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The Philadelphia Flyers visit the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday to open the NHL season. Puck drop from Nationwide Arena is set for 7 p.m. ET (ESPN+). Below, we analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Flyers vs. Blue Jackets odds, and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
Philadelphia finished 31-38-13 with 75 total points to land 7th in the Metropolitan Division. It was coach John Tortorella’s 1st season with the team after coaching the Columbus Blue Jackets. Philadelphia’s main problem last year was scoring with just 222 goals to rank 29th of 32 teams.
Columbus ended last season with a dismal 25-48-9 record, with 59 points, good for 8th in the Metropolitan Division. The Blue Jackets, led by coach Brad Larsen in his 2nd year, struggled across the board last season with 214 goals for (30th of 32) and 330 goals against (31st of 32).
Both teams look to get on a better path this season and it starts Thursday night.
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Flyers at Blue Jackets odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Thursday at 11:01 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Flyers +100 (bet $100 to win $100) | Blue Jackets -120 (bet $120 to win $100)
- Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Flyers +1.5 (-225) | Blue Jackets -1.5 (+180)
- Over/Under (O/U): 6.5 (O: -115 | U: -105)
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Flyers at Blue Jackets projected goalies
Carter Hart (22-23-10, 2.94, 90.7%) vs. Elvis Merzlikins (7-18-2, 4.23, 87.6%, 2022-2023)
Drafted in the 2nd round in 2016, the Alberta-born Flyers keeper has an 84-84-26 career record. The 25-year-old was a bright spot of the struggling Phily team last season with a near .500 record while allowing less than 3 goals per game.
Merzlikins is coming off a troubled season dealing with injuries. With a 7-18-2 record last year, his career record (55-62-22) dropped below .500. His 87.6 save percentage was the worst of his career while his 4.23 average goals allowed were more than a full goal difference compared to his previous career worst.
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Flyers at Blue Jackets picks and predictions
Prediction
Flyers 4, Blue Jackets 3
Moneyline
BET FLYERS +100.
Both teams have missed the playoffs for 3 straight years and neither team made a dramatic offseason push to get much better. In the battle of goaltenders, Philly has the advantage and even playing on the road to open the season, we should see that play out. The Flyers have had success over the Jackets in recent years and that will be no different on Thursday.
Puck line/Against the spread
PASS.
There is far more money to be made on a Flyers victory than there is on the Flyers spread of 1.5. While Merzlinkins has a lot to prove in this opening game and the Philly attack will hound him, taking the Philly moneyline is much more profitable.
BET OVER 6.5 (-115).
Neither team has an All-Star caliber goalie which will create problems for each side’s defense. The Jackets ended last year as the 31st-worst defense for goals allowed while the Flyers were not too far behind ranking 22nd in that category. Expect a fast-paced game with the energy of opening night that will result in an offensive affair.
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