NHL Hockey Betting: Philadelphia Flyers at New York Rangers
The Philadelphia Flyers are in a very tenuous position. They’ve got 52 points and are just one point out of the second wildcard spot in the Eastern Conference. They’ve got two problems, however. The first is that they’re 11 points back of the New York Rangers who are currently in fourth place in the Metropolitan Division with 63 points and for now have a lock on the top wildcard spot. That’s problem #1. Problem #2 is that they’ve got a ton of teams behind them looking to take their spot. Toronto is currently one point ahead of them and the Leafs have been playing great hockey (6-2-2 L10). Behind them there’s Boston (52 points), Florida (50 points), Carolina and New Jersey (49 points each) and even Buffalo, Tampa Bay and the Islanders with 47 points are within striking distance. They’re 3-5-2 in their last ten games and face a tough test on Wednesday as they head to Madison Square Garden to take on the New York Rangers.
The Rangers have been playing fairly well winning 3 straight and 6 of 10. Unfortunately, they’re in a freak show of a division where that just won’t get it done. They’re two points back of the Pittsburgh Penguins (7-3 L10 winning 4 straight), 5 back of Columbus (just 5-5-0 L10 but that 16 game winning streak was pretty good) and 7 back of first place Washington (who finally lost in regulation on Tuesday after a 12-0-2 run). Fortunately for the Rangers it looks like Henrik Lundqvist is over what was ailing him a week or so ago when he allowed a ridiculous 20 goals in four starts. The Rangers for as good as they are have a trouble with consistency–and particularly when things are going well. After a 3 game unbeaten streak they’re 2-6 -8.9 units. They are 10-5 against division opponents and 16-8 against opponents with losing records.
Most significantly, perhaps, they’ve made mincemeat of the Flyers in head to head play. Over the last three years the Rangers have won 8 of 11 against Philly including 3 of 4 at Madison Square Garden. They’re 2-0 against the Flyers already this season with both previous games on Philly’s home ice. The Flyers haven’t beaten the Rangers since 11/28/05 when they won 3-0 at MSG. Doesn’t look like a spot where they’ll repeat this feat.
BET NEW YORK RANGERS -165 OVER PHILADELPHIA FLYERS
