The Philadelphia Flyers (5-2-1) are hosting the rival New York Islanders (3-4-0) for a back-to-back weekend set beginning Saturday with a 7 p.m. ET puck drop at Wells Fargo Center. Below, we analyze the Islanders-Flyers NHL odds and lines, with picks and predictions.
Islanders at Flyers: Odds, spread and lines
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 1:05 p.m. ET.
- Money line: Islanders +105 (bet $100 to win $105) | Flyers -125 (bet $118 to win $100)
- Against the spread/ATS: Islanders +1.5 (-275) | Flyers -1.5 (+220)
- Over/Under: 5.5 (O: +100 | U: -120)
Islanders at Flyers: Projected starting goalies
Semyon Varlamov (3-2-0, .936 SV%, 1.82 GAA) vs. Carter Hart (3-2-1, .896 SV%, 3.61 GAA)
After starting the season with three straight wins, including back-to-back shutouts, Varlamov dropped back-to-back outings against the Washington Capitals with a total of 8 goals allowed on 59 shots. He posted a .935 save percentage with a shutout in five playoff games against the Flyers last summer.
Hart showed some correction his last time out in holding the New Jersey Devils to 1 goal on 34 shots. He posted a .905 SV% over six games in the playoff loss to the Isles in the Toronto bubble.
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Islanders at Flyers: Odds, lines, predictions and picks
Prediction
Flyers 3, Islanders 1
Money line (ML)
The FLYERS (-125) are the play coming off of Hart’s best game of the season and with Varlamov trending in the wrong direction. Both teams are at the bottom of the league in Corsi For percentage at 5-on-5 with the Isles and Flyers posting rates of 46.48% and 43.03%, respectively.
The Isles still manage 50.78% of the full strength scoring chances in their games, but Hart can make up for those. It was then-backup Thomas Greiss who was the biggest reason for the Isles’ 2019-20 playoff win over the Flyers.
Philadelphia is 10th in the NHL with a power-play percentage of 26.92. The Islanders serve 10.4 penalty minutes per game and are 17th with a penalty-kill percentage of 77.27.
Against the spread (ATS)
Add the value of FLYERS -1.5 (+220) for Philly to win by 2 or more goals. The Flyers have started well, especially offensively, and will be looking to avenge their second-round loss to the Isles in Toronto.
New York’s 9 even-strength goals are the fewest of all teams with at least five games played. Philadelphia is fourth in even-strength goals with 21 through eight games.
Over/Under (O/U)
Back the UNDER 5.5 (-120) with Hart getting back on track his last time out, and Varlamov previously showing his best form. Additionally, New York plays to an average of just 4.43 total goals per game to rank 29th in the NHL.
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