We all know that hockey is one of the most brutal sports out there, which is one of the reasons why it is so much fun to watch. We are at the stage of the season where teams in the playoff hunt need to start becoming ruthless if they want to leapfrog the teams sitting ahead of them and get themselves a more manageable run through the playoffs. By that, we mean that a higher seeding is the way to get home ice advantage through at least a round or two. That said, it’s just getting in that is important, which may teams do by gaining momentum in the late stages of the season. Look at what the St. Louis Blues and the Carolina Hurricanes did in the playoffs last season for proof of that. The Philadelphia Flyers and the New York Islanders are both jockeying for position in a very tight Eastern Conference playoff race, so this game is absolutely huge. The Islanders will take home ice favored by 1 ½, with the goal total for this one set at 6. Let’s see how the NHL betting odds will be for the Flyers vs Islanders.
Flyers vs Islanders 2020 NHL Betting Lines & Game Preview
- When: Tuesday, January 11 at 7 PM EST
- Where: Barclays Center, NYC
- Radio: Philadelphia / New York
- TV: NBCSN
- NHL Odds: New York Islanders -1.5 / Total 6
Why bet on the Philadelphia Flyers
To get an idea of just how good the Eastern Conference is this year, particularly in the Metropolitan Division, just take a look at the Philadelphia Flyers. They are coming into this game with a very respectable 31-18-7 record on the season, yet that is only good enough for 5th in the division. That said, they are also just 4 points out of 2nd, so a nice little winning streak could change their fortunes quite dramatically. The Flyers are on a modest 2-game winning streak and are 7-2-1 in their last 10 games, so there is definitely proof that they are heading in the right direction. They do need to maintain that, though, as they are in the final Wild Card spot at the moment and have a few teams breathing down their neck below the playoff line.
Team Stats
Offense- Goals: 3.23
- Shots: 31.7
- PP/PK Percentage: 19.05
- Goals: 2.95
- Shots: 28.66
- PP/PK Percentage: 18.6
Why bet on the New York Islanders
The New York Islanders are another team that are in a similar position to that of the Flyers. Their 32-16-6 record and 70 points have them in 3rd in the Metropolitan Division, but a loss to Philly on Tuesday night would see them fall into the Wild Card spots. It’s not what you would call disastrous, but it’s certainly better to play with the lead than be forced into a position where you are playing catch-up. The Islanders have been decent enough in their last 10 games, posting a 5-3-2 record during that stretch. They have also been good in their own building, going 17-7-4 on home ice. They have had the Flyers number this season, winning both of the previous meetings and scoring a combined 9 goals in the process.
Team Stats
Offense- Goals: 2.98
- Shots: 29.52
- PP/PK Percentage: 19.35
- Goals: 2.74
- Shots: 31.39
- PP/PK Percentage: 20.83
Flyers vs Islanders NHL Betting Trends
- The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Philadelphia’s last 9 games.
- Philadelphia are 4-1 SU in their last 5 games.
- Philadelphia are 2-5 SU in their last 7 games against NY Islanders.
- The total has gone OVER in 4 of NY Islanders’ last 5 games.
- NY Islanders are 4-2 SU in their last 6 games.
- The total has gone OVER in 10 of NY Islanders’ last 11 games against Philadelphia.
Flyers vs Islanders Expert Pick and Final Score Prediction
Both of the games in the season series between these two have delivered goals, so going with the OVER in this one might well be a good way to go. I am taking the Islanders to win their third straight over the Flyers, covering the spread in the process.
Philadelphia Flyers 3 New York Islanders 5
