The NHL continues this week as we edge closer towards the playoffs, with the Detroit Red Wings hosting their playoff rivals, the Montreal Canadiens.
Detroit come into the game with a 37-23-8 record so far, following a disappointing run of four defeats in their last seven games. Montreal, on the other hand, have a 36-18-10 record for the campaign, as they also push for a playoff spot.
We’ll break down the match-up between the sides and provide you with our best free NHL betting picks, as we try to earn you some extra cash while you enjoy the action on the ice.
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The opening game of the the Red Wings season saw the team fall to defeat against the Canadiens, before winning eight of their next 11 games to end October with an impressive 8-4 record.
But that form was halted in disappointing fashion throughout November, with the teams losing three consecutive games on two separate occasions, although they did pick up victories over the Anaheim Ducks, New York Rangers, and Seattle Kraken.
However, following that unfortunate run, the Red Wings went on an excellent run that saw them win six of their opening eight games in December, including wins over the Boston Bruins, Vancouver Canucks, and Calgary Flames. Defeat to the Edmonton Oilers stopped their momentum briefly, before another strong run of seven wins in nine games, including defeating the Toronto Maple Leafs, to end the calendary year with a 24-14-3 record.
Detroit then lost twice to the Pittsburgh Penguins to begin 2026, before a strong run of seven wins in eight games, including defeating Montreal 4-0 in the last meeting between the sides. However, the team then lost four of five games before the mid-season break for the Winter Olympics.
Since returning from that break, the Red Wings have only won four of their ten games heading into this one, but did defeat Calgary 5-2 in their last game to come into this game with some confidence.
Montreal also lost their opening game of the season, suffering a 5-2 defeat against the Toronto Maple Leafs, before defeating the Red Wings to kickstart a run of eight wins in ten games to end the month 8-3.
The Canadiens then started November with a 2-0-2 record, going through overtime in all three of their first games of the month, but the team then struggled with five consecutive defeats, including a shootout loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets, and a 7-0 thrashing at the hands of the Dallas Stars. Montreal then recovered with a three-game winning streak, ending the month with a 13-8-3 record.
December was much nicer to the team too, despite losing three of their first five games of the month, as they went on an strong run of six wins in ten games, although three of those defeats came in overtime or shootouts. A 3-2 win over the Florida Panthers meant that they ended 2025 with a 21-12-6 record.
Montreal then opened 2026 with a 7-5 win over the Carolina Hurricanes, and followed that up with four wins in their next six games, although they also fell to a 4-0 defeat to Detroit in the midst of that. After two more defeats, they then won six of eight games before the mid-season break.
Following the break, the Canadiens failed to win three of their first four games, with their only win coming against the Washington Capitals. Since that run, though, Montreal won three-in-a-row against the Los Angeles Kings, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Ottawa Senators, and before two defeats, they come into this game following a 3-2 win over the Boston Bruins.
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The Red Wings enter this game in fifth place in the Eastern Conference, having scored 200 goals and conceded 203 goals throughout the season. The Canadiens sit third in the Eastern Conference, having scored 236 goals and allowed 222, which shows what an evenly matched game this should be.
In their two games against each other so far, the teams have gone 1-1, but individually, Montreal have had the better performers. Cole Caulfield leads the way with 40 goals this season, compared to Alex De Brincat’s 33 goals. Lane Hutson has the best assist numbers of any player on either team, having registered 58, compared to Detroit’s best performer Lucas Raymond, who has 46. DeBrincat also has a team-high 69 points for Detroit, while Nick Suzuki has 80 points for Montreal.
Despite all that, the Red Wings are the favourites.
Detroit have the better defense this season, allowing just 2.94 goals per game compared to 3.26 from Montreal, and home advantage will undoubtedly help them too, where they have a 19-11-3 record. Montreal’s away record of 18-7-8 is also good, but Detroit are desperate to climb the standings, and they are good value at -117, so this feels like the best value bet.
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About the Author
Daniel is a football writer who has a great thirst for the Premier League and other major European leagues. A lover of the beautiful game and a firm believer that the eye test is better than statistics. Also an avid MMA fan.
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