NHL Welcome back to NHL Predictions with Last Word on Hockey. Here, we provide in-depth insight into the best matchups around the NHL. Today, we dive into the Philadelphia Flyers and New Jersey Devils.
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NHL Predictions
Philadelphia Flyers vs New Jersey Devils
Time: 12:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST)
TV: NBCS-Philadelphia, MSGSN, NHL Network
Head-to-Head: First meeting of the season
The “Battle of the Jersey Turnpike” starts its next chapter on Saturday afternoon as the Flyers and Devils drop the puck for the first time this season. These teams split their four meetings last year. Those include a Devils 6-3 victory outdoors at Metlife Stadium in February. This will be the first of three meetings over the next 11 days.
Continuing Building Positives
The Flyers enter this meeting after a 5-3 win over the New York Islanders on Thursday night. Philadelphia finds itself fifth in a crowded Metropolitan Division that fluctuates daily. Expectations were somewhat tempered this season, so the Flyers sitting three points out of a wild-card spot past the midway mark is certainly good news for the organization. At 20-20-6, the Flyers enter an important stretch with a chance to gain ground on divisional foes. They play both the Devils and Islanders three times each before the calendar flips.
Travis Konecny is leading the way offensively with 20 goals and 53 points so far. 20-year-old rookie Matvei Michkov is tied for second with 13 goals and has contributed 32 points. Depth scoring for the Flyers has been evenly distributed, as the Flyers then have eight skaters with over 20 points.
The back end has been where the Flyers struggle. They enter the day 28th in the league allowing 3.41 goals per game. Sam Ersson has gotten most of the starts between the pipes. His 2.87 GAA is fairly respectable, but a .888 sv% sits 46th among qualified starters. Ivan Fedotov (.879) and Aleksei Kolosov (.870) have not faired much better as they get reps in the NHL.
Devils Starting a Streak
The Devils have not found the same success they had before the holiday break. New Jersey has lost seven of their last nine games (2-4-3), but have points in five straight. It is important that the Devils continue to build points while they look to get back to winning ways. They sit second in the Metro Division at 26-15-6 and still sit eight points above the postseason line.
The Devils come off a 4-3 overtime defeat to the Toronto Maple Leafs. Nico Hischier scored twice on a power-play that is humming at third (28.8%) in the league. He leads the team with 22 tallies. Jack Hughes paces the way with 55 points after adding three points on Thursday. Jesper Bratt is also having a career season with 52 points.
The Devils success has been determent on Jacob Markstrom. Markstrom has given stability in the pipes for the Devils since coming over from Calgary this offseason. He is third in the league with 21 wins and his 2.20 GAA would be a career best. The Devils have a back-to-back this weekend, so Markstrom will be expected to get a rest day. New Jersey also has a solid backup option in Jake Allen should they use Markstrom Sunday against Ottawa.
NHL Predictions
These two foes will renew their rivalry over the next two weeks. Last season, three meetings were decided by one goal; two of which went to overtime. Philadelphia can use this game as a measuring stick on whether they can have hope of a late-season push to a wild-card spot. New Jersey should see this as a must-win against a division rival that could point them back to their winning ways.
Devils and Flyers matchups are always exciting and brutal matchups regardless of the records. The Devils firepower matched with the Flyers struggling defensively is a recipe for a shootout type of game. The Flyers don’t quite have the same caliber offense at this stage, but they shouldn’t let the Devils turn it into a rout.
Prediction: 5-3 New Jersey
Prop Bets of the Night
The Devils are favored at -210 entering the day. We are picking a Devils win, but the Flyers at +170 to pull off the upset is a line worth thinking about. The over/under is set at 6.5 goals. With the Devils offense starting to heat up again and this being a heated rivalry, we like the over, especially if Markstrom doesn’t start.
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Main Photo: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images
The post NHL Predictions: January 18 Philadelphia Flyers Vs New Jersey Devils appeared first on Last Word On Hockey.