NHL Hockey Free Predictions: Flyers vs Bruins – Game One
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Team Records:
Philadelphia: 41-35-6
Boston: 39-30-13
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Series Is Tied 0-0
Sportsbook odds:
Flyers: +135 +1.5 (-235) Over 5 (-140)
Bruins: -155 -1.5 (+195) Under 5 (+120)
Flyers vs. Bruins Preview
Philadelphia and Boston huh?
The only other team happier than these two teams is the Pittsburgh Penguins who have only the sixth, seventh and eighth seeds left on their path to a third straight Stanley Cup Final. This should be a good series between two teams that are as confident as they have been at any point this season.
The Philadelphia Flyers dispatched of the New Jersey Devils in very impressive style. No Carter, no Gagne and no Ian Laperriere – no problem.
The Flyers had Mike Richards, Claude Giroux, Chris Pronger and Brian Boucher to step up for them in a big way.
Richards had eight points in Round 1, Claude Giroux had four goals and two assists, Chris Pronger was stellar on defense while chipping in offensively as well, and goaltender Brian Boucher held his own with an excellent 1.97 goals against average and .940 save percentage.
The Boston Bruins are the other surprise of this year’s playoffs. Memories of a pedestrian regular season were erased with their series win against heavily favoured Buffalo.
The 30th ranked regular season offense looked decent with David Krejci and Mark Recchi chipping in five points apiece and Miroslav Satan scoring clutch goals.
The offense will get a boost with the return of the Bruins’ leading scorer over the past three seasons Marc Savard. Tuukka Rask sported a 2.18 goals against average and a .927 save percentage in the first round series.
The first round is over and now it is time to focus on the next round. Philadelphia was 2-1-1 against Boston during the regular season, but in all of those games, Carter and Gagne were a factor.
The post season is usually all about goaltending and special teams. Philadelphia had a great power play and good penalty killing during the regular season and those trends have continued in the playoffs.
The Flyers scored eight power play goals and gave up just four goals in 32 short handed opportunities against. The Bruins were horrid on the power play and terrific on the penalty kill during the regular season but ranked fourth in the first round on the PP and were a perfect 19 for 19 on the penalty kill.
With both teams’ special teams clicking, Game 1 and the series for that matter should be determined between the pipes. Although Brian Boucher was superb against New Jersey, the wheels have to fall off don’t they? Tuukka Rask is a stud and there is no reason to think that he will falter anytime soon.
Home ice has been bigger for these teams than any other teams in the playoffs so far. Neither lost at home in the first round. Expect that trend to continue especially with the Flyers having to replace Carter and Gagne.
Boston is a good team – seriously, and should be able to generate enough offense to take a 1-0 series lead.
NHL Betting Trends:
PHILADELPHIA is 5-14 ATS (-10.7 Units) revenging a home loss versus opponent this season.
PHILADELPHIA is 16-22 ATS (-13.8 Units) revenging a loss versus opponent this season.
BOSTON is 19-10 ATS (+5.8 Units) after a division game this season.
BOSTON is 43-45 ATS (+43.0 Units) in all games this season.
BOSTON is 9-14 ATS (-13.2 Units) in home games second half of the season this season.
Pick: Boston Bruins
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