The New Jersey Devils can truly be a fun team to watch when they are clicking on all cylinders. Just last year, they turned heads as they cruised through the Metro into the playoffs where they were taken down by the always-impressive Carolina Hurricanes. Tonight, the Devils travel to Philadelphia for the first time this year to face a Flyers team that is supposedly an even match. Here are the numbers:
Odds
Puck Lines
- New Jersey -1.5 (+154)
- Philadelphia +1.5 (-185)
Over/Under
- Over 6.5 (-115)
- Under 6.5 (-105)
Money Line
- New Jersey (-148)
- Philadelphia (+124)
Miscellaneous
- Philadelphia First Period Goals Over .5 (-160)
- Race to 3 Goals – Philadelphia (+125)
- Travis Sanheim Over .5 Points (+110)
- Last Goal (Excl. OT) – Philadelphia (+125)
Predictions
If you like to watch fun hockey, tonight might be your night. The 2022-23 season proved that the current iteration of the New Jersey Devils can put on a genuinely exciting ice show. This has also carried over into the 2023-24 season, though perhaps less consistently. The Devils have been somewhat streaky this year, as most teams are, but they could be hitting their stride after the Thanksgiving Holiday. In the last two games, the Devils have tallied a whopping 12 goals, including a comeback win against the incredibly boring New York Islanders.
Indeed, the Devils will present a challenge to the Flyers that we didn’t see with those pesky Islanders. Instead of a slow, grinding style of play that seemingly shrinks the ice and results in little offense, the Devils will likely be fast and skillful.
No doubt, the Flyers’ defense has been a pleasant surprise this year. Though not perfect, the back end has kept most games low scoring affairs. Tonight will be a true test. Though the Over/Under jumps up to 6.5 from the measly 6.0 that we have seen in the past week or two, tonight might be a good time to expect a lot of goals from both teams. Here are our picks.
Picks
Race to 3 Goals – Philadelphia (+125)
- As we always say, some people use numbers, some people use their heart. Here at BSH, we most often read the numbers and the trends, but this bet is based purely on a hope. Who doesn’t want to watch some fun hockey tonight, and on that note, which two teams could give us a more exciting, hate-filled game than the Flyers and the Devils? Tonight, the Flyers find an offensive groove, and regardless of who wins the game, the Flyers are the first ones to reach three goals.
Philadelphia First Period Goals Over .5 (-160)
- As we mentioned in anticipation of Tuesday’s game against Carolina, the Ole’ Reliable seems to be getting a little cold. The Flyers offense hasn’t been quite as sharp in the first period, and thus, this bet once again failed to cash against the Hurricanes. With that said, the odds aren’t too bad at -160, and if this game indeed turns into a high-scoring shootout, we’d like to think that a first period goal is likely.
Philadelphia +1.5 (-185)
- While we haven’t been keeping a record of every game, it seems that the Flyers have registered as underdogs in all but a few matchups this year. Yes, everyone expects them to totally flop, despite having an 11-10-1 record. As it stands, the only awful Metropolitan Division team is the Columbus Blue Jackets, meaning that every divisional game will be a test. Thus, unless the Flyers start to stand out as true playoff contenders, we should expect more underdog odds for the foreseeable future. Tonight, the Flyers have a real opportunity to shatter the odds and get a win, but we hedge our bets with the Puck Line.
BSH Pick Record
10-12
Best of luck, and check back in on Saturday when the Flyers face the Pittsburgh Penguins!
