New York Rangers at Philadelphia Flyers Betting Odds
Opening Moneyline: Rangers +115 / Flyers -135
Time: 3 PM EST Sunday April 11, 2010 on NHL Net
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.
Even though the Flyers are 14-5-1 since the start of January they have ended the season poorly. The Flyers are coming off a loss and are only 3-6-1 in their last 10 games while the Rangers have won 2 in a row and are 7-2-1 in their last 10 games.
This season the Flyers are 23-14-3 at home and the Rangers are 20-16-4 on the road.
In their last game the Flyers missed out on a chance to secure a playoff berth with a 4-3 loss to New York on Friday night.
The Rangers may actually be happy they are not at Madison Square Garden, as they have a better record on the road than they do at home.
Rangers' G Henrik Lundqvist (35 wins 2.41 GAA save percentage 91.9%) will be facing a Flyers' offense that ranks 7th in the league in scoring (2.85 goals per game). He did allow 3 goals to the Flyers on Friday night, but stopped all 10 shots he faced in the 3rd period to preserve the win.
These 2 teams have split the 2 games they have played in Philadelphia this season.
New York's offense ranks 15th in the league in scoring and they will need a good game from Marian Gaborik, who leads the team in goals (42), assists (44), and points (86). The Flyers had done a good job against Gaborik this season, as he did not have a point in 4 games, but in the game on Friday he had a goal and an assist.
Flyers' G Brian Boucher (8 wins 2.83 GAA save percentage 89.8%) took the loss on Friday and will likely be between the pipes tonight. He has to have a good game, as Philly's defense is mediocre, at best, giving up 2.73 goals per game.
This is the 3rd time in Philadelphia's history that the final game a playoff spot has been determined by the last game of the season, but first since 1972.
Betting Trends
New York is 5-1 in their last 6 games and have an Over record of 4-1 in their last 5 road games against teams with a winning home record.
Philadelphia is 3-8 in their last 11 games and has an Under record of 8-3 in their last 11 games against teams from the Atlantic Division.
The Rangers have won 6 of the last 8 games they have played against the Flyers.
Our Selection : Take the Rangers +115.
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.