Chicago Blackhawks vs Detroit Red Wings Picks, Prediction, Odds, and Line Movement for Thursday October 29 2026

Patrick Kane returns to Detroit with the Chicago Blackhawks for a 7:30 p.m. ET Original Six matchup that suddenly has more uncertainty than its opening prices suggested. Chicago is 4-8-0, Detroit 5-4-3, and the Red Wings entered the day as a clear home favorite. The late development is that Dylan Larkin will not play, with the team planning to address his situation publicly. That removes a major center and changes Detroit's deployment. Chicago is still the less consistent team, but the matchup looks much closer at the current underdog price.

Chicago is trying to build on a 2-1 win over Los Angeles Tuesday, when the Blackhawks showed they can play patiently against an opponent with significant offensive talent. Connor Bedard now leads a young attack alongside Roman Kantserov and Teuvo Teravainen, while Kane is expected to skate with Frank Nazar and Oliver Moore. Kane needs one assist to reach 900 for his NHL career, creating a meaningful storyline in the arena where he spent the previous three seasons. Sentiment alone will not win a game, but Chicago's attack has real ways to exploit Detroit's defensive breakdowns.

Detroit has scored enough to remain competitive but has not consistently protected the middle of the ice. Alex DeBrincat carries much of the scoring responsibility and has a productive history against his former Blackhawks club. Moritz Seider is essential to moving the puck out of pressure, with Justin Faulk adding support on the next pairing. Without Larkin, the Red Wings may ask Emmitt Finnie and Andrew Copp to absorb more difficult center assignments. That is a significant challenge against Bedard's quick entries and Chicago's improved depth options.

Spencer Knight is in Chicago's projected net and John Gibson is listed for Detroit. Knight gives the visitors a chance to win with three goals if the defense protects the slot. Chicago is without Bowen Byram and Alex Vlasic is a game-time question because of illness, so the Blackhawks are not free of defensive concerns. Detroit will also be without Mason Appleton, Marco Kasper and Albert Johansson. Goalie comparisons alone should not erase the importance of Larkin's absence and the disruption to Detroit's normal line combinations.

Detroit opened in roughly the -175 to -180 range at some books, while Chicago was commonly offered around +145 to +150. A more recent multi-book board listed Chicago +140 at one sportsbook and Detroit around -156 at another operator, suggesting some variation in how the late information has been priced. The total has moved among 5.5, 6 and 6.5 depending on the book, so this is not a game to quote a universal total. The home moneyline remains expensive given the unresolved center situation.

Chicago needs to manage the puck well enough to force Detroit's reshuffled centers into defensive work. The Blackhawks should avoid a chaotic first ten minutes that feeds the Red Wings' crowd and DeBrincat's finishing ability. If Bedard's line can win entries and Kane's group keeps the offense moving through the middle, Chicago can generate chances without relying entirely on special teams. Detroit's best answer is to simplify breakouts and use Seider's first pass to bypass the forecheck.

One particularly important matchup will be Detroit's faceoffs and defensive-zone starts without its usual center rotation. If the Red Wings spend too much time trying to re-create Larkin's normal assignments through unfamiliar combinations, Chicago can force extra offensive-zone possessions. Bedard's line can punish that hesitation with quick puck movement to the slot. On the other hand, DeBrincat and Raymond remain talented enough to attack Chicago's thinner defensive pairs, especially if Vlasic cannot go. The Blackhawks should not mistake the roster disruption for an invitation to play a reckless game. Their best route is compact defending, then sharp attacks through the newly available space in Detroit's structure.

Backing Chicago means accepting a team that has lost eight of twelve games. The Blackhawks have made expensive mistakes and can struggle when forced to chase a deficit, and the Red Wings still have enough wingers to score despite Larkin's absence. Gibson might also deliver a strong night and turn Chicago's early pressure into frustration. Those risks explain why the bet requires a genuine plus-money payout rather than treating the Blackhawks as a newly established favorite.

Best Bet: Chicago Blackhawks moneyline (+140 or better). The absence of Detroit's usual top center shifts the matchup, and Knight gives the Blackhawks a path to a one-goal road victory. Kane's return creates an emotional backdrop, but the tactical case is Chicago's ability to challenge Detroit's adjusted center depth. Prediction: Chicago 3, Detroit 2. The decisive goal should come after a tight opening two periods. A narrow win rather than a blowout is the expected script.