Sharks vs. Red Wings prediction: Detroit favored to win Friday's NHL matchup [1/16/2026]

The Detroit Red Wings will square off with the San Jose Sharks in NHL action at Little Caesars Arena on Friday, beginning at 7:00 PM ET.

Based on the latest simulations, Dimers' advanced NHL model predicts the Red Wings as the most likely winner of the Sharks vs. Red Wings game.

This article offers an expanded analysis of Friday's matchup, including projected goal scorers, best bets and player prop picks.

Sharks vs. Red Wings prediction: Who will win and cover?

Using innovative machine learning and statistical analysis, we have simulated the outcome of Friday's NHL matchup between the Sharks and Red Wings 10,000 times as part of our NHL predictions coverage.

Our independent predictive model gives the Red Wings a 61% chance of beating the Sharks.

According to our model, the Sharks (+1.5) have a 59% chance of covering the puck line, while the 6.5-goal over/under has a 52% chance of staying under.

Sharks vs. Red Wings odds

We have sourced the best NHL odds in America for this game, which are listed here:

Bet Type	Sharks	Red Wings
Puck Line	+1.5 (-155)	-1.5 (+132)
Moneyline	+154	-178
Total	o6.5 (-102)	u6.5 (-115)

All odds are correct at the time of publication and are subject to change.

Sharks vs. Red Wings picks and best bet

After matching our predictions against the best current odds, we can reveal our picks for each of the major markets. Plus, find our best bet for the game below:

Bet Type	Pick	Bet Now
Puck Line	Sharks +1.5	-155
Moneyline	Sharks	+154
Total	Under 6.5	-115

According to our NHL best bets, the top play to make on this game is Sharks to win.

Sharks vs. Red Wings player props

Who will score a goal in Sharks vs. Red Wings?

According to our model, Alex DeBrincat is most likely to score an anytime goal in Sharks vs. Red Wings.

Our projections give DeBrincat a 38.8% chance of scoring a goal at Little Caesars Arena, while the star is a 7.4% chance of netting the first goal the game.

Anytime goal scorer predictions

San Jose Sharks

Player	Anytime Goal Probability
Macklin Celebrini	36.6%
Pavol Regenda	32.3%
Will Smith	25.1%
Tyler Toffoli	24.6%
William Eklund	22.3%

Detroit Red Wings

Player	Anytime Goal Probability
Alex DeBrincat	38.8%
Dylan Larkin	35.9%
Lucas Raymond	32.1%
James van Riemsdyk	24.6%
Patrick Kane	24.0%

First goal scorer predictions

San Jose Sharks

Player	First Goal Probability
Macklin Celebrini	7.0%
Pavol Regenda	6.4%
Tyler Toffoli	4.3%
Will Smith	4.3%
William Eklund	4.1%

Detroit Red Wings

Player	First Goal Probability
Alex DeBrincat	7.4%
Dylan Larkin	7.0%
Lucas Raymond	6.2%
James van Riemsdyk	4.7%
Patrick Kane	3.9%

Sharks vs. Red Wings game-day updates and essential details

Friday's matchup between the Red Wings and Sharks at Little Caesars Arena is scheduled to start at 7:00 PM ET.

• Who: San Jose Sharks vs. Detroit Red Wings
• Date: Friday, January 16, 2026
• Time: 7:00 PM ET/4:00PM PT
• Venue: Little Caesars Arena

Conclusion

We predict the Red Wings, with a 61% win probability, will likely beat the Sharks on Friday.

AI and automation have enhanced this article to quickly deliver accurate Sharks vs. Red Wings insights, with human oversight ensuring high editorial quality. Our predictions are drawn from up-to-date data to help you make informed decisions. For additional resources and advice on responsible gambling, please call 1-800-GAMBLER.

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