If you’re grabbing your jersey and checking the guide for the Red Wings game tonight what channel is airing the action, I have some slightly annoying news for you. There isn't a game.
Yeah, I know. It’s Thursday night in January, the heart of the NHL season, but the Detroit Red Wings are actually in the middle of a rare two-day breather. After a tough, shutout loss to the Boston Bruins on Tuesday—where Jeremy Swayman basically turned into a brick wall—the Wings are back in Detroit regrouping.
Honestly, the schedule makers gave them a weird little gap here. Usually, Thursdays are prime time for hockey, but tonight the ice at Little Caesars Arena is quiet. If you see people wearing Red Wings gear downtown today, they're probably just living that Michigan lifestyle or headed to a watch party for one of the other eight NHL games happening around the league.
When Do the Red Wings Play Next?
The "Wings" aren't staying idle for long. They’ll be back on home ice tomorrow, Friday, January 16, 2026, to take on the San Jose Sharks. If you were searching for the Red Wings game tonight what channel info to set your DVR, you’ll want to pivot your plans by 24 hours.
For that Friday matchup, the puck drops at 7:00 PM ET. Since it's a home game against a Western Conference opponent, the broadcast is heading back to its usual home.
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The New TV Home: FanDuel Sports Network
If you’re still calling it Bally Sports, you're not alone, but the rebranding is fully in effect. You can find the game against San Jose on FanDuel Sports Network Detroit.
For the cord-cutters out there, it’s the same old dance. You can stream it via the FanDuel Sports Network app if you have a subscription, or through providers like Fubo and DIRECTV STREAM. Just a heads up—regular Hulu + Live TV and YouTube TV still haven't kissed and made up with the regional sports networks, so those won't help you for the local Detroit broadcasts.
Red Wings Game Tonight What Channel: A Look at the January Schedule
Since there's no game tonight, it’s actually a good time to look at the gauntlet Detroit has coming up. They’ve been playing some decent hockey lately, sitting at 28-16-4, but the Atlantic Division is a literal buzzsaw this year.
Here is how the rest of the month looks so you don't get caught searching for a channel on a night off again:
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- Friday, Jan. 16 vs. San Jose Sharks: 7:00 PM (FanDuel Sports Network)
- Sunday, Jan. 18 vs. Ottawa Senators: 5:00 PM (FanDuel Sports Network)
- Wednesday, Jan. 21 at Toronto Maple Leafs: 7:00 PM (TNT National Broadcast)
- Thursday, Jan. 22 at Minnesota Wild: 9:30 PM (ESPN National Broadcast)
- Saturday, Jan. 24 at Winnipeg Jets: 7:00 PM (FanDuel Sports Network)
That back-to-back national window on Jan. 21 and 22 is going to be huge. If you’re a fan who relies on Max (for TNT games) or ESPN+, those are the nights you’ll have the easiest time finding the game without hunting through regional tiers.
Why the Bruins Game Changed Everything
A lot of people are asking about the channel tonight because they’re still reeling from that 3-0 loss in Boston. It was a high-profile game on TNT, and Detroit looked... well, they looked tired.
The Wings had been on a bit of a heater, including a wild 4-3 overtime win against the Hurricanes right before that. But Swayman’s 24-save shutout on Tuesday really halted the momentum. Coach Derek Lalonde mentioned that the team needed to sharpen the "details," which is coach-speak for "we stopped skating in the third period."
This two-day break is actually a blessing. Lucas Raymond and Dylan Larkin have been carrying a massive load—Raymond is sitting at 48 points on the season—and they looked like they needed the oxygen.
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How to Watch If You Are Out of Market
If you're a Wings fan living in, say, Colorado or Florida, your "Red Wings game tonight what channel" answer is almost always ESPN+.
The NHL Power Play on ESPN+ carries all out-of-market games that aren't being nationally televised on TNT or ABC. It’s basically the modern version of NHL Center Ice. If the game is on FanDuel Sports Network Detroit, and you aren't in Michigan, that's your destination.
What to Watch Tonight Instead
Since you've got the night off from the Wings, there are still some massive Eastern Conference matchups tonight (Jan. 15) that directly impact Detroit’s playoff seeding:
- Seattle Kraken at Boston Bruins (8:00 PM ET): Keep an eye on the Bruins. Every time they lose, the Wings' path to a top-three spot in the Atlantic gets a little wider.
- Montreal Canadiens at Buffalo Sabres (7:00 PM ET): This is a divisional battle. You generally want these games to end in regulation so nobody gets that "loser point" in the standings.
- Philadelphia Flyers at Pittsburgh Penguins (7:00 PM ET): The battle for the wild card is tight. Detroit is currently ahead of both, but you don't want either of these teams getting hot.
Basically, root for the Western Conference teams and hope for zero overtime games in the East.
Actionable Steps for the Next Game
Since there is no Red Wings game tonight, here is how you can prep for tomorrow's return to the ice:
- Check your FanDuel Sports Network login: If you’re streaming, these apps love to log you out right at puck drop. Do it now.
- Set a reminder for Sunday: The game against Ottawa is a 5:00 PM start. Those early Sunday games always catch people off guard.
- Monitor the injury report: Keep an eye on the status of the bottom six. Detroit has stayed relatively healthy lately, but John Gibson has been seeing a lot of rubber in net, so we might see Cam Talbot get the nod against the Sharks to keep Gibson fresh.
The Red Wings game tonight what channel question might have a "nowhere" answer for today, but the stretch run of the season is just beginning. Grab a Coney dog, enjoy the night off, and get ready for the Sharks on Friday.