With the trade deadline now just right around the corner, teams need to decide whether they are going to roll the dice and make some moves or start thinking about next season instead. As it stands at the moment, there are a lot of teams on the playoff bubble, many of whom might believe that they are just one or two pieces away from making a serious run at the postseason and the Stanley Cup. Any type of trade is always a bit of a gamble, though, as you can never really know how it is going to affect the delicate balance of the team. Still, if it pays off, the rewards can be absolutely huge. The Columbus Blue Jackets and the Philadelphia Flyers are both sitting on that playoff bubble and probably contemplating doing something at the deadline. Their results between now and they might just swing the decision one way or another. These two will hook up in what is a crucial Metropolitan Division matchup. It is the Flyers who will start this game favored by 1 ½ at home. The point total has been set at 5 ½. Let’s see how the NHL betting odds will be for the Blue Jackets vs Flyers.
Blue Jackets vs Flyers 2020 NHL Betting Lines & Game Preview
- When: Tuesday, February 18 at 7 PM EST
- Where: Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia
- TV: NHL TV
- NHL Odds: TBA
Why bet on the Columbus Blue Jackets
While it looks as though the Washington Capitals and the Pittsburgh Penguins are going to be duking it out for the top spot in the Metropolitan Division, the final automatic playoff position there is a little murkier. Third through sixth in the division are separated by just two points, so divisional games are absolutely huge. The Blue Jackets are sitting fourth at the moment with 70 points and a record of 30-18-12, but they are getting sucked in the wrong direction after losing 5 in a row. The only saving grace is that Columbus has managed to pick up single-point losses in that stretch, going 4-2-4 in their last 10 games. When you see that they have 12 points out of a possible 20, things don’t look so bleak. The Blue Jackets are 12-7-9 on the road this season.
Team Stats
Offense- Goals: 2.58
- Shots: 32.45
- PP/PK Percentage: 16.07
- Goals: 2.5
- Shots: 29.72
- PP/PK Percentage: 16.99
Why bet on the Philadelphia Flyers
The Flyers are sitting right below the Blue Jackets in the divisional race, but both of these teams are currently occupying the Wild Card spots in the Eastern Conference. It’s a tight battle down there, with the Flyers holding off the Florida Panthers by a single point, albeit having played one more game. The Flyers have had some real joy against the Blue Jackets this season, winning both previous meetings and outscoring them 10-5 in the process. Philly is coming off a loss in their last game, but they have been solid of late, going 6-3-1 in their last 10 games. They have been particularly good in their own building, going 19-5-4 on home ice this season. 6 of the last 7 meetings between these two has seen the total go OVER.
Team Stats
Offense- Goals: 3.27
- Shots: 31.76
- PP/PK Percentage: 19.6
- Goals: 3
- Shots: 28.51
- PP/PK Percentage: 17.88
Blue Jackets vs Flyers NHL Betting Trends
- The total has gone UNDER in 12 of Columbus’ last 16 games.
- Columbus are 0-5 SU in their last 5 games.
- Columbus are 5-2 SU in their last 7 games against Philadelphia.
- The total has gone OVER in 7 of Columbus’ last 8 games when playing on the road against Philadelphia.
- The total has gone OVER in 4 of Philadelphia’s last 5 games.
- The total has gone OVER in 6 of Philadelphia’s last 7 games against Columbus.
- The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Philadelphia’s last 6 games at home.
- The total has gone OVER in 7 of Philadelphia’s last 8 games when playing at home against Columbus.
Blue Jackets vs Flyers Expert Pick and Final Score Prediction
This is one that might just be too close to call, although I do think that the Blue Jackets can stay close and cover the spread. The wager that I really like with this one, though, is the OVER.
Columbus Blue Jackets 4 Philadelphia Flyers 3.
