The Columbus Blue Jackets (30-19-12) host the Philadelphia Flyers (33-20-7) Thursday at Nationwide Arena as the two Metropolitan Division rivals meet for the second half of their home-and-home. Puck drop is set for 7 p.m. ET. We analyze the Flyers-Blue Jackets sports betting odds and lines, while providing NHL betting tips and picks around this matchup.
Flyers at Blue Jackets: Projected starting goalies
Brian Elliott vs. Elvis Merzlikins
Elliott is 14-7-4 with a 2.90 goals against average (GAA), an .898 save percentage and two shutouts this season. He lost his last start, allowing four goals on 24 shots in a 5-3 loss at the New York Islanders Feb. 11. He’s 2-2 with a 2.69 GAA with an .881 SV% in four February starts.
Merzlikins is 0-3-2 across his last five games, and he gave up four goals on 12 shots in the meeting with the Flyers Tuesday. He is 12-9-6 on the season with a .924 SV% and 2.29 GAA.
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Flyers at Blue Jackets: Odds, picks and betting tips
Odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full list.
Odds last updated at 2:05 p.m. ET.
Prediction
Flyers 4, Blue Jackets 3
Moneyline (ML)
The FLYERS (+105) ran the Jackets (-125) out of town Tuesday with a 5-1 victory at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia. The win gave the Flyers a 3-0 edge in the head-to-head season series as the two sides head into their final meeting of 2019-20.
The Jackets are 18-11-3 at home for the season, while the Flyers are just 13-15-3 on the road, but Philly has climbed into a Metro Division playoff spot, and Columbus has dropped six straight to slip from the wild-card picture. Back the visitors with the added incentive of a plus-money return.
New to sports betting? A $10 bet on the Flyers to win in regulation, overtime or a shootout returns a profit of $10.50.
Puck Line/Against the Spread (ATS)
PASS on the spread, as we like the visitors to win outright with far more profitable odds. The Flyers are getting odds of just -278 to cover a spread of +1.5 and either lose by just 1 goal or win outright. Philly is 35-25 against the spread overall but just 15-16 on the road, while Columbus is 33-28 ATS overall and 14-18 at home.
Two of the Flyers’ three victories over the Jackets this season came by multi-goal margins. The alternate puck line of Flyers -1.5 (+280) offers value, but I’ll stick with the ML play.
Over/Under (O/U)
Two of the three head-to-head meetings have topped Thursday’s goal projection of 5.5. Back the OVER 5.5 (-106). The Flyers likely won’t replicate the 5 goals they scored Tuesday, but I like the Blue Jackets offense to be a little more involved on home ice.
Esten’s NHL betting record: 242-231
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