This is NHL Predictions, featuring an upcoming matchup between two teams who are in entirely different situations. The Detroit Red Wings are feeling their momentum slip by the game, coming off a brutal loss to the New York Rangers. Meanwhile, the Minnesota Wild are firmly entrenched as the number-three team in the Central Division and have punched their ticket into the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
NHL Predictions with the Red Wings and Wild
Season Series: Wild 1-0-1 Red Wings
Puck Drop: 1:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) | 12:00 p.m. Central
How to Watch: TNT, truTV, HBO Max
The Red Wings had a golden opportunity to enter this contest in the second Wild Card spot. But an embarrassing 4-1 loss to the Rangers keeps them on the outside and looking in. Detroit looked like a shoo-in for a playoff berth at the beginning of March, but inconsistency has plagued this team.
Minnesota has also struggled with consistency since March 1st, with a 7-6-2 record. But unlike the Red Wings, they’re looking to take second place in the Central and gain home ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs. A win on Sunday will put them one step closer.
Eastern Conference Wild Card Standings
Team – GP – Pts – RW
BOS – 77 – 94 – 31
OTT – 76 – 88 – 33
DET – 76 – 88 – 29
CBJ – 76 – 88 – 27
PHI – 76 – 88 – 24
WAS – 77 – 87 – 33
We’re going into Sunday’s slate with a four-way tie for the second Wild Card spot in the East. If this trend keeps up, tiebreakers will decide who gets in and who goes home. With four fewer regulation wins than the Ottawa Senators, the Wings aren’t in full control of their destiny. A big win on Sunday will at least force Ottawa to keep pace.
Credit Image: © Carlos Gonzalez/The Minnesota Star Tribune via ZUMA Press Wire
Biggest Question Surrounding the Red Wings
What’s with the inconsistency? Detroit looked like they turned a corner following a convincing win over the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday. Then they faced the worst team in the East and went down 4-0 before scoring a garbage-time goal.
Nobody can afford to lose games they’re supposed to win on paper. When the second and final Wild Card spot is on the line, the situation gets even more dire. Now, Detroit has to correct its mistakes against a far superior team.
One Massive Issue Facing the Wild
Since March 1st, the Wild have scored just 2.9 goals per game, relying on their defense and goaltending to keep them afloat. They were 12th in the league in scoring before Saturday’s slate, and they must start figuring out how to find the net consistently again if they want the second spot in the Central.
Minnesota put up three or fewer goals per game in five straight games before a five-goal outburst against the Vancouver Canucks. Still, with the Canucks playing for the first pick, they weren’t exactly a tough opponent.
NHL Predictions
Neither team has been consistent lately, but the Red Wings have been flailing as of late. Meanwhile, the Wild have proven that they don’t need to score a lot to keep games close.
Prediction: Wild 4 – Red Wings 2
Prop Bets
The Red Wings looked flat on Saturday, but Dylan Larkin looked like a man on a mission. That could be the case again on Sunday. Kirill Kaprizov has had a goal in each of his last two games, and is one of two players in Minnesota to have reached the 40-goal threshold this season.
Main Photo Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
Please play responsibly, check for your local rules and age restrictions; some jurisdictions require ages 21+. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.
