Month: September 2020

New York Islanders vs. Philadelphia Flyers odds, picks and best bets

NHL betting analysis around Tuesday’s New York Islanders vs. Philadelphia Flyers Game 5 matchup, with NHL odds, picks and best bets.

The New York Islanders carry the 3-1 Round 2 series lead into Game 5 against the Philadelphia Flyers Tuesday. Puck drop is set for 7 p.m. ET at Scotiabank Arena in the first of two Stanley Cup Playoffs games on the day. Below, we look at the Islanders-Flyers Game 5 betting odds and lines and make our NHL picks and best bets.

The Islanders can book a ticket to the Eastern Conference Final in Edmonton with a victory.

Islanders vs. Flyers: Projected starting goalies

Semyon Varlamov vs. Carter Hart

Varlamov will return to the crease for the potential series-clinching Game 5 after backup Thomas Greiss started and stopped 36 of 38 shots in the 3-2 Game 4 victory for New York. Varlamov stopped 26 of 27 shots in the Game 3 win, as he bounced back from allowing three goals on just 10 shots in Game 2. He owns a .935 save percentage and 1.69 goals against average since the NHL returned to play with the qualification round.

Hart also received a night off Sunday as backup Brian Elliott drew the start for the second half of the back-to-back. The 22-year-old netminder has allowed three goals in each of his three games in this series and owns a .901 SV%.

Place a legal NHL bet on this game or others in CO, IN, NJ and WV at BetMGM. Bet now!

Islanders vs. Flyers: Odds, picks and betting tips

Odds courtesy of BetMGM; access them at USA TODAY Sports for a full list. Odds last updated at 7:44 a.m. ET.

Prediction

Islanders 3, Flyers 2

Moneyline (ML)

The ISLANDERS (-125) are slight favorites, along with owning -1250 odds to advance to the Eastern Conference Final at some point within the next three games. They’re most likely to do it sooner than later and represent strong value with Game 5’s price.

The Flyers (+105) will be the official home team again Tuesday and will benefit from the advantage of final line changes. The Isles won 4-0 in Game 1 as the road team and took the Flyers to overtime in Game 2. Lean on Varlamov as the better goaltender in the series.

New to sports betting? A $10 on the Islanders to win would return a profit of $8.

Puck Line/Against the Spread (ATS)

The Flyers (-1.5, +230) are the official favorites by the puck line with the Islanders (+1.5, -295) heavily favored to lose by just a single goal or win outright.

New York has won twice in this series by multiple goals so there may be some value in the alternate line of Islanders -1.5 (+230), but the Flyers have their backs against the wall, and I’d rather play it safe with the moneyline and the Over/Under below. PASS.

Over/Under (O/U)

UNDER 5 (-110) is a fine play with a push likely to be the worst-case scenario. Three of the four games have played to a total of 5 or fewer goals.

Place a small wager here and a smaller wager on the exact total of 5 goals (+425).

Esten’s NHL betting record: 50-44-1

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5 Philadelphia Eagles make ESPN’s top-100 players of 2020 list

5 Philadelphia Eagles make ESPN’s top-100 players of 2020 list

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The 2020 NFL season kicks off a week from tomorrow and that means ESPN’s top-100 players of 2020 list is set to be released.

The Eagles have five players make the list this season, including all-world cornerback Darius Slay.

39. Carson Wentz
QB | Eagles
Age: 27
2019 rank: 31

Wentz has added 13 pounds of muscle, is as agile as ever and seems perfectly comfortable and in command of Doug Pederson’s system. He earned a good deal of respect in the locker room by carrying a depleted offense into the playoffs last season. Wentz should enjoy a statistical surge with an improved supporting cast around him. — Tim McManus

Signature stat: Last season, Wentz became the first 4,000-yard passer in NFL history to do so without a 500-yard wide receiver, per Elias Sports Bureau.

What they are saying: “I’ve been thoroughly impressed. He has come into camp in tremendous shape. He’s the leader of our football team. He is coaching up the young players, which is great to see.” — Doug Pederson, Eagles coach

2020 projection: 3,798 passing yards, 27 TDs, 9 INT (213 rushing yards)

48. Zach Ertz
TE | Eagles
Age: 29
2019 rank: 23

Ertz has more catches through the first seven seasons of his career (525) than any other tight end in NFL history, set the single-season record for most catches by a tight end in 2018 (116) and has led his team in receptions and receiving yards in each of the past four seasons. Yet he still doesn’t get the same respect offered to Travis Kelce and George Kittle. Ertz was double- and triple-teamed for much of last season due to Philly’s lack of weapons but should have a lot more room to work now that there are more playmakers on the outside to attract attention. — Tim McManus

49. Fletcher Cox
DT | Eagles
Age: 29
2019 rank: 29

Coming off foot surgery, Cox was not himself for much of last season. Now healthy, he should be back to his game-wrecking ways. It will help to have Javon Hargrave and Malik Jackson by his side — two gifted players in their own right. Their presence should drop the amount Cox is double-teamed at least a little bit. — Tim McManus

61. Darius Slay
CB | Eagles
Age: 29
2019 rank: 100

Since 2017, 36 defensive backs have seen at least 200 targets as the nearest defender in coverage. Only Marlon Humphrey and Stephon Gilmore (both 49.2%) have allowed a lower completion percentage than Slay (51.8%), per NFL Next Gen Stats. His efficiency dipped a bit last season, but he was often asked to play straight-up man against the opponent’s best receiver. The Eagles’ scheme should be easier on him, and he’ll get a boost from being in a new environment following a rocky relationship with Detroit coach Matt Patricia. — Tim McManus

71. Lane Johnson
OT | Eagles
Age: 30
2019 rank: 95

Johnson has battled through some injuries in recent seasons but remains arguably the best right tackle in the game. Since 2016, when Doug Pederson became head coach, the Eagles are 36-17 with Johnson and 6-11 without him in the starting lineup. — Tim McManus

Eagles center Jason Kelce landed on the list of snubs after a 2019 first-team All-Pro selection.

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“He just fits everything about us, our …

“He just fits everything about us, our fabric and who we are,” Spoelstra said. “These are extreme circumstances, they’re not easy for anybody. And you need a level of discipline, of structure, and camaraderie. Jimmy, despite what, probably, the narrative is out there, he’s a very likable guy in the locker room, and I think that helps in a setting like this.”

Knicks owner James Dolan has another …

Knicks owner James Dolan has another chief adviser as MSG Sports hired David Hopkinson on Monday to oversee its sports properties. In a press release, the Garden said Hopkinson has “more than 25 years of diverse sports industry experience.” He was named executive vice president of MSG Sports in charge of its “strategic vision” and president of team business operations.