Two teams that’ve spent a lot of this season in the penalty box, the Philadelphia Flyers and the Boston Bruins collide at TD Garden. NSP+, NESN, RSN and NHL will air this Eastern Conference matchup, which gets underway at 7 p.m. ET on Thursday, January 31.
Philadelphia Flyers vs. Boston Bruins Odds
Boston (-200) is noticeably favored over Philadelphia (+170). If you want to put some action on the matchup’s Over/Under (O/U) total, you’ll be looking at -105 for over 6 goals and +-115 for under under..
Producing -6.6 units for moneyline bettors, the Bruins are 27-23 straight up (SU) overall in the 2018-19 season. That early-season winning percentage is a regression from the 50-32 record that the team posted during the 2017-18 season campaign. Through 50 regular season contests, 28 of the team’s games have gone under the total, while 19 have gone over and just three have pushed. Thus far, the team is 17-9 SU at home.
Boston enters the matchup with the second-strongest power-play unit in the NHL, as the team has converted on 27.3 percent of their extra-man opportunities this season. On the other hand, its penalty kill is rated 16th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 80.3 percent of all penalties.
Boston, as a collective unit, has been called for penalties 3.9 times per game overall this season, and 3.0 per game over its last ten matchups. The team’s had to stave off opponent power plays for just 7.2 minutes per game over its last 10 outings, overall.
Averaging 26.6 saves per game with a .918 save percentage, Jaroslav Halak (13-14-3) has been the best option in goal for the Bruins this year. If head coach Bruce Cassidy decides to rest him, however, the team might go with Tuukka Rask (14-12-12 record, .919 save percentage, 2.43 goals against average).
David Pastrnak and Brad Marchand will both lead the way for the Bruins. Pastrnak (59 points) has produced 28 goals and 31 assists and has recorded two or more points 15 times this year. Marchand has 19 goals and 37 assists to his credit and has notched a point in 30 contests.
Philadelphia has lost 10.7 units for bettors taking the moneyline thus far and is currently 21-29 straight up (SU). A total of 26 of its matches have gone over the total, while 24 have gone under the total and none have pushed. As the visiting team, Philadelphia is 10-16 SU so far.
Philadelphia has converted on just 12.9 percent of its power play chances this season, a mark that’s ranked 31st in the NHL. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 28th overall and it’s successfully killed off 76.4 percent of all opponent power plays.
Philadelphia’s players have been penalized 4.0 times per game this season, and 3.0 per game over their last five contests. The team has had to stave off opponent power plays just 8.2 minutes per game over their last five outings.
Carter Hart (28.2 saves per game) has been the primary option in goal for Philadelphia. Hart has seven wins, six losses, and one OT loss to his credit, while registering a .922 save percentage and 2.53 goals against average this year.
For the visiting Flyers, the offense will be facilitated by Claude Giroux, who has 38 assists and 14 goals this year.
Philadelphia Flyers vs. Boston Bruins Free Picks
Prediction: SU Winner – Bruins, O/U – Under
Betting Trends
- Philadelphia is 2-0 in games decided by a shootout this season while Boston is 1-1 in shootouts.
- For both of these teams, the over has hit in three of their past five outings.
- Philadelphia has managed 29.8 shot attempts per game over its last five road games while Boston is averaging 35.8 shots per game over its last five at home.
- Four of Boston’s last ten outings have been decided by two or more goals, and the team is 3-1 overall in those games.
- The Bruins this season have registered the ninth-most hits per game in the NHL (23.5).
