Over the course of an 82-game season in the NHL, every team is going to have periods of up and downs, as it is impossible to maintain a high level of play over such a long stretch of time. Injuries ted to play a role in determining just how long a negative streak of form will run, although some teams are able to ride through injuries and still find a way to win. What we have learned over the years is that it is often the teams that get on a hot streak late in the season who make the most noise in the playoffs. On the flipside, teams that back into the postseason very often have a tough time flipping the switch back on after the speed and intensity of the games takes a noticeable uptick. The Philadelphia Flyers were one team that were hitting their stride at the perfect time when the shutdown came into effect, while the Pittsburgh Penguins were heading in the wrong direction at that time. It is going to be interesting to see how the layoff affects these two moving forward, especially if they meet in the postseason, which they would do now if the playoffs started with the current standings, let’s see how the NHL odds will be for the Flyers vs Penguins.
Flyers vs Penguins if Stanley Cup Playoffs Started Today
The Flyers and Penguins Season to Date
The Philadelphia Flyers may have lost their final game before the lockdown, but they were on an absolute tear prior to that defeat. Philly had put together 9-straight wins and saw their record go to 41-21-7 before the suspension of the season. That record has them in second place in the Metropolitan Division, just 1 point back of the Washington Capitals with 13 games to play. Having home ice advantage is huge for this team given that they are a stellar 25-6-4 in their own building. They are just a game above .500 on the road.
The fact that the Pittsburgh Penguins are even in a playoff spot is quite amazing given the injuries that they have had to deal with, including losing Sidney Crosby for a chunk of the season early on. Despite that, they have still managed to put together a 40-23-6 record, which has them sitting third in the Metropolitan Division, 4 points out of first and 3 points back of the Flyers in second. The Penguins have been far superior at home than on the road, going 23-8-4 versus 17-15-2.
The Flyers and Penguins Head to Head
These two last met in the postseason back in 2018, with the Penguins winning that series 4-2. This year, Pittsburgh is 2-1 versus the Flyers, with all three games played in the regular season series going the way of the home team. That should give you some idea as to the importance of home ice advantage in this series.
Flyers and Penguins Series Prediction
The 3 games that these two have played head to head this season have provided us with a total of 18 goals, so we should expect some offensive fireworks if they do meet up in the postseason. I see this one going 7, with the Flyers edging it at home in the final game of the series.
