The Boston Bruins (15-12-0) head to Motown for a quick rematch against the Detroit Red Wings (13-11-2), aiming to extend their recent edge in this Atlantic Division rivalry after a 3-2 shootout victory over the Wings just three days ago at TD Garden. Detroit, reeling from a four-game skid (0-3-1), desperately seeks redemption at home to salvage their playoff push, leaning on their opportunistic power play to test Boston’s vaunted penalty kill. With the Bruins navigating a brutal injury wave—headlined by David Pastrnak’s ongoing absence—this could expose Boston’s depth issues, but Jeremy Swayman’s stellar play (.926 SV% last five starts) offers stability. The Wings’ youth and speed might exploit transition lanes, but Boston’s structure could grind out another low-scoring affair in a matchup projected as a defensive chess match with playoff implications lurking.
Venue
Venue: Little Caesars Arena, 2645 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, MI 48201. Capacity: 20,332. This modern Hockeytown hub, the Red Wings’ home since 2017, delivers electric vibes with its steep sightlines and raucous crowds—especially for rematches where Detroit’s faithful demand blood after a shootout heartbreaker.
Puckdrop: 7:00 PM ET (4:00 PM PT). Broadcast: ESPN+ (national streaming), NESN (Bruins local), FanDuel Sports Network Detroit (Red Wings local), NHL Network (highlights). The early slot primes national intrigue, with analysts dissecting the home-and-home drama.
Team Records
| Team | Overall Record | Home/Away Split | Atlantic Division Standings | Key Stats (GF / GA / Power Play %) |
| Boston Bruins | 15-12-0 | 8-5-0 Home / 7-7-0 Away | 3rd (4-3-0 div.) | 3.0 / 3.2 / 24% |
| Detroit Red Wings | 13-11-2 | 7-4-1 Home / 6-7-1 Away | 5th (2-4-1 div.) | 3.4 / 3.0 / 22% |
Boston ranks 9th league-wide in goals scored (81 total) but 25th in goals against (86), buoyed by a top-ranked 87% penalty kill. Detroit’s offense pops (17th in GF/GP at 3.4) but their 27th-ranked defense (3.4 GA/GP) and shaky PK (78.9%, 23rd) spell trouble against structured foes.
Recent Team Forms
Boston’s resilience shines amid chaos, while Detroit’s skid tests their mettle.
Bruins (3-2-0 in last 5): The B’s stole momentum with their 3-2 SO win over Detroit on November 29, where Morgan Geekie netted two goals and Swayman stonewalled the shootout. Prior: W vs. Vegas (4-3 SO, Nov. 26), L at NY Islanders (3-1, Nov. 24? Wait, W 3-1 at Islanders Nov. 26 pre-injury), W at Colorado (5-3, Nov. 23), W vs. Utah (4-2, Nov. 20). Averaging 3.2 GF/3.0 GA in the stretch, with Swayman’s .926 SV% anchoring—road form middling (7-7-0, 1-2 last 3 away) but ATS 4-3 signals value as dogs.
Red Wings (1-3-1 in last 5): Detroit’s frustration peaked in the SO loss to Boston, capping a skid after a 6-3 home thumping by Tampa Bay (Nov. 28). Earlier: L at Florida (5-4 OT, Nov. 26), W vs. San Jose (4-2, Nov. 24), L at Toronto (3-2, Nov. 22). GF/GA at 3.0/3.8 lately, with Cam Talbot’s .881 SV% (17 saves vs. BOS) a red flag. Home cooking helps (7-4-1, +0.8 diff.), but ATS 1-4 and four straight losses scream desperation.
Injury Report
Boston’s star-studded absences deepen woes, forcing lineup shuffles, while Detroit’s depth holds firmer. Updates as of December 1, 2025 (NHL official report, 5:00 PM ET).
