Detroit Red Wings vs Minnesota Wild Pick & Preview - 1/22/2026
Updated January 22, 2026
Updated January 22, 2026
On Thursday, the Detroit Red Wings (31‑16‑4) head west to face the Minnesota Wild (28‑14‑9) at Grand Casino Arena in Saint Paul in a nationally televised matchup on the ice. Both teams sit in playoff position with solid records, but a difference in the amount of rest each team is getting could end up deciding this matchup. Here, I break it all down for you as I get you ready for the opening face-off with my Red Wings vs Wild prediction.
Pick: | Wild ML ATS PRO |
Confidence: | 5/5 |
Detroit arrives in Minnesota playing some of its best hockey of the season. The Red Wings have won six of seven, including a dramatic overtime victory over Ottawa that saw Alex DeBrincat score the game‑winner and goalie John Gibson notch his sixth straight win. That surge has helped solidify Detroit’s place near the top of the Atlantic Division standings, but the Wings have to play for the second straight night here and that could cause them some problems.
Minnesota’s recent rhythm has been bumpier. The Wild endured a three‑game slide before defeating Buffalo 5‑4 in overtime, with Mats Zuccarello scoring the decisive goal and Kirill Kaprizov assisting on three Wild goals. The Wild have since split their last two games and will try to get a win on home ice in this contest.
Detroit’s John Gibson has been steady, with his recent run of wins underscoring his ability to keep Detroit competitive in tight games. But we should see Cam Talbot in this game thanks to the back-to-back for Detroit. For Minnesota, Filip Gustavsson has been a reliable backbone, evidenced by his recent extension and strong 2025 season performance. He enters this game with a 2.56 GAA and Gustavsson’s consistency in net could give the Wild an edge in a contest that figures to be closely contested.
Offensively, Detroit is paced by Alex DeBrincat, who leads the club with 26 goals and 26 assists this season. He is supported by Dylan Larkin and Lucas Raymond, with Raymond leading the club in points and assists. Minnesota’s offensive arsenal includes Kirill Kaprizov and Matt Boldy, both of whom consistently create scoring opportunities.
Score Projection: Detroit Red Wings 3 – Minnesota Wild 4 ATS PRO
Win Probability: Detroit Red Wings 44%, Minnesota Wild 56% ATS PRO
The rest advantage for the Wild should be the deciding factor in this contest from Minnesota. The Wings are playing for the second night in a row, and I project that taking its toll on them. Expect Minnesota to come away with the win in the final game of the night in the NHL.
Jay Sanin is the GM and Head of Sports at ATS.io. He has been writing about sports gambling since 2013, handicapping tens of thousands of sporting events. He plays sides and totals aggressively across most sports and is more selective in player prop markets. He does his own modeling across most sports, and his family is jealous of how much time he spends on his precious spreadsheets.
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