Facing each other for the fourth and final time this season, the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Philadelphia Flyers clash at the Wells Fargo Center for a Metro Division tilt. NBC Sports Philadelphia will broadcast the matchup, which gets underway at 7 p.m. ET on Thursday, March 15.
Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Philadelphia Flyers Odds
With a moneyline of -120, Philadelphia heads into the contest as the favorite. The line for Columbus sits at +100, and the oddsmakers have set the Over/Under (O/U) at 6 goals. The odds for betting the total stand at -125 for the under and +105 for the over.
Columbus is 37-33 straight up (SU) and has lost 2.5 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through 70 regular season matches, 37 of its games have gone under the total, while 32 have gone over and just one has pushed. As the road team in 2017-18, the Jackets are 14-20 SU.
Columbus has converted on just 15.2 percent of its power play chances this year, a figure that’s ranked 30th in the NHL. Its penalty kill is ranked 25th in the league, and the team’s successfully killed off only 77.5 percent of its penalties.
Columbus, as a collective unit, has been sent to the penalty box just 3.0 times per game during the 2017-18 season, 2.8 per game over its past five total, and 3.4 per game over its last five games as the visiting team. The team’s been forced to defend opponent power plays just 7.0 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
With a .921 save percentage and 28.2 saves per game, Sergei Bobrovsky (30-26-5) has been the top option in goal for Columbus this year. If Columbus decides to rest him, however, they may turn to Joonas Korpisalo (7-8 record, .902 save percentage, 3.19 goals against average).
Artemi Panarin and Seth Jones will both spearhead the attack for the visiting Blue Jackets. Panarin (61 points) is up to 21 goals and 40 assists, and has recorded multiple points 12 times. Jones has 14 goals and 34 assists to his creditand has registered a point in 34 games.
Philadelphia is 35-35 straight up (SU) and has lost 3.4 units for moneyline bettors this year. 35 of its contests have gone over the total, while 33 have gone under and just two have pushed. This year, the team is 17-18 SU as the home team.
Philadelphia has converted on 20.1 percent of its power play chances this season, a mark that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 30th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 74.9 percent of all opponent power plays.
Philadelphia players have been whistled for penalties 3.5 times per game in total this season, and 2.8 per game over their last five home outings. The team’s been forced to defend opponent power plays just 6.9 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Brian Elliott has denied 26.3 shots per game as the top choice in goal for Philadelphia. Elliott has 22 wins, 19 losses, and seven OT losses to his credit and has registered a fairly-weak .908 save percentage and 2.72 goals against average this season.
The home team offense will be led by Claude Giroux (25 goals, 57 assists).
Columbus Blue Jackets at Philadelphia Flyers Betting Predictions
Prediction: SU Winner – Flyers, O/U – Over
Notes
Betting Notes
The total has gone under in four of Philadelphia’s last five games.
Columbus has attempted 34.1 shots per game overall this season (the second-most in the NHL), and 27.0 in its last five road outings.
The Blue Jackets are 11-13 SU when they serve more penalty minutes than their opponent while the Flyers are 10-14 SU in games where they serve more minutes than their opponent.
Two of Philadelphia’s last ten games have gone to a shootout. The team is 1-1 in those games and 2-6 overall in shootouts this year.
Philadelphia skaters have created 5.0 takeaways per game over its last five home games, a drop-off from its season average of 5.8 takeaways per game (ranked 26th in the NHL).
Columbus has averaged 2.8 goals per game overall this year, but is averaging 4.2 per match up in their last five games (the team’s a perfect 5-0 SU during that span)
Columbus skaters have managed 5.2 takeaways per game over its last five road games, a drop-off from its season average of 7.4 takeaways per game (ranked 13th overall).
Columbus may have an advantage if this one comes down to the wire. The team’s an impressive 20-11 in one-goal games, while Philadelphia is 15-19 in such games.
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