Colorado Avalanche vs. Philadelphia Flyers Matchup Preview

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Two teams squaring off for the first time this year, the Colorado Avalanche and the Philadelphia Flyers collide at the Wells Fargo Center in an East-versus-West showdown. This one gets started at 7 p.m. ET on Saturday, November 4 and it is being televised live on NBC Sports Philadelphia.

Colorado Avalanche at Philadelphia Flyers Odds

Philadelphia (+140) is entering this one as the underdog to Philadelphia (-160), and the oddsmakers have put the Over/Under (O/U) at 6 goals. The odds for betting the total stand at -120 for the under and +100 for the over. Philadelphia is 7-7 straight up (SU) and has lost 0.3 units for moneyline bettors this year. That early-season winning percentage hasn’t moved much from what the team managed during last year’s regular season (39-43). Through 14 regular season matches, seven of its games have gone over the total, while six have gone under and just one has pushed. Thus far, the team’s 3-3 SU at home. The Flyers have converted on 20.8 percent of their power play opportunities this season, a mark that’s right around league average. On the other hand, their penalty kill is ranked 20th overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 80.0 percent of all penalties. The Flyers, as a collective unit, have been penalized 4.1 times per game this season, a number that is pretty close to last year’s 4.0 penalties per game they gave up. After serving an average of 10.3 penalty minutes per game a year ago, the team has had to kill penalties for 10.6 minutes per matchup this season. With a .892 save percentage and 25.7 saves per game, Brian Elliott (5-4-1) has been the primary option in goal for Philadelphia this year. If head coach Dave Hakstol decides to give him the night off, however, Philadelphia might turn to Michal Neuvirth (2-3-3 record, .941 save percentage, 1.83 goals against average). The Flyers will continue seeking leadership out of Sean Couturier and Claude Giroux. Couturier (17 points) has put up nine goals and eight assists and has recorded two or more points on five separate occasions this year. Giroux has seven goals and nine assists to his name and has notched a point in nine contests. Over on the other bench, Colorado is 7-5 straight up (SU) and has earned moneyline bettors 3.6 units this year. A total of seven of its matches have gone over the total, while five have gone under and none have pushed. The Avalanche are 2-4 SU as the visiting team this season. The Avalanche have converted on 18.0 percent of their power play chances this year, a figure that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 12th overall and it’s successfully killed off 81.3 percent of all penalties. Colorado’s skaters have been penalized 4.7 times per game this season, a number that’s up some from the 4.0 penalties per game given up last year. After serving an average of 9.4 penalty minutes per game a season ago the team has had to kill penalties for 11.3 minutes per outing this year. Semyon Varlamov (.914 save percentage and 3.01 goals against average) has been the primary option in goal for Colorado. Varlamov is averaging 31.8 saves per game and owns a 5-3 record. Mikko Rantanen (four goals, seven assists) has been one of the top playmakers on offense for the visiting Avalanche.

Colorado Avalanche vs. Philadelphia Flyers Betting Predictions

Predictions: SU Winner – Flyers, O/U – Over

Betting Notes:

  • The over has hit in each of Colorado’s last five games.