New Jersey Devils at Philadelphia Flyers Betting Odds
Opening Moneyline: New Jersey +100 / Philadelphia -120 O/U 5.5 goals
Time: 7 PM EST Monday February 8, 2010
Tonight in the City of Brotherly Love in an Atlantic Division match up the Philadelphia Flyers host the struggling New Jersey Devils. The Flyers have lost 2 in a row and are 5-5 in their last 10 games and the Devils are coming off a loss, are 4-5-1 in their last 10 games, and now only lead the Pittsburgh Penguins by 2 points in the division.
This season the Flyers are 16-11-2 at home and the Devils are 17-10-2 on the road.
Currently New Jersey holds the 2nd position in the Eastern Conference and Philadelphia is tied in 8th position with Boston and the New York Rangers.
Both teams played on Saturday with New Jersey losing to the New York Rangers 3-1 and Philadelphia losing to the Minnesota Wild 2-1.
The Devils recently acquired Ilya Kovalchuk (31 goals 29 assists 60 points) from Atlanta and they hope that he can kick-start a struggling New Jersey offense. Since January 5th the Devils are only averaging 1.71 goals per game, which is the 2nd fewest goals per game in the league since that time.
New Jersey has one of the best defenses in the league, but they are also struggling, especially G Martin Brodeur (33 wins 2.25 GAA save percentage 91.7%). In his last 6 starts the 4-time Vezina Trophy winner is only 2-3-1 with a GAA of 2.94 and a save percentage of 87.8%.
Brodeur has lost his last 4 starts in Philadelphia with a 3.32 GAA.
The Devils will have play good defense against a solid Flyers' offense that ranks 8th in the league in scoring averaging 2.88 goals per game. However, the Flyers' offense is in a funk, especially Jeff Carter, who leads the team in goals (22) and points (47), as he has not scored a goal in his last 5 games.
Philadelphia is mediocre, at best, on defense allowing an average of 2.68 goals per game.
The Flyers hope that New Jersey's offensive woes continue, as they are not getting great play between the pipes this season. Starter Ray Emery (16 wins 2.64 GAA save percentage 90.5%) may not go tonight and his backups are not going to instill fear in any opposing offense.
The Devils are only 1-4 in their last 5 games when playing in Philadelphia.
New Jersey is 1-5 in their last 6 road games against teams with a winning home record, 0-4 in their last 4 road games, and has an Under record of 8-3-1 in their last 12 games.
Philadelphia is 7-2 in their last 9 home games, 1-4 in their last 5 home games against teams with a winning road record, and has an Under record of 4-0 in their last 4 games.
In the last 5 games between these 2 teams in Philadelphia the total has gone Under 4 times.
Our Selection : Brodeur has lost his last 4 starts in Philadelphia with a 3.32 GAA. Ray Emery will not go tonight, so look for Ilya Kovalchuk and the Devils to break out offensively tonight. Take Over 5.5 goals
Future Betting Odds
NHL Handicapping
New York Rangers at Philadelphia Flyers 4-11
Well, today's game in the City of Brotherly love is for all the marbles, as the Philadelphia Flyers host the New York Rangers. Both of these teams are tied for the 8th and last playoff spot in the East, so the winner of this game will make the playoffs while the loser will be watching them from home.