| Team | Player | Status | Injury Details | Impact |
| Bruins | David Pastrnak (RW) | OUT | Undisclosed (day-to-day; aggravated Nov. 26 vs. Islanders; no skate/practice). | Franchise sniper (29 P in 25 GP: 11G/18A) sidelined third straight; offense craters -0.8 GF/60 sans him, overloading lines. |
| Bruins | Charlie McAvoy (D) | OUT | Facial (surgery Nov. 15; individual skates, no timetable). | Top-pair stud; blue line vulnerable (+12% xGA without), Hampus Lindholm-Zadorov pair overtaxed. |
| Bruins | Pavel Zacha (C) | QUESTIONABLE | Upper-body (game-time; skated Nov. 29, 70% chance). | Second-line hub (0.6 PTS/GP); faceoffs dip 5% if out, reshuffles Mittelstadt. |
| Bruins | Matej Blumel (F) | OUT | Lower body (LTIR, Nov. 29 placement). | Depth winger; minor scoring hit off bench. |
| Bruins | Henri Jokiharju (D) | OUT | Undisclosed (IR, Nov. 30). | Rotation defender; further thins back-end options. |
| Bruins | Jordan Harris (D) | OUT | Ankle (ongoing; multi-week). | Third-pair; exacerbates D crisis. |
| Red Wings | Viktor Arvidsson (RW) | PROBABLE | Lower body (first skate Nov. 29; expected vs. BOS, 80% chance). | Top-six scorer (6G/9P last 13 pre-injury); boosts rush if active, minutes cap at 18. |
| Red Wings | Andrew Copp (C) | OUT | Pectoral (surgery Feb. 2025; season-ending). | Third-line anchor; -4% faceoff win rate, forward depth strained. |
| Red Wings | Mason Appleton (F) | DAY-TO-DAY | Undisclosed (post-Nov. 29; re-eval). | Middle-six energy (0.4 PTS/GP); 60% chance—line tweaks if sidelined. |
Bruins’ D and top-end losses tilt edges to Detroit’s healthier forwards.
Series History
This Original Six classic dates to 1926, with Detroit edging all-time regular-season play: 161-147-47 (.521 win%). The Wings ruled the 1950s Cup runs, but Boston flipped the script in recent playoffs (2024 first-round sweep).
Last 10 Meetings: Even 5-5, including Boston’s 3-2 SO W (Nov. 29, 2025; Geekie 2G) and Detroit’s 2-1 W (Dec. 3, 2024). Bruins swept 2023-24 (3-0-0).
At Little Caesars Arena: Wings 8-5-2 since 2017; Boston’s last W there: March 2023 (3-2 OT).
Trends: Unders in 7/10 (avg. 5.2 goals); OT/SO in 4/10. Bruins 4-1 SU last 5 as road dogs vs. DET; Wings 3-7 ATS post-loss.
Rematch revenge juices Detroit, but Boston’s hex (2-1 in 2025) persists.
Key Player Matchups
Star voids spotlight depth and keepers—these could flip the script.
Morgan Geekie (Bruins C) vs. Dylan Larkin (Red Wings C): Geekie’s surge (20G season, 2G vs. DET) challenges Larkin’s captaincy (29P in 26GP: 14G/15A); faceoff tilt (Larkin 54% vs. Geekie 51%) controls play—2+ combined points projected.
Hampus Lindholm (Bruins D) vs. Lucas Raymond (Red Wings LW): Lindholm’s transition poise (0.5 PTS/GP) reins in Raymond’s rush (8G/19A in 24GP); Wings’ speed hunts breakaways sans McAvoy.
Jeremy Swayman (Bruins G) vs. Cam Talbot (Red Wings G): Swayman’s clutch (.926 SV% last 5, SO hero) vs. Talbot’s rebound (.881 SV%, 2.88 GAA); low-danger duel favors BOS keeper.
Bench: Nikita Zadorov (Bruins D) vs. Moritz Seider (Red Wings D): Zadorov’s physicality (200+ HIT) grinds Seider’s shutdown (elite + rating); boards battle (+5 DET projected) swings momentum.
Detroit’s lines edge transition, but Swayman tilts net.
Betting Trends
Moneyline: DET 5-7 as ML faves; BOS 13-10 (56.5%) as dogs, 4-4 at +162+.
Puck Line: DET covers 3-5 last 8 home; BOS 7-4 PL as road dogs.
Total (O/U): Unders 17-9 DET/13-14 BOS; all 3 2025 meetings under (avg. 5.9 GF/GP combined, but H2H 5.2).
Trends: BOS 5-5-0 last 10; Wings 3-7 ATS post-loss; O/U 32-15-2 combined over.
Game Odds
Boston Bruins 5.5
Detroit Red Wings – 190
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Monday, December 1, 2025
