Blue Jackets vs Flyers Prediction, Odds, and Our Best Bet

The Columbus Blue Jackets are in full desperation mode as they head to Philadelphia tonight to face the Flyers. With their playoff hopes hanging by a thread — a very slim thread — Columbus needs a regulation win tonight, another regulation win on Thursday and some help from the Canadiens to sneak into the postseason. Philadelphia, meanwhile, is already eliminated and limping toward the finish line.

This is the final regular-season meeting between these two Metropolitan Division foes. The Flyers have taken 2 of the first 3 games, but Columbus won the last one in a shootout and is playing much better hockey right now. Momentum clearly favors the Jackets, and for them, that’s a great thing as the stakes couldn’t be higher.

Game Details and Betting Odds

This matchup takes place at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, with puck drop set for 6:00 PM ET. For you, that means there’s still plenty of time to get your bets in.

Columbus is the clear betting favorite on the moneyline at -148 over at DraftKings, and rightfully so. They’ve won 4 straight and are playing with some serious urgency, while the Flyers are trending the opposite way just hoping to not get injured before the end of the season.

The total is set at 6.5 goals, and both teams have leaned toward the over in their most recent games. The Blue Jackets average 3.2 GF/G, and the Flyers sit at just 2.9. That puts the Jackets in the top 10 teams and the Flyers in the bottom 10. Columbus has been especially strong in recent offensive showings, putting up a solid 4+ goals in 3 of their last 5 games.

Team Form and Matchup Breakdown

Here’s the plain HTML table for Blue Jackets vs Flyers, using inline CSS to keep columns equally wide and aligned:

“`html

“`

Columbus is coming off a dominant stretch, with back-to-back wins over one of the best teams in the NHL — the Capitals — which includes a 7-0 beatdown, a tight win over Buffalo, and a revenge win over Ottawa. They’ve now rattled off 4 straight and have outscored opponents 18-5 during that span. So, to say they’re on fire is an understatement.

Philly, meanwhile, isn’t doing all that bad, but they’re 5-3-2 over their last 10. They’ve lost to the likes of Ottawa and Montreal, allowing 3+ goals in each of those games.

Zach Werenski is powering Columbus from the back end. He’s tallied 78 points on the season including 56 helpers. His ability to drive plays and quarterback the power play unit has been a huge payoff for the Blue Jackets. Kirill Marchenko, of course, continues to produce up front, leading the team with 31 goals and showing up in key moments and tonight’s game is a key moment. He’s recorded an assist in each of the last 6 games Columbus has played as a favorite, making him a strong prop option if you want to expand your bet slip a bit.

As for the Flyers, it’s been the Travis Konecny show for just about every night. He leads the team with 75 points, including 24 goals, but he hasn’t had enough help around him as depth has been a sore spot for the Flyers all season. His -16 plus-minus rating simply reflects the Flyers’ defensive issues. No other player has more than 20 goals, and, aside from Konecny, offensive consistency has been lacking.

On top of offensive depth, Goaltending also continues to be a liability for Philadelphia. Samuel Ersson leads the team with 22 wins but carries a 3.14 GAA and a sub-.900 SV%. Neither Ivan Fedotov nor Alexei Kolosov has offered much stability when they’re between the pipes, either. Compare that to Elvis Merzlikins for Columbus, who has 26 wins and a .892 SV% — not elite, but he’s been steady in recent starts which includes a shutout over the Caps. Given that their playoff hopes are on the line, we think Merzlikins will be in the crease for tonight’s game.

Another area where Columbus holds the edge is special teams. Their power play converts at 19.1% which isn’t great, but compared to just 14.8% for Philadelphia, it’s a big jump. The Flyers do have a slightly better PK unit, but neither are really great with 77.8% and 76.5%. Discipline has been a big issue for both teams, with each averaging north of 26 PIM per game.

There’s also an odd trend worth noting. The Flyers have lost 7 straight night games at Wells Fargo Center following an OT game. They just played in OT against Ottawa and now face a fast, aggressive Columbus squad that needs all the points it can get. This trend might not mean much on the surface, but any streak that is 7 straight is hard to ignore.

Final Prediction and Best Bet

The Flyers have the season series edge, but it’s Columbus that comes into this one with all the momentum and motivation to get their foot into the playoffs.

The Jackets are healthier, hotter, and actually playing for something. Werenski and Marchenko have been smoking hot down the stretch, and with playoff life on the line, we definitely expect Columbus to come out swinging.

Philly’s leaky defense and inconsistent goaltending will make it hard to contain a Blue Jackets offense that has scored 14 goals in their last 3 games.  

With that, we feel that this is a great spot to ride the hot hand and back the team that needs it more.

• HelloRookie’s Prediction: Blue Jackets 4, Flyers 2
• Best Bet: Columbus Blue Jackets moneyline

The season is wrapping up with most teams only having a game or two left on the schedule. Most teams already know their playoff fates so there’s not too much excitement on the schedule — yet. However, this is one of the more exciting games we’ve come across due to the playoff implications for the Blue Jackets. If they lose tonight, they’re officially out of the playoffs and will be in Philly’s shoes for their final game. However, if they take tonight’s game, their final game against the Islanders on Thursday night is going to be the one to watch.