Avalanche vs Red Wings Prediction, Prop Bets & Projected Lineups (Jan. 31)

• The Colorado Avalanche are -155 road favorites against the Detroit Red Wings Saturday afternoon
• The league-leading Avalanche have sputtered, with just four wins in their last 12 games
• See my Avalanche vs Red Wings prediction, prop bets and projected lineups below

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It’s hard to believe a team with just eight regulation losses in 52 games is in rut, but that’s just where the league-leading Colorado Avalanche (35-8-9) find themselves as they kick off a home-and-home set Saturday in Detroit against the Red Wings (32-17-6).

Detroit, trying to track down the Lighting in the Atlantic Division, have just a win in their last four, part of the reason they find themselves as home underdogs in the latest NHL odds.

Puck drop is set for 1pm ET from Little Caesars Arena in Motown, with ABC providing the broadcast coverage.

Check my Avalanche vs Red Wings prediction below, complete with prop bets, and projected lineups.

Avalanche vs Red Wings Odds

Odds as of Jan 30. The interactive table above will automatically update as the NHL odds move over the course of the day.

Bettors should be thankful Colorado has struggled, as their moneyline odds are at a decent -148 over at DraftKings. A $100 bet on the Red Wings to win outright would at bet365 would net you a cool $130 in profit.

Detroit is getting 1.5 goals on the puckline at BetMGM but on just -190 odds, while the Avalanche are -1.5 at Caesars, which pays out at +170 odds. As for the total, it’s set at 6.5 goals, with most books staying at the same level for both the Over and Under. sign-up bonuses.

Avalanche vs Red Wings Prediction

• Avalanche ML (-150 at Bet365)

While every team goes through its ups and downs, Colorado’s look more glaring just because of how dominant they’ve been. They had just two regulation losses into January 2026 before dropping eight of their last 12 (4-6-2).

The concern has grown more recently, considering a team that leads the NHL in both goals against and save percentage has been lit on fire over the last seven games.

They’ve lost five of those games, and have allowed at least five goals in four of those, and seven in two contests, including their most recent pummeling, a 7-3 loss in Montreal.

It’s crazy to think that Detroit, a team with the third-most wins in the Eastern Conference, could be the get-right team for the Avs, but that’s where we are.

Avalanche vs Red Wings Key Stats

The Red Wings’ 4-3 SO loss to the Capitals was their third in four games, but they’re still in good shape, going 8-2-2 in their last 12 games. At 18-9-2, Detroit has the third-most home wins in the East.

However, Detroit has had major trouble with Colorado, with an 1-9-0 mark over the last 10 games, with a 2-1 OT win in February 2024 their lone win in the last five at Little Caesars. Very few have been close, with seven of Colorado’s wins in this run by at least two goals.

Colorado has held Detroit to two goals or less in seven of 10 games, while scoring at least five goals seven times themselves.

It’s the perfect setting for the Avalanche, the current betting favorite in the Stanley Cup odds, to get back on that championship trail.

Avalanche vs Red Wings Prop Bets

• Nathan MacKinnon anytime goal (-105 at bet365)

Nathan MacKinnon is the NHL’s leading goal scorer with 38 goals in 52 games, but he hasn’t lit the lamp in five straight.

You never want to bet on a guy to score just because he’s due, but that’s not a problem here. MacKinnon feasts on the Red Wings, tallying 16 goals and 32 points in just 21 games. He has 15 goals in his last 14 against Detroit, failing to light the lamp just two gams in that stretch.

• Alex DeBrincat Over 3.5 Shots on Goal (+110 at bet365)

Detroit winger Alex DeBrincat has been firing a lot on net, ranking fifth in the NHL in total shots on goal. He’s been right around that 3.5 shot total over his last 10, cashing the Over six times, while missing the Over by a shot in the other four.

He’s had at least four shots on goal in four of the last seven against Colorado, including nine in a game last season — the second-highest shot total in a game for him since the start of last year.

• Cale Makar Over 1.5 points (+185 at bet365)

Cale Makar has seen his production waver during this recent run. He’s pointless in each of his last two games, and has been held without a point in four of his last seven.

But he’s a different player against Detroit: Makar has points in eight of nine career games vs the Wings, and has had six multi-point games. He’s got great +185 odds at bet365 as well.

Avalanche vs Red Wings Projected Lineups

Colorado Avalanche Projected Lines

Forwards:

Artturi Lehkonen – Nathan MacKinnon -Martin Necas
Victor Olofsson – Brock Nelson – Valeri Nichushkin
Ross Colton – Jack Drury – Joel Kiviranta
Zakhar Bardakov – Parker Kelly – Gavin Brindley

Defense:

Sam Malinski – Cale Makar
Josh Manson – Brent Burns
Keaton Middleton – Samuel Girard

Goalie: Mackenzie Blackwood

Mackenzie Blackwood is expected to get the call Saturday, and he’s hoping to turn his January around, as he’s dropped three of four starts and allowed a whopping 15 goals in that stretch. Blackwood has a rough .851 save percentage and 3.83 GAA.

Colorado will be without Gabriel Landeskog (upper body), Devon Toews (upper body) and Logan O’Connor (hip surgery).

Detroit Red Wings Projected Lines

Forwards:

Marco Kasper – Dylan Larkin – Lucas Raymond
Alex DeBrincat – Andrew Copp – Patrick Kane
Emmitt Finnie – J.T. Compher – James van Riemsdyk
Elmer Soderblom – Michael Rasmussen – Mason Appleton

Defense:

Albert Johansson – Moritz Seider
Ben Chiarot – Axel Sandin-Pellikka
Travis Hamonic – Jacob Bernard-Docker

Goalie: John Gibson

John Gibson is expected to make his fourth straight start. Detroit is 1-1-1 over his last three starts, but he’s allowed just six goals across those games. The Red Wings have reportedly had the flu bug running through the roster, so there could be some late lineup changes for the early afternoon game.