Two clubs that split their head-to-head series two wins each a year ago, the New Jersey Devils and the Philadelphia Flyers meet at the Wells Fargo Center in a Metropolitan Division showdown. This one will get going at 1 p.m. ET on Saturday, October 20 and it’s being shown live on NBC Sports Philadelphia.
New Jersey Devils at Philadelphia Flyers Odds
New Jersey (-105) is currently the underdog to Philadelphia (-115), and the oddsmakers have put the Over/Under (O/U) at an even 6 goals. The odds for betting the total sit at -120 for the over and +100 for the under.
New Jersey is 4-1 straight up (SU) and has earned 2.5 units for moneyline bettors this season. That win percentage, ranked second in the league so far in this young season, is a solid improvement over the 44-38 record from last year’s regular season campaign. Three of its contests have gone under the total, while two have gone over.
New Jersey has found the net on 24.0 percent of its power play opportunities thus far. That’s a good improvement from last year, when it was ranked 14th in the league by scoring on 21.0 percent of its extra-man opportunities. Its penalty kill has also gotten stronger since last year, as the team’s gone from successfully defending 81.2 percent of all opponent power plays (ranked 10th overall last year) to 90.0 percent this year.
New Jersey, as a collective unit, has been penalized 5.0 times per game in the 2018-19 season, a number that’s jumped some from the 3.8 penalties per game given up last year. After serving an average of 9.1 penalty minutes per game a season ago the team’s had to stave off opponent power plays for 11.2 minutes per outing this year.
With a .941 save percentage and 25.6 saves per game, Keith Kinkaid (4-1) has been the top option in goal for New Jersey this year.
Kyle Palmieri and Taylor Hall will both look to continue their strong seasons for the visiting Devils. Palmieri has eight points on seven goals and one assist this season while Hall has one goal and six assists to his credit through the early phase of the regular season.
Over on the other bench, Philadelphia is 3-4 straight up (SU) and has lost 0.8 units for moneyline bettors this year. Six of its games have gone over the total, while one has gone under and none have pushed. So far this year, the team is 1-2 SU as the home team.
Philadelphia has killed off a remarkable 74.1 percent of all penalties, compared to 76.3 percent a year ago (when it was ranked 26th overall). It’s scored on 19.2 percent of its power plays this year after converting on 19.9 percent (ranked 17th in league) last season.
Philadelphia players have been whistled for penalties 5.3 times per game this season, a number that has risen noticeably from the 3.6 penalties per game given up last year. After serving an average of 8.6 penalty minutes per game a season ago the team’s been forced to stave off opponent power plays for a whopping 11.7 minutes per contest this year.
Brian Elliott has stopped 26.4 shots per game as the top selection in goal for Philadelphia. Elliott has two wins and three losses and has recorded a pedestrian 4.04 goals against average and a fairly-weak .874 save percentage this year.
The Flyers offense will be led by Claude Giroux (three goals, seven assists).
New Jersey Devils at Philadelphia Flyers Free Picks
NHL Tip: SU Winner – Flyers, O/U – Under
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Notes
Betting Notes
After going 2-7 in games decided by a shootout last year, Philadelphia is off to a 1-0 start in shootouts this season. New Jersey went 5-4 in shootouts last year and has yet to participate in one this time around.
The total has gone over in four of Philadelphia’s last five games.
New Jersey has managed only 0.0 shot attempts per game over its last five road games while Philadelphia is averaging 28.3 shots per game over its last five at home.
New Jersey skaters recorded 22.6 hits per game last season, while the Flyers logged 21.6 hits per matchup.
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