored twice in his 200th NHL game, and Sam Montembeault made 25 saves in his eighth straight start for Montreal.
"We worked hard all night long," Montembeault said. "We were right there with them until the end of the game, so it's a little disappointing. I think the way we worked tonight we would have at least deserved a point, but we'll get back to work and go back at it Thursday."
Dach made both goals for Montreal, one to take the lead 9:11 in and the other to tie the game 2-2 at 11:31.
"I'm just kind of going out there and playing and just trying to improve each and every day," Dach said. "I'm not really worrying about results, just focus on feeling good and playing a strong 200-foot game."
The Canadiens could also use a mental reset as it pertains to their play. Again, another team that's exceeded all expectations, Montreal has gotten here behind questionable goaltending and timely scoring. How they replace Cole Caufield is the other discussion entirely.
Prediction
Where the Habs pick up the scoring without Caufield is going to be telling, but they still have a lot of talent to get by. Nick Suzuki and Kirby Dach will get their chance to shine. Habs 4, Red Wings 3
The Detroit Red Wings will be playing the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday, January 26 in Montreal.
The Detroit Red Wings won against the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday, January 24 in Detroit, Michigan with a score of 3-2 in overtime. The Detroit Red Wings currently rank 6th in the Atlantic Division. Andrew Copp scored 25 seconds into overtime to give the Detroit Red Wings a 3-2 win against the San Jose Sharks. Copp scored at the right post after James Reimer stopped Michael Rasmussen's shot at the edge of the crease.
"[Rasmussen] said we won a battle, but he's the one who won it," Copp said. "I lost the face-off, but he won the puck battle and drew both guys to him. I just waited for the puck and put it in the empty net."
Rasmussen had a goal and an assist, and Ville Husso made 28 saves for the Red Wings.
"I had [Rasmussen on a line] with [Dylan] Larkin and [Lucas] Raymond, but I put him back with Copp and [David Perron] because they've created some nice chemistry," Detroit coach Derek Lalonde said. "I rarely single a player out for an effort, especially on a team where we all need to play well to win games, but [Rasmussen] deserves it tonight."
San Jose captain Logan Couture tied it 2-2 with seven seconds left when he one-timed a rebound from a sharp angle and the puck went in off the skate of Red Wings defenseman Moritz Seider.
"That could have been a screaming-and-yelling moment -- I think I've had one of those this season and it worked, so I didn't want to waste another one," Lalonde said. "I just told them that's not how we play -- we don't give up goals like that."
Nico Sturm had a chance to give the Sharks the lead late in the third period when he skated in alone on Husso, but the goalie kicked out his left pad at the right post to stop the backhand shot at 16:01.
"Ville was really good for us again tonight," Lalonde said. "It feels like he's getting back to the rhythm he had early in the season, which is a good sign for us."
There are a lot of teams that could use the bye week coming up. The Red Wings are one of them in the hopes that they get a mental pause and regroup. They've lost six of their last 10 on the money line and could use a break with how much they've surpassed expectations this year.
The Montreal Canadiens lost against the Boston Bruins on Tuesday, January 24 in Montreal with a score of 4-2. The Montreal Canadiens currently rank 7th in the Atlantic Division. Kirby Dach scored twice in his 200th NHL game, and Sam Montembeault made 25 saves in his eighth straight start for Montreal.
"We worked hard all night long," Montembeault said. "We were right there with them until the end of the game, so it's a little disappointing. I think the way we worked tonight we would have at least deserved a point, but we'll get back to work and go back at it Thursday."
Dach made both goals for Montreal, one to take the lead 9:11 in and the other to tie the game 2-2 at 11:31.
"I'm just kind of going out there and playing and just trying to improve each and every day," Dach said. "I'm not really worrying about results, just focus on feeling good and playing a strong 200-foot game."
The Canadiens could also use a mental reset as it pertains to their play. Again, another team that's exceeded all expectations, Montreal has gotten here behind questionable goaltending and timely scoring. How they replace Cole Caufield is the other discussion entirely.
Prediction
Where the Habs pick up the scoring without Caufield is going to be telling, but they still have a lot of talent to get by. Nick Suzuki and Kirby Dach will get their chance to shine. Habs 4, Red Wings 3
Betting trends
Red Wings are 1-7 after three straight unders this season.
Red Wings are 2-11 off a home win by one goal the last 3 seasons.
Habs are 9-3 off a home loss this season, and 9-3 off a home loss by two goals this season.
Projected lines
Red Wings:
Dominik Kubalik -- Dylan Larkin -- Lucas Raymond
Michael Rasmussen -- Andrew Copp -- David Perron
Adam Erne -- Pius Suter -- Robby Fabbri
Jonatan Berggren -- Joe Veleno -- Oskar Sundqvist
Jake Walman -- Moritz Seider
Ben Chiarot -- Filip Hronek
Olli Maatta -- Jordan Oesterle
Ville Husso
Dominik Kubalik -- Dylan Larkin -- Lucas Raymond
Michael Rasmussen -- Andrew Copp -- David Perron
Adam Erne -- Pius Suter -- Robby Fabbri
Jonatan Berggren -- Joe Veleno -- Oskar Sundqvist
Jake Walman -- Moritz Seider
Ben Chiarot -- Filip Hronek
Olli Maatta -- Jordan Oesterle
Ville Husso
Habs:
Rem Pitlick -- Nick Suzuki -- Josh Anderson
Mike Hoffman -- Kirby Dach -- Jesse Ylonen
Rafael Harvey-Pinard -- Christian Dvorak -- Evgenii Dadonov
Alex Belzile -- Michael Pezzetta
Mike Matheson -- David Savard
Joel Edmundson -- Justin Barron
Jordan Harris -- Johnathan Kovacevic
Arber Xhekaj
Sam Montembeault
Rem Pitlick -- Nick Suzuki -- Josh Anderson
Mike Hoffman -- Kirby Dach -- Jesse Ylonen
Rafael Harvey-Pinard -- Christian Dvorak -- Evgenii Dadonov
Alex Belzile -- Michael Pezzetta
Mike Matheson -- David Savard
Joel Edmundson -- Justin Barron
Jordan Harris -- Johnathan Kovacevic
Arber Xhekaj
Sam Montembeault
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Chuck Sommers
About the Author:
Chuck Sommers has camped outside of sportsbooks since he can remember, learning the tricks and nuances of the trade. He still has nightmares of betting $5,000 on the Raiders in the Tuck Rule game but has since turned that to 25 years of veteran handicapping greatness. You can find him mostly in the shadows at the Red Rock or Aliante casinos wondering if the over is cashing on any given Sunday.
