Blackhawks vs Flyers NHL Odds, Picks, Predictions
Pictured: Carter Hart #79 of the Philadelphia Flyers. (Photo by China Wong/NHLI via Getty Images)
- The Flyers host the Blackhawks is a battle of overachieving teams.
- Both teams have been playing well and racking up wins of late, but our analyst feels one side is clearly better than the other in this matchup.
- Tony Sartori looks at the odds and offers up a betting prediction below.
Blackhawks vs. Flyers Odds
| Blackhawks Odds | +175 |
| Flyers Odds | -210 |
| Over/Under | 6 (-109/-109) |
| Time | 7 p.m. ET |
| TV | NBCSP |
| Odds via BetRivers. Get up-to-the-minute NHL Odds here. | |
The Metropolitan Division's Philadelphia Flyers host the Central Division's Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday evening. These clubs enter this contest in solid form as Chicago has won four of its past five games and Philadelphia has won eight of its past 10.
Here's a look at the odds, as well as our pick and prediction for the Chicago Blackhawks vs. Philadelphia Flyers.
Chicago Blackhawks
The Chicago Blackhawks have won four of their past five games and now is the time to sell high on a team that's overachieving. The tank for Connor Bedard was going swimmingly prior to this mini-stretch, and regression should hit this club sooner rather than later.
Possessing a brutal blue line, Chicago ranks third-to-last in the league in expected goals against per 60 minutes (xGA/60) at 5-on-5. Backing up this leaky defense is goaltender Petr Mrazek, who has been one of the worst netminders in hockey this season.
Through 17 starts, Mrazek is 4-10-1 with a .877 save percentage (SV%) and 4.17 goals against average (GAA). Based on his metrics, positive regression is unlikely as he ranks second-to-last among starting goaltenders in goals saved above expected per 60 minutes (GSAx/60) at 5-on-5.
Combining his poor play with the defense in front of him is a recipe for disaster, especially against a Flyers team that Mrazek has struggled against. Over his past two starts against Philadelphia, he is 0-2 with a .840 SV% and 4.06 GAA.
To make matters worse, goal support will come at a premium for the Hawks as they rank last in the league in expected goals for per 60 minutes (xGF/60) at 5-on-5. Chicago has put together a nice little run over the past two weeks, but reality will set back in soon.
Philadelphia Flyers
The Philadelphia Flyers also enter this contest in good form after winning eight of their past 10 games. Of those eight eight wins, seven have come by at least a two-goal margin, a trend likely to continue with Carter Hart slated to take the crease.
Through 32 appearances this season, Hart possesses a .907 SV% and 3.00 GAA. Based on his metrics, regression is unlikely as Hart ranks 14th among starting goaltenders in GSAx/60 at 5-on-5.
In two career starts against Chicago, Hart is 2-0 with a .944 SV% and 2.00 GAA. While the Flyers' 5-on-5 metrics are underwhelming, they still rank higher than the Hawks in both xGF/60 and xGA/60.
Blackhawks vs. Flyers Pick
Both of these teams have overperformed across the past few weeks, but the Flyers are the much better team in this matchup. They are strong offensively, defensively and boast the much better goaltender.
Add home ice into the mix and Philadelphia should have no issues taking care of business against the Hawks. Seven of the Flyers past eight wins have come by at least two goals while each of Chicago's past 14 (!!) losses have come by at least two goals.
Pick: Flyers -1.5 (+116) | Play Down to (+100)
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