NHL Odds, Preview, Prediction: Flyers vs Panthers (Thursday, March 7)
(Photo by Rich Graessle/NHLI via Getty Images) Pictured: Sergei Bobrovsky
Flyers vs. Panthers Odds
| Flyers Odds | +185 |
| Panthers Odds | -225 |
| Over / Under | 6.5 +100 / -112 |
Here's everything you need to know about the Philadelphia Flyers vs. Florida Panthers on Thursday, March 7 – our expert NHL prediction and pick.
On Thursday, the Philadelphia Flyers take on the Florida Panthers in what will be the second of three battles between these teams this season. When they met in Sunrise a month ago, Philadelphia emerged with a hard-fought 2-1 victory.
Let's dig into the NHL odds and make a Flyers vs. Panthers prediction and pick.
Since winning their first four games after the All-Star break, the Flyers have begun to struggle again, posting a 3-4-2 record. However, their underlying numbers remain impressive.
Over this stretch, Philadelphia's 53.50 xGF% at 5-on-5 is the NHL's eight-best mark. The Flyers' 2.80 xGF/60 at 5-on-5 ranks sixth-best in the league and their 2.43 xGA/60 at 5-on-5 ranks 13th. Philadelphia's PDO across this span is 0.967, which is second-worst in the NHL. Thus, it's not as if the Flyers' play has slipped dramatically. Rather, they have fallen victim to some unfortunate puck luck.
Still, Philadelphia holds the third spot in the Metropolitan Division, four points ahead of the New York Islanders, who have two games in hand. However, now that the Flyers' trade deadline sell-off is underway, they may be headed toward a difficult finish to the season.
Philadelphia's defensive game hasn't been as sharp of late, and on Wednesday, it traded defenseman Sean Walker to the Colorado Avalanche for future assets. With others banged up on the back end and Travis Konecny potentially still out of the lineup, the Flyers are in a tough spot Thursday.
As we head into the home stretch, the Panthers sit atop the NHL standings and look like the 2024 Stanley Cup favorites. Florida's up-and-down start has become a distant memory as it has won 12 of its past 13 games and is 25-4-2 since Dec. 23.
Over this stretch, the Panthers' 2.77 xGF/60 at 5-on-5 ranks fifth in the NHL and their 2.14 xGA/60 at 5-on-5 is the league's second-best mark. With a 56.44 xGF% at 5-on-5, Florida consistently controls the puck and drives play at even strength.
Additionally, the Panthers have received excellent goaltending this season from Sergei Bobrovsky and Anthony Stolarz. Florida's .925 all-situations team save percentage since Dec. 23 is the NHL's highest. Bobrovsky, in particular, has been superb of late and has gone 11 straight starts without allowing more than two goals.
On Wednesday, the Panthers bolstered their already loaded top-six by acquiring Vladimir Tarasenko from the Ottawa Senators. Tarasenko, who has 17 goals this season, should slot in on the right side of Florida's second line as soon as Thursday.
Flyers vs. Panthers
Betting Pick & Prediction
This is a game between teams headed in opposite directions. I believe John Tortorella will have his team ready to play despite the difficult circumstances, but the talent disparity in this game is significant. Additionally, Florida should receive a boost from the arrival of Tarasenko, who should slide in rather seamlessly.
I'm expecting the feisty Flyers to hang around, but I think Florida has too much talent to squander the two points. I was expecting the Panthers to be priced at around -260, but with the moneyline at only -225, I'll back the home team in an advantageous spot.
Pick: Florida Panthers Moneyline
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