Jets vs Red Wings Prediction, Picks & Odds (Oct. 4)

• The Jets and Red Wings chase their first win Sunday at 1 pm ET
• Key absences shape the moneyline and total in Detroit
• Get my Jets vs Red Wings prediction, odds and injury breakdown

The Winnipeg Jets (0-0-1) visit the Detroit Red Wings (0-1-0) Sunday afternoon at Little Caesars Arena, with both teams searching for their first win of the season. Winnipeg dropped a 4-3 overtime loss to Boston on opening night, while Detroit was shut out 2-0 by the Rangers.

The Jets are without Connor Hellebuyck due to suspension, with Stuart Skinner projected to start. Detroit will likely turn back to John Gibson, who made 19 saves in the opener. The Red Wings are also missing Dylan Larkin and Marco Kasper (both upper body) along with Jacob Bernard-Docker.

Puck drop is at 1 pm ET. Here are my Jets vs Red Wings prediction and picks for Sunday’s matinee, plus the latest NHL odds.

Jets vs Red Wings Prediction

• Jets ML (-110 at BetMGM)

My Jets vs Red Wings prediction is on Winnipeg. This line is essentially a coin flip at -110 on both sides, but I think the Jets are the better team even without Hellebuyck. Skinner gave up four goals in the opener and will need to be sharper, but Winnipeg’s forward group is deep enough to outscore its goaltending issues.

Detroit’s absences are the bigger concern. Losing Larkin and Kasper up the middle guts the top six and forces the Red Wings to lean on a thinner forward group. Gibson was strong in the opener, but the offense couldn’t generate anything in a 2-0 loss, when Larkin was already sidelined.

Winnipeg’s forwards should be able to take advantage of a Detroit defense missing Bernard-Docker and now operating without two important centers.

Jets vs Red Wings Over/Under Pick

• Over 5.5 Goals (-120 at BetMGM)

My Jets vs Red Wings over/under pick is over 5.5 goals. Both teams allowed more than three goals per game last season, and neither penalty kill reached 78%. Winnipeg killed at 77.6% in 2025-26 and Detroit was at 77.1%, so any game with a few power plays could push this over the number quickly.

The one risk is Detroit’s missing centers. Without Larkin and Kasper, the Red Wings may not generate enough offense to hold up their end of a high-scoring game. That keeps this from being my strongest play. Still, Winnipeg scored three in its opener, and the prior-season defensive numbers leave room for six goals even without a wide-open game.

Jets vs Red Wings Odds

Odds from BetMGM as of October 4. Check the latest lines at NHL betting apps before puck drop.

The Jets vs Red Wings odds are dead even on the moneyline at -110 on both sides. Both teams carry roughly a 52% implied probability before removing the vig, making this one of the tightest lines on the board. The puck line is steep on Detroit’s side at -286 to cover +1.5, while the Jets are +210 to win by two or more. New customers can use the BetMGM promo code to bet on Sunday’s game.

Jets vs Red Wings 2025-26 Season Comparison

Last season’s numbers were remarkably similar across the board. Both teams allowed over 3.00 goals per game and ran penalty kills below 78%. Detroit had the better power play (22.6% vs 18.5%) and slightly more offensive output (2.91 vs 2.79 GPG). Defensive improvement will matter beyond this matchup, too. The odds to make the NHL playoffs offer a longer-term view of both teams.

Jets vs Red Wings Goalies and Injuries

Stuart Skinner is the projected starter for Winnipeg with Hellebuyck suspended. Skinner allowed four goals in the overtime loss to Boston. John Gibson is the projected starter for Detroit after making 19 saves in the opener.

Winnipeg: Connor Hellebuyck (suspended). Gabriel Vilardi missed practice for maintenance but is expected to play.

Detroit: Dylan Larkin (upper body, out), Marco Kasper (upper body, out), Jacob Bernard-Docker (out)

Jets vs Red Wings How to Watch

Puck drop is at 1 pm ET from Little Caesars Arena in Detroit. The game airs on Detroit Sports Network, NHL Network and TSN3.