The Philadelphia Flyers (32-20-7) host the Columbus Blue Jackets (30-18-12) Tuesday at Wells Fargo Center for a 7 p.m. ET puck drop. The two Metropolitan Division rivals are battling it out for Eastern Conference playoff position. We analyze the Blue Jackets-Flyers sports betting odds and lines, while providing NHL betting tips and picks around this matchup.
Blue Jackets at Flyers: Projected starting goalies
Elvis Merzlikins vs. Carter Hart
Merzlikins is 0-2-2 across his last four outings after winning eight straight games. He is 12-8-6 with a .928 save percentage and 2.20 goals against average through 26 starts and two relief appearances.
Hart took a loss against the Tampa Bay Lightning Saturday while allowing four goals on 23 shots. The sophomore is 17-12-3 with a .906 SV% and 2.59 GAA through 32 starts and three relief appearances.
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Blue Jackets at Flyers: Odds, picks and betting tips
Odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full list.
Odds last updated Tuesday at 9:25 a.m. ET.
Prediction
Flyers 2, Blue Jackets 1
Moneyline (ML)
The Blue Jackets (+125) have dropped five straight games but still hold a one-point edge over the FLYERS (-150) in the standings. Philly is 6-3-1 across its last 10 games and 19-5-4 on home ice for the season; Columbus is a lackluster 12-7-9 on the road. The Jackets took a 4-3 shootout loss against the Devils in New Jersey Sunday, while the Flyers lost 5-3 at the Lightning Saturday.
The Flyers lead the season series 2-0 with a 7-4 (Oct. 26) home win and 3-2 (Nov. 27) win on the road. The two sides play an ultra-important home-and-home Tuesday and Thursday. Back the better-rested home side, as Philly has been in the all-around better form of late.
New to sports betting? A $10 wager on the Flyers to win would return a profit of $6.67.
Puck Line/Against the Spread (ATS)
Both teams have been strong against the spread and they’re both in the stronger half of their respective location split. The BLUE JACKETS (+1.5, -227) should be backed with 1 goal of insurance in the event of a loss. They’re 33-27 ATS overall and 19-9 on the road. The Flyers are also 19-9 ATS at home.
Columbus has gone to overtime or a shootout in three of its last four games and five of its last nine.
Over/Under (O/U)
Take the UNDER 5.5 (-125) with the expectation of two previously hot goaltenders getting back to form following rough outings over the weekend. Hart has a GAA of just 1.65 on home ice, while Merzlikins leads the NHL with five shutouts.
Esten’s NHL betting record: 235-224
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