Sunday NHL Odds, Picks, Prediction: Philadelphia Flyers vs. New York Rangers Betting Preview
Jared Silber/NHLI via Getty Images. Pictured: Igor Shesterkin.
- The Rangers are huge favorites on Sunday night at home against the Flyers.
- New York is in need of a bounce-back win after losing to the Islanders on Friday.
- Tony Sartori breaks down the matchup and makes his betting pick below.
Flyers vs. Rangers Odds
| Flyers Odds | +245 |
| Rangers Odds | -310 |
| Over/Under | 6 (-105/-115) |
| Time | 7 p.m. ET |
| TV | NHL Network |
| Odds via BetMGM. Get up-to-the-minute NHL Odds here. | |
We have a Metropolitan Division tilt that sees the seventh-place Philadelphia Flyers travel to north on Sunday to take on the second-place New York Rangers. This is the third meeting between these two teams this season, with the Rangers having won both of the first two meetings.
Will the Rangers take care of business once again or can the Flyers pull off a big upset?
Flyers Playing For Next Season
The Flyers enter this contest on the second half of a back-to-back, having lost 6-3 to the Maple Leafs on Saturday night. The game against Toronto was yet another big loss for the Flyers, who have now lost by two or more goals in five of their last eight games.
Philadelphia has officially mailed it in for the season, as they're rotating in young guys to see who can make an impact next season. I do not expect this team to put up much of a fight the rest of the way, and should be used as a good fade option for the remainder of the season.
This season was a tough one for Philadelphia as they rank just 27th in the league in five-on-five expected goals per 60 minutes (xGF) and 30th in five-on-five expected goals against per 60 minutes (xGA). Since they are on the second half of a back-to-back, we can expect to see Martin Jones between the pipes for the Flyers.
Martin Jones has had a tough go as the Flyers' backup goaltender this season, as he's just 8-17 with a 0.900 save percentage while allowing 3.40 goals per game. Jones has allowed four or more goals in each of his last two starts, posting a mere 0.875 save percentage in those games.
Shesterkin Gives Rangers Big Advantage
The Rangers will look to bounce back following Friday's 3-0 loss to the Islanders. Going against Philadelphia is a great spot for the Rangers to get a bounce-back win, especially at home where they have not lost two straight games since mid-December.
Igor Shesterkin is the projected starting goaltender for the Rangers and is almost always a good bet. This season, Shesterkin ranks first amongst starting goaltenders in five-on-five goals saved above expected per 60 minutes (GSAx) and boasts a league-leading 0.934 save percentage.
Spectacularly, his numbers further improve when playing at Madison Square Garden as his save percentage jumps up to 0.940 on home ice. As a whole, the Rangers are much better at Madison Square Garden as they are 14-5 over their last 19 home games.
Not only will the Rangers have the goaltending advantage in this matchup, but they will have a significantly better lineup in front of him as well. This season, the Rangers rank higher than Philadelphia in both five-on-five expected goals per 60 minutes (xGF) and five-on-five expected goals against per 60 minutes.
Flyers vs. Rangers Pick
There is no need to overthink this game. The Rangers have the goaltending advantage, the analytical advantage, the home-ice advantage, and have a better roster.
Philadelphia is quite frankly a mess whenever they step on the ice, and I find It hard to believe they will be one of the few teams to have an answer for Igor Shesterkin.
Pick: New York -1.5 (-110) | Play up to (-120)
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