Philadelphia Flyers at New York Rangers Betting Odds
Opening Moneyline: Flyers +130 / Rangers -150 O/U 5.5 goals
Time: 7 PM EST Friday April 9, 2010 on RDS
Tonight in a vital Western Conference match up for both teams the New York Rangers host the Philadelphia Flyers. The Flyers are in the 8th and final playoff spot in the East, but only lead 9th place New York by 2 points.
This is the 1st game of a home-and-home series against Philly and if they sweep both games they will make the post-season. If the Flyers win either game they will be in the playoffs.
Each team can still make the playoffs if Boston, who currently holds the 6th position in the East, falls apart in their last few games, but each wants to be in control of their own playoff destiny.
This season the Rangers are 17-17-6 at home and the Flyers are 17-20-3 on the road.
The Rangers are coming off a win and are 6-3-1 in their last 10 games and the Flyers are have won 2 in a row, but are only 3-4-3 in their last 10 games.
In their last games the Rangers beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 5-1 on Wednesday night and the Flyers also beat the Maple Leafs 2-0 on Tuesday night.
New York does not have a high scoring offense so they will need a good game from their defense, especially G Henrik Lundqvist (34 wins 2.40 GAA save percentage 92%).
The Flyers' offense ranks 7th in the league in scoring (2.85 goals per game) and they may get a lift tonight, as leading goal-scorer Jeff Carter (33 goals) may be available for tonight's game.
Philadelphia G Brian Boucher (8 wins 2.78 GAA save percentage 89.9%) has been streaky lately, but made 23 saves in the 2-0 shutout win over Toronto on Tuesday night.
Flyers defense, which is giving up an average of 2.71 goals per game, really has to key on the Rangers' Marian Gaborik, who leads New York in goals (41), assists (43), and points (84).
The season series between these 2 teams is tied at 2 games apiece.
Betting Trends
Philadelphia is 3-7 in their last 10 games, 2-8 in their last 10 road games, and has an Under record of 11-2 in their last 13 games when their opponent allows 2 goals or less in their previous game.
New York is 4-1 in their last 5 games, 5-0 in their last 5 games after scoring 5 goals or more in their previous game, and has an Over record of 3-1-1 in their last 5 games.
In the last 7 meetings between these 2 teams the total has gone Under 5 times.
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.