Penguins vs Red Wings Prediction 1/1/26 NHL Picks Today
Detroit Red Wings (24-14-3) vs. Pittsburgh Penguins (17-12-9)
January 1, 2026 7:00 pm EDT
The Line: Pittsburgh Penguins -130 / Detroit Red Wings 110; Over/Under: 6.5
(Get latest betting odds)
The Detroit Red Wings and Pittsburgh Penguins meet Thursday in NHL action at the PPG Paints Arena. Here’s a Penguins vs Red Wings Prediction. This article will include a Penguins vs Red Wings Pick.
Detroit Red Wings Betting Preview
The Detroit Red Wings beat the Maple Leafs and Jets, and they play the Penguins next. The Red Wings have won 7 of their last 9 games.
The Detroit Red Wings are averaging 3.05 goals per game and are scoring 25.2 percent of their power play opportunities. Dylan Larkin leads Detroit with 21 goals, Lucas Raymond has 32 assists and Alex DeBrincat has 143 shots on goal. Defensively, the Detroit Red Wings are allowing 3.12 goals per game and are killing 80.6 percent of their opponent’s power plays. Cam Talbot has given up 56 goals on 619 shots faced, while John Gibson has allowed 66 goals on 619 shots.
Pittsburgh Penguins Betting Preview
The Pittsburgh Penguins beat the Blackhawks and Hurricanes, and they play the Red Wings next. The Penguins have won 3 of their last 4 games.
The Pittsburgh Penguins are averaging 3.18 goals per game and are scoring 30.1 percent of their power play opportunities. Sidney Crosby leads Pittsburgh with 21 goals, Erik Karlsson has 25 assists, and Bryan Rust has 91 shots on goal. Defensively, the Pittsburgh Penguins are allowing 3.11 goals per game and are killing 81.7 percent of their opponent’s power plays. Arturs Silovs has allowed 52 goals on 457 shots faced, while Tristan Jarry has given up 36 goals on 396 shots.
Why the Pittsburgh Penguins will win
- The home team has won each of the Red Wings’ last five games.
- The Red Wings have lost each of their last six games as road underdogs following a win.
- The Red Wings have failed to cover the puck line in seven of their last eight games on the second leg of a back-to-back.
- The Penguins have covered the puck line in five of their last six games against opponents on a winning streak.
- The Red Wings have lost the second period in seven of their last eight games at PPG Paints Arena when trailing after the first period.
Why the Detroit Red Wings will win
- The Red Wings have won each of their last eight night games against opponents on a winning streak.
- The Penguins have lost seven of their last eight games as favorites following a win.
- The Penguins have failed to cover the puck line in 10 of their last 11 games as home favorites following a win.
- The underdogs have covered the puck line in 14 of the Penguins’ last 16 games at PPG Paints Arena.
- The Penguins have lost the second period in each of their last six home games when trailing after the first period.
Total Goals Facts
- Each of the Red Wings’ last six games on the second leg of a back-to-back have gone UNDER the total goals line.
- Nine of the Penguins’ last 10 night games against the Red Wings following a win have gone OVER the total goals line.
- The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 2′ market has hit in each of the Penguins’ last 11 games as favorites against the Red Wings.
- The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 2′ market has hit in each of the Red Wings’ last eight games as underdogs against Eastern Conference opponents.
Pittsburgh Penguins Player Prop Facts
- Rickard Rakell has scored at least one goal in each of his last four appearances with the Penguins as favorites against Atlantic Division opponents.
- Sidney Crosby has recorded at least one assist in each of the Penguins’ last seven games against the Red Wings.
- Justin Brazeau ranks 1st amongst qualified players for shooting percentage (28.6%) this season.
Detroit Red Wings Player Prop Facts
- Alex DeBrincat has recorded at least one assist in each of the Red Wings’ last four games against the Penguins.
- Dylan Larkin has scored a goal in four of the Red Wings’ last five games as underdogs against Eastern Conference opponents.
- Dylan Larkin ranks T2nd in the league for Game Winning Goals (5) this season.
Matchup/League Facts
- The Pittsburgh Penguins rank 2nd in the league in power play percentage this season (30.10%).
- The Pittsburgh Penguins have recorded the equal-longest losing streak (8 games) in the NHL this season.
- The Detroit Red Wings rank 4th in the league in power play percentage this season (25.20%).
- The Detroit Red Wings rank 32nd in the league in short handed goals this season (0).
Penguins vs Red Wings Prediction
The Penguins are having a good week where they’re finally finishing games, and maybe this is a turning point. Based on recent wins, the Penguins should get the benefit of the doubt at home. However, the Red Wings are one of five teams with 50-plus points, and yet oddsmakers keep treating them like a bottom feeder, constantly making them underdogs. I don’t get the disrespect when it comes to the Red Wings. The Red Wings are the better team up to this point. Give me the plus money.