Columbus at Detroit

When it comes to the playoffs in the NHL, you can pretty much pencil in the Detroit Red Wings at the beginning of the season. This year appears to be no exception as Detroit enters this contest at 17-7-7 on the season, which includes 11-3-4 at home. This team has dominated at home for years where they are 482-235-27 in their last 744 games on home ice, which includes 300-129-20 against a team with a losing record. Couple that with the woeful 169-350-19 record of the Blue Jackets in their last 534 games on the road, as well as their 38-89 mark in their last 127 games vs. a winning team, and we have a complete mismatch here. The Red Wings have certainly made that work at home vs. Columbus where they are 30-9 in the last 39 meetings. Play on Detroit.