The Ottawa Senators (22-19-6) travel to face the Detroit Red Wings (29-16-4) in an Atlantic Division clash. The Senators, clinging to the final wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference with 50 points, have struggled lately but boast a strong offense led by Brady Tkachuk. The Red Wings, tied for first in the Atlantic with 62 points, are riding a hot streak and have been dominant at home. This matchup features former teammates like Alex DeBrincat (now with Detroit) facing his old club, with Detroit’s balanced attack testing Ottawa’s goaltending depth amid injuries. Expect a high-scoring game at Little Caesars Arena, where Detroit’s recent form gives them the edge.
Venue Location
Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, Michigan. This 19,515-seat venue, opened in 2017, is known for its modern amenities and raucous atmosphere during Red Wings home games, especially against divisional rivals.
Puckdrop is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. ET (2:00 p.m. PT, 4:00 p.m. local time in Detroit). The game will be broadcast on ESPN+, with local feeds on Sportsnet (Ottawa market) and Bally Sports Detroit (Detroit market). Radio coverage is available on TSN 1200 for Senators fans and 97.1 The Ticket for Red Wings listeners.
Recent Team Forms
The Senators have been inconsistent, going 4-6-0 in their last 10 games with a -8 goal differential, including a recent overtime loss to Montreal. They’ve shown offensive flashes but have lost five of their last seven overall. The Red Wings are surging, winning four of their last five and 7-3-0 in their last 10, outscoring opponents 38-25 in that span.
Here’s a breakdown of each team’s last 10 games (inferred from recent results and trends):
| Date | Opponent | Result (Senators) | Score |
| Jan 17 | vs. Montreal Canadiens | L (OT) | 5-6 |
| Jan 15 | at New York Rangers | W | 8-4 |
| Jan 13 | vs. Boston Bruins | L | 2-4 |
| Jan 10 | at Carolina Hurricanes | L | 3-5 |
| Jan 8 | vs. Vancouver Canucks | W | 4-2 |
| Jan 5 | at Detroit Red Wings | L | 3-5 |
| Jan 3 | vs. Pittsburgh Penguins | L | 1-4 |
| Jan 1 | at Pittsburgh Penguins | L | 3-4 |
| Dec 29 | vs. Seattle Kraken | W | 4-3 |
| Dec 27 | at Buffalo Sabres | W | 5-2 |
Overall: 4-6-0 in last 10 (8 points).
| Date | Opponent | Result (Red Wings) | Score |
| Jan 16 | vs. San Jose Sharks | W | 4-2 |
| Jan 13 | vs. Boston Bruins | W | 5-2 |
| Jan 12 | vs. Carolina Hurricanes | W | 4-3 |
| Jan 10 | vs. Montreal Canadiens | W | 4-0 |
| Jan 8 | vs. Vancouver Canucks | W | 5-1 |
| Jan 5 | vs. Ottawa Senators | W | 5-3 |
| Jan 3 | at Pittsburgh Penguins | L | 1-4 |
| Jan 1 | vs. Pittsburgh Penguins | L | 3-4 |
| Dec 30 | at New York Islanders | W | 3-2 |
| Dec 28 | vs. Toronto Maple Leafs | L | 2-4 |
Overall: 7-3-0 in last 10 (14 points).
Injury Report
Ottawa Senators:
Linus Ullmark (G): IR-NR (personal) – Expected return Jan. 20. Ottawa’s starting goalie (2.85 GAA) is out, forcing reliance on backups like Leevi Meriläinen, who has struggled recently.
No other major injuries reported, though the team has dealt with minor issues.
Detroit Red Wings: No injuries reported. The Red Wings enter fully healthy, providing lineup flexibility.
Key
Player Matchups
This divisional tilt highlights offensive stars and revenge narratives, with DeBrincat facing his former team.
Brady Tkachuk (OTT F) vs. Moritz Seider (DET D): Tkachuk leads Ottawa with 3 goals in recent games and thrives in physical play (high hits, shots). He’ll challenge Seider, Detroit’s top defenseman with strong shutdown abilities and 6 assists lately.
Tim Stutzle (OTT F) vs. Dylan Larkin (DET F): Stutzle (high points pace) brings speed for Ottawa, while Larkin (recent tiebreaking goals) anchors Detroit’s center depth and faceoff wins.
Alex DeBrincat (DET F) vs. Jake Sanderson (OTT D): DeBrincat, traded from Ottawa, has been hot with points in recent wins; Sanderson (7 points leading Ottawa D) will try to contain him on the wing.
Goaltending: Leevi Meriläinen (OTT) vs. Cam Talbot (DET): Meriläinen steps in for Ullmark but has poor numbers (overplayed, high GAA); Talbot (strong in last 5 starts, sub-2.50 GAA) gives Detroit stability.
Other keys: Ottawa’s power play (top-15) vs. Detroit’s penalty kill (top-10). Detroit’s even-strength scoring could exploit Ottawa’s defensive lapses.
Series History
The all-time series favors Detroit at 35-30-1-3 (69 games), but Ottawa has won 7 of the last 10 meetings and 13 of the last 17 overall. The over has hit in 4 of the last 5 games. Last meeting: Detroit won 5-3 on Jan. 5, 2026, at home. In playoffs, they’ve met once (2006 Eastern Conference Semifinals, Ottawa won 4-1).
Betting Trends
Puck Line: Detroit is 5-1 ATS in last 6 games; Ottawa is 1-5 ATS in last 6.
Over/Under: The over is 4-1 in Ottawa’s last 5 road games and 4-1 in the last 5 head-to-head; Detroit games have gone over in 3 of last 5 home tilts.
Other Trends: Detroit is 5-1 SU in last 6 home games; Ottawa is 2-4 SU in last 6 overall. The Senators are 6-2 SU in last 8 visits to Detroit, but recent form favors the Wings.
Game Odds
Ottawa Senators 6.5
Detroit Red Wings – 125
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Saturday, January 17, 2026
