NHL Handicapping: The Philadelphia Flyers responded well to head coach Craig Berube last year when he took over after the first week of play and ended up salvaging a playoff spot in the process. But when the Flyers made the playoffs they proved to be no match for the New York Rangers. The Broadway Blueshirts proved to be the superior team because of world class goaltender Henrik Lundqvist. You cannot survive the Stanley Cup Playoffs without quality defense and goal tending and that remains the Flyer biggest problem.
The Flyers ranked 26th in the NHL for goals against and 26th for shots allowed which is a deadly combination that more often than not costs teams a playoff spot. What has been alarming for the New York Rangers is their steep defensive fall thus far after a month and a half of action. New York ranked 19th for both shots allowed and goals against. The Rangers and Flyers will meet in one of the top matchups of the week. Let’s now take a look at the top games of the week.
NBC Wednesday Night Rivalry Night
The Philadelphia Flyers will visit the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden in a rematch of their playoff series from last spring. Face-off time is set for 8 p.m. ET. The Rangers have won 13 out of their last 20 games against the Flyers with just six out of their last 19 meetings going over the total. The Rangers have dominated this head to head series at MSG with 11 payouts in their last 12 games against the Flyers with just six out of the last 17 meetings at New York between the Rangers and Flyers going over the total.
CBC Hockey Night in Canada Saturday Doubleheader
The Toronto Maple Leafs will host the Detroit Red Wings at Air Canada Centre on Saturday night with face off set for 7 p.m. ET. Detroit has won six out of their last eight meetings with Toronto as just one out of the last five meetings between the Leafs and Wings have gone over the total. Detroit has won their last three visits to Toronto with just one out of the last five games between the Wings and Leafs at Toronto going under the total.
The Edmonton Oilers will host the Chicago Blackhawks at Rexall Place with face off time set for 10 p.m. ET. Chicago has won five out of their last six meetings with Edmonton with eight out of the last 10 meetings between the Oilers and Blackhawks going over the total.
Rogers Hometown Hockey Tour Sunday Night on CITY
The New York Rangers will host the Montreal Canadiens with faceoff time set for 7 p.m.ET in a rematch of the 2014 Eastern Conference Final. The Rangers have won five out of their last eight home games against Montreal with just two out of the last 10 meetings between the Habs and Rangers at MSG going over the total.
We like the Rangers Wednesday night.
