The Blackhawks vs Red Wings game Thursday brings a Chicago club that has won two straight into Little Caesars Arena to face a Detroit team that has split its last four decisions. The Red Wings enter at 5-4-3 while the Blackhawks sit at 4-8-0, and both clubs are trying to build momentum in the early going of the 2026-27 season. Puck drop is set for 7:30 p.m. ET, and the two teams are meeting for the first time this season.
Blackhawks Vs Red Wings Game Information
- Date: Thursday, Oct. 29
- Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
- Venue: Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, MI
- TV/Streaming: Disney+, ESPN+, Hulu
- Series: First meeting of the season
By The Numbers
- Goals (season total): Red Wings 31, Blackhawks 26
- Points (season total): Red Wings 88, Blackhawks 69
- Shots on goal (season total): Red Wings 357, Blackhawks 262
- Goals against average: Red Wings 2.92, Blackhawks 3.67
- Save percentage: Red Wings .890, Blackhawks .886
- Power-play goals: Red Wings 9, Blackhawks 4
- Faceoff percentage: Red Wings 49.8%, Blackhawks 42.7%
- Penalty minutes: Red Wings 118, Blackhawks 102
Blackhawks Outlook
Chicago comes in at 4-8-0 but closes the week on a modest high after beating the Los Angeles Kings 2-1 on Oct. 28. That snapped a stretch in which the Blackhawks lost three of four, including a 4-0 shutout loss to Dallas and a 3-2 defeat to Florida on an Anthony Eller goal, detailed in the recap of the Panthers’ 3-2 win over Chicago.
The Blackhawks’ offense has managed just 26 goals on 262 shots this season, and their 42.7% faceoff rate is the weaker of the two sides in this matchup. Patrick Kane leads the team with eight points, seven of them assists, while Roman Kantserov paces Chicago with five goals. Spencer Knight is projected to start in goal for the Blackhawks. Defenseman Bowen Byram is day-to-day with an upper-body injury and carries a return date of Oct. 29, making his availability for puck drop uncertain.
Red Wings Outlook
Detroit has won three of its last five games, each of those wins coming by a 4-3 or 5-2 margin, and two of the victories needed a shootout to decide, per the official data. The Red Wings own a 49.8% faceoff rate and have scored 31 goals on 357 shots, both totals ahead of Chicago’s marks. Alex DeBrincat leads Detroit with 13 points and six goals, while Lucas Raymond has contributed eight assists.
John Gibson is projected as Detroit’s starting goaltender. The Red Wings are without defenseman Albert Johansson (undisclosed, out) and center Marco Kasper (upper body, injured reserve), who is not expected back until Nov. 12 alongside center Mason Appleton. Defenseman Simon Edvinsson remains on injured reserve in a contract dispute, and goaltender Daniil Tarasov is listed day-to-day with a return date of Oct. 29.
Key Matchup
Detroit’s power play, which has converted nine goals already this season, lines up against a Chicago penalty-kill unit that has allowed 44 goals against on 363 shots faced, a 3.67 goals-against average that ranks behind Detroit’s 2.92 mark. The Red Wings also hold a sizable faceoff edge at 49.8% compared to Chicago’s 42.7%, a gap that could determine which team controls offensive-zone time and shift opportunities with the man advantage. How Spencer Knight handles that volume in net will be central to whether Chicago can build on its two-game winning streak.
What To Watch
Both clubs sit near the bottom of their divisions, with Chicago last in the Central at 8 points and Detroit tied for last in the Atlantic at 13 points, according to the standings. Patrick Kane’s playmaking, which recently produced a US-born NHL assists record, remains a focal point for Chicago’s offense. The Blackhawks will also look to carry over the form shown in last week’s overtime win detailed in Blackhawks beat Jets 4-3 in OT. Detroit’s health up front, with two centers out until mid-November, will be worth tracking as the Red Wings try to stabilize their lineup through the rest of October.
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