Red Wings vs Wild Prediction & Odds - 2/22/2025

The Detroit Red Wings (28-22-5) welcome the Minnesota Wild (33-19-4) to Little Caesars Arena for their first meeting of the season, as both teams look to maintain their playoff positioning following the All-Star break.

Detroit enters the contest riding the momentum of winning seven of their last eight games before the break, led by Lucas Raymond's impressive 59-point campaign and Dylan Larkin's 50-point contribution to their offense.

The Wild, despite missing superstar Kirill Kaprizov due to a lower-body injury, have demonstrated remarkable resilience with a 20-7-3 road record and have won five of their last seven games.

Both teams bring compelling storylines to this matchup, with Detroit's revitalization under new coach Todd McLellan facing off against Minnesota's defensive prowess, anchored by Filip Gustavsson's stellar .941 save percentage.

The contrast between Detroit's third-ranked power play unit (28%) and Minnesota's struggling penalty kill (71.6%) could prove decisive in what promises to be a tightly contested affair.

As these two playoff hopefuls clash in an important cross-conference battle, fans can expect an intense matchup that could have significant implications for both teams' postseason aspirations.

Detroit Red Wings vs. Minnesota Wild preview

The Minnesota Wild (33-19-4) and Detroit Red Wings (28-22-5) are set to face off in their first meeting of the season at Little Caesars Arena, with both teams looking to build momentum following the All-Star break.

The Wild enter the contest in impressive form, having won five of their last seven games before the break, and currently sit fifth in the Western Conference with 70 points, just two games behind the second-place cluster of Dallas, Edmonton, and Vegas.

Detroit had been riding high with a seven-game winning streak under new coach Todd McLellan before dropping their final game before the break in a 6-3 loss to Tampa Bay.

The Wild face a significant challenge without their superstar Kirill Kaprizov, who remains on long-term injured reserve following lower-body surgery, though he still leads the team with 52 points (23 goals, 29 assists).

The Red Wings' offense has been powered by Lucas Raymond's impressive 59-point campaign (21 goals, 38 assists), while Dylan Larkin has contributed significantly with 50 points (23 goals, 27 assists).

The goaltending matchup features two solid netminders, with Minnesota's Filip Gustavsson (21-11-3, .941 save percentage) expected to face off against Detroit's veteran Cam Talbot (16-11-2, .905 save percentage).

Minnesota's road record has been particularly impressive this season at 20-7-3, while Detroit has struggled somewhat at home with a 15-12-2 mark.

Special teams could play a crucial role in this matchup, with Detroit boasting the league's third-best power play at 28%, while Minnesota has struggled on the penalty kill, ranking 30th at 71.6%.

Given Minnesota's strong road performance and Detroit's potential rust following the extended break, the Wild appear positioned to edge out a close victory, though the Red Wings' potent power play could prove to be the equalizer.