Boston Bruins at Philadelphia Flyers Betting Odds
Opening Moneyline: Boston / Philadelphia O/U 5.5 goals
Time: 7 PM EST Thursday March 11, 2010
Tonight in an important Eastern Conference match up for both teams in the City of Brotherly Love the Philadelphia Flyers host the Boston Bruins. Both teams are still in the top 8 in the East, but are not a lock for the playoffs, as the Flyers are in 6th place and the Bruins are in 8th place only trailing Philly by 4 points and only leading 9th place New York by 3 points.
The Flyers have won 2 in a row and are 7-2-1 in their last 10 games and the Bruins have lost 2 in a row and are 6-2-2 in their last 10 games.
This season Philadelphia is 20-11-2 at home and Boston is 15-11-6 on the road.
Both teams played on Tuesday and while the Flyers beat the New York Islanders 3-2 while the Bruins lost to the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-3.
Boston has to start winning to stay in the playoff picture, but that will not be easy, as their top forward and best defensemen are out with injuries. Marc Savard and captain Zdeno Chara both missed Tuesday's loss to Toronto and that hurt them against the team with the worst record in the Eastern Conference.
The loss of Savard may hurt them more, as the Bruins have the lowest scoring team in the league only averaging 2.32 goals per game.
The reason the Bruins are winning is their solid defense, which is only giving up an average of 2.45 goals per game. They have their work cut out for them tonight facing a Flyers' offense that ranks 6th in the league in scoring (3.00 goals per game).
It is unclear who will be between the pipes for Boston tonight, but whoever it is will have to play well, especially since the Bruins offense is so weak.
The Boston D has to thwart the Philly power play, as the Flyers are 10 for 27 (37.0 percent) over their last 6 games.
The Flyers have been on fire at home since the New Year going 11-2-0 in their house in 2010.
Not only is Boston's offense struggling, but the Bruins will be facing a Flyers' defense that has been solid lately, allowing 2 or fewer goals in 11 of their last 13 games and Philly G Michael Leighton (15 wins 2.28 GAA save percentage 92.4%) is 7-0-1 with a 2.32 GAA in his last 9 starts.
Boston is 5-2 in their last 7 road games, has an Under record of 11-5-2 in their last 18 road games, and an Under record of 7-2-5 in their last 14 games.
Philadelphia is 5-0 in their last 5 home games, has an Under record of 5-0 in their last 5 home games, and an Under record of 10-3 in their last 13 games.
In 4 of the last 5 games between these 2 teams in Philadelphia the total has gone Over.
Our Selection : Boston will be without there best 2 players Marc Savard and Big Chara. The Bruins normally play solid D only giving up 2.45 goals per game but gave up 4 to the Toronto the worst team in the East, look for the Bruins to get back to their solid defensive game tonight. The Flyer's defense has been solid lately, allowing 2 or fewer goals in 11 of their last 13 games and they have an Under record of 5-0 in their last 5 home games, and an Under record of 10-3 in their last 13 games. Take under 5.5 goals.
Future Betting Odds
NHL Handicapping
Tampa Bay Lightning at Boston Bruins 5-17
The Boston Bruins need to play much better in game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals. The Bruins lost the opener 5-2 at home and can ill-afford to fall behind 2-0 to Lightning. Tampa Bay are on quite a roll, winning their last eight in a row in the playoffs. The oddsmaker at Bodog have the Bruins as a -145 favorite to even-up the series.