NHL betting preview (April 15): Blue Jackets vs. Flyers odds
Join Daily Faceoff’s Andy MacNeil as he handicaps Tuesday’s NHL matchup between the Columbus Blue Jackets and Philadelphia Flyers.
Blue Jackets vs. Flyers Odds
- Columbus Blue Jackets Moneyline: -145
- Philadelphia Flyers Moneyline: +120
- Puck Line: Blue Jackets -1.5 (+155), Flyers +1.5 (-190)
- Game Total: 6 (Over -120, Under +100)
Game odds via Sports Interaction.
Handicapping the Blue Jackets (38-42 SU, 47-33 ATS, 45-33-2 O/U)
With Montreal dropping three straight, the Blue Jackets are the last team in the Eastern Conference with a shot at overtaking the Canadiens for the second wild card spot. Columbus has done its part to stay in the hunt, winning four in a row, but this situation wouldn’t exist if they hadn’t lost 12 of the previous 16 games.
To reach the playoffs, Columbus needs to win in regulation on Tuesday in Philadelphia and again Thursday at home, while Montreal must lose in regulation in Carolina on Wednesday. The odds are against it, but not by much—the Blue Jackets are listed at 10/1 to make the playoffs heading into Wednesday’s game against the Flyers.
The Jackets are 1-1-1 against the Flyers this season and 4-6 straight up in the last 10 meetings. They’ve dropped four of their last five visits to Philadelphia and haven’t traveled well all year, going 13-23-4 on the road, including just three wins in their last 10 away from home.
Goaltender Jet Greaves has done a good job filling in for the injured Elvis Merzlikins, who hasn’t played since April 8, but it’s unclear who will start on Wednesday. Greaves has won five of his last six starts, including three in a row, while Danill Tarasov has lost in his last three starts.
Handicapping the Flyers (33-47 SU, 34-44 ATS, 36-42-2 O/U)
Since John Tortorella was fired at the end of March, the Flyers have gone 5-1-1. They’ve got nothing to play for in the final two games, but they’re clearly enjoying themselves, and the chance to play spoiler on Wednesday should give them a little extra push.
Philadelphia was a tough out at home through the first five months of the season, but the team lost six of its final seven home games under Tortorella. Still, the Flyers are 20-19-1 at home overall and have won all four under interim coach Brad Shaw.
The Flyers rank third in expected goals against at five-on-five this season, which suggests they’ve done a solid job limiting quality chances. But only five teams have given up more goals. Since the coaching change, the defense has looked more average, but that shift has sparked the offense.
According to Evolving Hockey, Philadelphia ranks 12th in expected goals percentage since the change, and no team has scored more goals per 60 minutes. The Flyers have started to outscore their defensive issues—something they weren’t able to do under Tortorella.
Best bet for Blue Jackets vs. Flyers
- Over 6 (-120) at Sports Interaction
The Blue Jackets and Flyers have gone 6-3-1 to the over in their last 10 meetings, and Philadelphia is 5-2 to the over since the coaching change. Both teams rank among the bottom 10 in goals against this season, and that hasn’t improved. Offensively, they’ve each been among the top five teams in goals over their last 10 games. With Columbus needing a regulation win, they won’t hesitate to pull their goaltender if they’re trailing late, which could further boost scoring chances.