The Wells Fargo Center is the site for a divisional tilt as the New Jersey Devils take on the Philadelphia Flyers. NBC Sports Philadelphia will air the matchup, and the action gets going at 1 p.m. ET on Saturday, January 20.
New Jersey Devils vs. Philadelphia Flyers Odds
New Jersey is 24-20 straight up (SU) and has earned moneyline bettors 6.8 units this year. 25 of its outings have gone over the total, while 18 have gone under and just one has pushed. The Devils are 11-11 SU as an away team in 2017-18.
New Jersey has converted on 21.6 percent of its power play opportunities this year, a mark that places them in the top-10 among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked ninth overall, and it’s successfully killed off 83.0 percent of all penalties.
The Devils, as a collective unit, have been called for penalties 4.0 times per game overall this season, and 3.2 per game over its last five road outings. The team has been forced to stave off opponent power plays just 7.0 minutes per contest over their last five road games.
Averaging 29.3 saves per game with a .915 save percentage, Cory Schneider (18-15-6) has been the top option in goal for New Jersey this year. If head coach John Hynes chooses to rest him, however, New Jersey could roll with Keith Kinkaid (7-6-2), who has a .898 save percentage and 3.09 goals against average this year.
The visiting Devils have relied on Taylor Hall and Jesper Bratt this year. Hall (47 points) has tallied 17 goals and 30 assists, and has recorded multiple points in 14 different games. Bratt has 11 goals and 18 assists to his nameand has registered at least one point in 20 games.
On the other side of the rink, Philadelphia is 21-24 straight up (SU) and has lost 5.5 units for moneyline bettors this year. 24 of its games have gone over the total, while 19 have gone under and just two have pushed. The team’s 12-12 SU at home this year.
The Flyers have converted on 21.2 percent of their power play opportunities this year, a mark that places it in the top-10 among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 28th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 75.0 percent of all opponent power plays.
Philadelphia players have been penalized only 3.7 times per game in total this season, 3.2 per game over their past five contests total, and 3.2 per game over their last five at home. The team’s had to kill penalties just 6.4 minutes per game over their last five outings.
Brian Elliott (26.6 saves per game) has been the primary selection in goal for the Flyers. Elliott has 17 wins, 19 losses, and seven OT losses and has maintained a pedestrian 2.84 goals against average and a fairly-weak .906 save percentage this year.
Claude Giroux (14 goals, 40 assists) will pace the attack for the home team.
New Jersey Devils at Philadelphia Flyers Betting Predictions
Predictions: SU Winner – Flyers, O/U – Under
Notes
Betting Notes
Over Philadelphia’s last ten outings, seven of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 5-2 in those games).
The Devils are 7-9 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 10-15 in games where they’re in the box for fewer than 10 total penalty minutes.
Two of New Jersey’s last ten games have ended in a shootout. The team is 0-2 in those games and 3-4 overall in shootouts this season.
New Jersey may have an advantage if this one comes down to the wire. The team’s 12-10 in games decided by one goal, while Philadelphia is only 6-13 in such games.
Philadelphia is ranked 15th this season with 9.5 giveaways per game. That figure has trended lower lately, however, as it’s averaged 8.1 giveaways over its last 10 games and 7.4 giveaways over its last five.
New Jersey skaters have averaged 7.6 giveaways over its last five home games, right in line with its season average of 7.9 giveaways per game (the eighth-fewest in the league).
