Boston Bruins vs Detroit Red Wings start time, team news and prediction (Nov. 18, 2026)

The Bruins visit the Red Wings on Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2026, in a regular-season game between the Atlantic Division leader and the team at the bottom of it. After Nov. 10 games, the Bruins sit first at 13-4-1, while the Red Wings are eighth at 7-9-3.

Neither team has announced a starting goalie. The Red Wings have lost four straight and the Bruins have won four in a row, so the crease decisions on both sides will shape how a 10-point gap in the standings plays out.

This article is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial or investment advice. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

When is Bruins vs Red Wings?

The Bruins and Red Wings play Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2026, at 7:30 p.m. ET in Detroit. It is a regular-season game in the 2026-27 NHL season and the first of four meetings between the Atlantic Division rivals.

The daily sports prediction markets list hockey games alongside the rest of the day's sports.

What is Bruins vs Red Wings prediction?

OG.com prediction markets have the Bruins and Red Wings level at 52% each, according to market data as of 12 Nov 2026. For the latest probabilities, check OG.com. These percentages are implied probabilities that reflect the market's expectations, not guaranteed outcomes. Prices in sports prediction markets can change as traders react to goalie news, injuries and lineup decisions, and both teams still have several of those open.

An even split stands out because the Bruins hold a 10-point lead in the standings and a plus-27 goal difference against the Red Wings' minus-eight. The Bruins' case rests on 3.78 goals per game and goaltending that has produced a .920 save percentage for Jeremy Swayman and .925 for Michael DiPietro.

The Red Wings' case starts with territory. They take roughly 29 shots per game and allow roughly 26, the opposite of the Bruins' roughly 27 for and 28 against. The Red Wings need to turn that volume into goals against a defense allowing 2.28 per game. Check the contract terms to see how overtime and shootouts are handled. Two of the Bruins' last five games went past regulation, an overtime win on Oct. 31 and a shootout win on Nov. 2.

Bruins vs Red Wings recent scores and head-to-head results

The Bruins arrive on a four-game winning streak, and the Red Wings arrive on a four-game skid.

The Bruins scored 13 goals and allowed five across those three games. The Red Wings have been outscored 13-5 during their four-game skid, which began with a 4-2 loss at the Lightning on Nov. 3, when John Gibson left after the first period with a lower-body injury.

The Bruins won three of the four meetings last season, the latest a 4-2 win in Detroit on March 21. The Red Wings' only win came 5-4 in Detroit on Dec. 2, 2025. Those results are a limited guide now, since Dylan Larkin is away from the Red Wings and both goalie groups have changed form since.

Where do Bruins and Red Wings stand this season?

The standings below run through Nov. 10 games.

The Bruins have 27 points in 18 games and the Red Wings have 17 in 19. The Bruins' plus-27 goal difference is 35 goals better than the Red Wings' minus-eight. The Red Wings have missed the playoffs 10 straight seasons, the longest active drought in the NHL, according to NHL.com.

Bruins vs Red Wings team news, injuries and projected lineups

Injuries have reshaped both forward groups, and neither team has named a goalie for Nov. 18.

Bruins

Rookie forward James Hagens is on injured reserve with a back injury and, according to coach Marco Sturm, will miss a few weeks. ESPN lists his estimated return as Nov. 21, which falls after this game. Hagens is tied for the rookie scoring lead with 12 points, and Marat Khusnutdinov moved into the shutdown line with Casey Mittelstadt and Elias Lindholm in his place.

In goal, Swayman is 9-3-1 with a 2.21 goals-against average and a .920 save percentage, and DiPietro is 4-1-0 with a 2.21 and a .925. The Bruins have not announced a starter for Nov. 18.

Practice lines on Nov. 11 had JJ Peterka, Pavel Zacha and David Pastrnak together on the top line, a projection for a game a week away. Pastrnak leads the team with 24 points.

Red Wings

Gibson is 4-5-1 with a 3.46 goals-against average and a .860 save percentage, while Daniil Tarasov is 2-3-2 with a 2.10 and a .919. Gibson returned Nov. 10 after missing two games and made 30 saves in the loss to the Blues. The Red Wings have not announced a starter for Nov. 18.

Forwards Marco Kasper and Mason Appleton came off injured reserve for that game after missing 17 and 16 games, which gives coach Todd McLellan more options. Alex DeBrincat leads the team with 16 points.

Larkin left the team on Oct. 29 and is suspended without pay. Interim general manager Shawn Horcoff called his situation, and that of unsigned defenseman Simon Edvinsson, "status quo" this week. Edvinsson must sign by Dec. 1 to play this season, and defenseman Albert Johansson is on injured reserve.

What could decide Bruins vs Red Wings?

Three issues stand out: how the Red Wings convert shots, how each goalie group performs and whether the Bruins' scoring depth covers for Hagens.

Can the Red Wings turn their shot edge into goals?

The Red Wings take roughly 29 shots per game and allow roughly 26, yet they have scored 51 goals and allowed 59 in 19 games. The Bruins are the reverse, with roughly 27 shots for and 28 against and a plus-27 goal difference. Those are all-situations totals, so they mix even strength and power plays.

The gap points to finishing and goaltending, since territory is not the problem. Gibson's .860 save percentage sits behind the 3.11 goals the Red Wings allow per game. The Red Wings' power play converts at about 21% against a Bruins penalty kill near 77%, so special teams offer a second route to goals.

How much does the starting goalie change each team's outlook?

The Bruins' two goalies are close, at .920 over 13 games for Swayman and .925 over five for DiPietro, so either starter keeps their route similar. The Red Wings face a wider split, with .860 over 11 games for Gibson against .919 over eight for Tarasov.

Both samples are small, and McLellan went back to Gibson on Nov. 10 even with Tarasov's better numbers. The call for Nov. 18 is open.

Can the Bruins' depth cover for James Hagens?

Four different Bruins scored in the 4-1 win over the Panthers on Nov. 8: Elias Lindholm, Michael Eyssimont, Morgan Geekie and Peterka. Pastrnak added two assists, and Geekie has four goals during a four-game streak. That spread softens the loss of Hagens, though the Bruins are weaker on the road and the Red Wings have Kasper and Appleton back in their forward group.

The Bruins' route runs through steady goaltending in the .920 range and continued depth scoring. The Red Wings' route runs through steadier goaltending, their power play and the shot volume they already produce. The main uncertainty is who starts in goal for each team.

FAQs

The date, the goalies and Larkin's status are the open questions around this game.

What time do the Bruins play the Red Wings on Nov. 18?

The game starts at 7:30 p.m. ET on Wednesday, Nov. 18, in Detroit.

Who is starting in goal for Bruins vs Red Wings?

Neither team has announced a starter. The Bruins have Swayman and DiPietro, and the Red Wings have Gibson and Tarasov.

Is Dylan Larkin playing for the Red Wings against the Bruins?

Larkin left the team on Oct. 29 and is suspended without pay. The Red Wings' interim general manager described his situation as "status quo" this week.

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