The New Jersey Devils (18-24-10) pay a visit to the Philadelphia Flyers (29-17-7) Thursday at Wells Fargo Center. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET. We analyze the Devils-Flyers sports betting odds and lines, while providing NHL betting tips and picks around this matchup.
Devils at Flyers: Projected starting goalies
MacKenzie Blackwood vs. Brian Elliott
Blackwood enters Thursday 15-12-7 for the season with a .904 save percentage and 3.00 goals against average. He allowed five goals on 30 shots and took a shootout loss against the Nashville Predators in his last start, Jan. 30.
Elliott continues as the Flyers’ primary starter in place of the injured Carter Hart. The veteran is 4-0-1 across his last five games and is 13-5-4 on the season. He owns a .903 SV% and 2.81 GAA following a 16-save shutout against the Detroit Red Wings Monday.
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Devils at Flyers: Odds, picks and betting tips
Odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full list.
Odds last updated at 9:15 a.m. ET.
Prediction
Flyers 4, Devils 1
Moneyline (ML)
The FLYERS (-222) are chalky favorites Thursday, but we’ll take what we can get from the books for one of Thursday’s safest plays. Philly is 7-2-1 across its last 10 games and enters the day on a two-game winning streak while pushing for a playoff spot. The Devils (+180) are 3-4-3 over their last 10 games, on a three-game losing skid and buried in last place in the division.
The Flyers have won both head-to-head meetings this season, winning 4-0 at home Oct. 9 and 4-3 in a shootout on the road Nov. 1.
Puck Line/Against the Spread (ATS)
The Devils (+1.5, -149) have gone to overtime or a shootout in four straight games, but they managed to win just one of those contests. Their previous four losses had all been by a margin of at least three goals. Back the FLYERS (-1.5, +125) to win by at least 2 goals. Philly is 31-22 against the spread overall and 18-8 on home ice. New Jersey is just 24-28 ATS overall and 11-15 on the road.
Over/Under (O/U)
Back the UNDER 5.5 (+120) with the Flyers handling the bulk of the scoring Thursday. Philly is 4-6 against the Over/Under across its last 10 games and New Jersey is 6-4 over the same sample. The Devils totaled just 5 regulation goals over their last three road games.
Esten’s NHL betting record: 205-192
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