Detroit Red Wings vs Ottawa Senators Pick & Prediction - 2/26/2026
Updated July 9, 2026
The Detroit Red Wings will take on the Ottawa Senators on Thursday night in an Atlantic Division showdown that will be important for playoff positioning. Detroit enters this game with a 33‑19‑6 record and has struggled before the Olympic break. Ottawa sits at 28‑22‑7 and went into the break with four victories in their most recent five tries. Here, I break down this important matchup in the Atlantic and you'll find my Red Wings vs Senators prediction here.
Pick: Ottawa Senators Moneyline ATS PRO
Confidence: 3.5 out of 5
Heading into this contest, Ottawa holds a clear edge in recent performance. The Senators have won four of their last five games and are coming off an overtime win over Philadelphia that showcased their depth and ability to grind out results late. Conversely, Detroit’s form has dipped, with only one win in their past five as it has struggled to find consistent offense and keep pucks out of their own net.
Detroit’s recent offensive dip is noteworthy, as the Red Wings have scored one or fewer goals multiple times in recent outings and dropped several games they would have hoped to win. Ottawa’s offense has been more reliable this season, averaging more goals per game than Detroit and benefiting from balanced contributions across the lineup, with Tim Stutzle pacing the team in scoring with over 60 points on the season.
Detroit’s goaltending will likely fall to John Gibson, who has delivered big performances against Ottawa this season, including a 35‑save effort in a previous matchup that resulted in a win for Detroit. Even so, Detroit’s recent defensive lapses have put more pressure on him than ideal. Linus Ullmark is expected to get the start for the Sens, as he had some time to deal with some injury concerns during the extended break for the Olympics.
It's hard to tell how these teams are going to come out of the Olympic break, with several key players out or questionable as they return from Italy. On top of that, all teams have had three weeks without playing live games as a group, which could make it tougher for them to compete as cohesive units. Still, I lean toward the Sens as my best bet in this matchup and will hope that they aren't too rusty from a lack of game action as a group.
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