New Jersey Devils at Philadelphia Flyers Betting Odds
Opening Moneyline: Devils -110 / Flyers -110 O/U 5.5 goals
Time: 7 Pm EST Sunday March 28, 2010
Tonight in the City of Brotherly Love the struggling Philadelphia Flyers host the New Jersey Devils. A couple of weeks ago the Flyers were on solid playoff ground, but they have lost 5 straight, are 2-6-2 in their last 10 games and are now in the 8th and final playoff spot only 2 points ahead of 9nth place Atlanta. The Devils are in the 2nd position in the East, are 6-2-2 in their last 10 games, and are coming off a win.
This season the Flyers are 21-13-3 at home and the Devils are 19-15-3 on the road.
Both teams played yesterday and the Devils beat the Montreal Canadiens 4-2 while the Flyers lost to the Pittsburgh Penguins 4-1.
The Devils have lost 3 straight to the Flyers in Philadelphia and are only 1-4-1 in their last 6 games there.
Even though the Devils only rank 19th in the league in scoring (2.63 goals per game) they will be facing a Philly team that has been decimated by injuries at the goalie position. Tonight Brian Boucher (5 wins 2.87 GAA save percentage 89.5%) will be between the pipes tonight and in his last 9 games he is only 1-6-2 with a GAA of 3.33.
Boucher was in net in Philadelphia's only loss to the Devils in five games this season in a 4-1 loss in New Jersey on December 12th.
With the mediocre defense the Flyers have and their goalie problems they will rely more on their offense, which is solid ranking 8th in the league averaging 2.86 goals per game. However, in their 5 game slide their offense has sputtered only scoring 7 goals.
Not only is the Flyers' offense struggling, but also they will be facing hot Devils G Martin Brodeur (40 wins 2.34 GAA save percentage 91.4%), who is 6-1-1 with a 2.11 GAA in his last 8 games. The Flyers hope that Brodeur plays like he has been in Philadelphia in the last few games, as he is 0-4-1 with a 3.26 GAA in his last 5 games there.
The Devils have already locked up a post-season berth and while the Flyers have not they can really improve their playoff chances with a win, as the team right on their heels, Atlanta, is idle today.
Betting Trends
New Jersey is 3-13 in their last 16 road games, 2-11 in their last 13 games following a win, and has an Over record of 10-4-1 in their last 15 games.
Philadelphia is 12-5 in their last 17 home games and has an Under record of 7-2 in their last 10 games.
In the last 4 meetings between these two teams the total has been Under every time.
Our Selection : 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.