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The Philadelphia Flyers (0-0-0) take on the Vancouver Canucks (0-0-1) Friday. Puck drop from Rogers Arena is set for 10 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s NHL odds around the Flyers vs. Canucks odds and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
Season series: First meeting; Flyers won 2-0 last year
The Flyers open their season Friday night after they barely missed the playoffs in a surprising surge last season. That is not expected this year, as they’re going with a bit of a youth movement centered around LW Matvei Michkov, last year’s first-round pick.
The Canucks lost a wild one, 6-5, in overtime against the Calgary Flames Wednesday. The Canucks were up 4-1 after 1 period and gave up 4 consecutive goals before tying it with 1:37 to go. G Arturs Silovs saved just 20 of 26 shots in the defeat. RW Brock Boeser, who had a career-high 40 goals last year, lit the lamp twice.
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Flyers at Canucks odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list of NHL odds. Lines last updated at 1:39 p.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Flyers +150 (bet $100 to win $150) | Canucks -185 (bet $185 to win $100)
- Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Flyers +1.5 (-165) | Canucks -1.5 (+140)
- Over/Under (O/U): 6.5 (O: +100 | U: -120)
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Flyers at Canucks projected goalies
Samuel Ersson (23-19-7, 2.82 GAA, .890 SV%, 4 SO in 23-24) vs. Kevin Lankinen (11-6-0, 2.82 GAA, .908 SV%, 1 SO in ’23-24).
The 24-year-old Ersson enters the season as the unquestioned starter after the team let Carter Hart walk. Over 63 games in his 2-year career, Ersson is 29-22-7 with a 2.87 GAA and .892 SV%. Ersson stopped 18 of 19 in a 4-1 win over Vancouver in December.
Lankinen had a solid year backing up Juuse Saros in Nashville last year. He hasn’t faced the Flyers since April 2022, when he stopped 33 of 34 shots in a 3-1 victory while with the Chicago Blackhawks.
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Flyers at Canucks picks and predictions
Prediction
Canucks 4, Flyers 3
Moneyline
The Flyers have won 4 of the last 5 meetings, but this Canucks team is emerging. Their season-opening loss surely left a poor taste in coach Rick Tocchet’s mouth, and he’ll have the boys fired up for this one. That said, -185 is a too expensive.
Instead, take a look at QUINN HUGHES OVER 0.5 ASSISTS (-135). He had 2 helpers in the first game and 75 in 82 games last season.
Puck line/Against the spread
I don’t like the puck line, either. I don’t trust Vancouver to win by multiple goals, and I’m not paying -165 for the Flyers to not give up an empty-netter.
Instead, give me BROCK BOESER OVER 2.5 SHOTS (+115). He had 3 SOG in Game 1 and 2 goals. He’ll be eager to fire.
Over/Under
The Over is just 2-8 in the last 10 meetings, but the presence of Vancouver’s backup tendy should help this one cash. The Canucks were buzzing early in their first game with 4 goals in the first period. At even money, I’ll take a shot on them getting the necessary 4 or 5 goals to cash the OVER 6.5 (+100).
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For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.
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