New Jersey Devils vs. Philadelphia Flyers Prediction, Betting Odds, and Our Best Bet

The New Jersey Devils and Philadelphia Flyers meet for the 2nd time this season, with the Flyers holding the early edge after a 3-1 win earlier this month. Both teams are looking to build up some momentum in the ever-so-tightly contested Metropolitan Division.

The Devils are coming into tonight hot off a thrilling 4-3 overtime win against Montreal, while the Flyers will look to bounce back after a 3-1 loss to the dismal Islanders.

Before you drop your bets, we’re breaking down the odds, key matchups, and our best bet for this game. We even have a prediction that you won’t want to miss out on.

Devils Are Searching for Revenge

The Devils have had an up-and-down stretch over the past few weeks. They’re posting just a 4-3-3 record in their last 10 games which really doesn’t feel like the normal Devils.

They’ve struggled to find consistent shots and scoring, but their defense still remains strong. They’ve allowed just 2.3 goals per game during that 10-game span.

Jack Hughes is the player we want to keep our eyes on. With a solid 57 points this season and a goal in each of his last 3 road games, he’s undoubtedly the driving force behind the Devils’ attack.

The goaltending situation is a slightly concerning situation for New Jersey. With Jacob Markstrom out until March, Jake Allen is expected to start. Allen’s 2.67 GAA and .904 save percentage are not terrible but he’s definitely a step down from Markstrom’s numbers.

However, if the Devils can get at least 3 goals on the board, they’ve proven they’re tough to beat. They currently hold a 28-3-3 record in games where they’ve found the back of the net at least 3 times.

Flyers Are Holding Their Ground

The Flyers have shown flashes of strong play as of late. They’ve gone 5-4-1 in their last 10 which isn’t all that bad when you look at the teams they’ve beat.

Despite being outscored on the season with 147 goals for compared to 168 against, Philadelphia’s defense has been solid recently. They have given up just 2.4 goals per game over the last 10 contests which is not a bad look considering their record over that time.

Travis Konecny is really their offensive spark. He leads the team with 56 points consisting of 21 goals and 36 assists. He’s tallied at least 1 assist in 4 of the last 5 games as an underdog in Metropolitan Division matchups.

The Flyers’ goaltending duo of Samuel Ersson and Ivan Fedotov have not been great as their save percentages — .891 and .880, respectively — leave room for some improvements, especially against a Devils team that can strike quickly and often.

All of that to say, the Flyers’ performance at home has been unpredictable. While they’ve proven capable of upsetting stronger teams, it’s their inconsistency that remains a hurdle they’ll have to get past.

Betting Odds and Prediction

The Devils are listed as slight favorites coming into tonight’s game at -145 on the moneyline. The Flyers on the other hand are priced at +125 which makes this game feel a lot closer than it should. With the total set at 5.5 goals, apparently, the bookmakers are thinking this will be a defensive showdown with very few goals put up on the board.

While the Flyers have the head-to-head advantage already this season, the Devils are the more complete team on paper, especially over the last few weeks.

With Hughes looking his best and the Flyers’ shaky goaltending, New Jersey’s depth should give them the edge for this game. The injury to Markstrom does make this closer than it otherwise might be, but we also think that Allen should hold up well enough between the pipes.

• HelloRookie’s Prediction: Devils 4, Flyers 3
• Best Bet: New Jersey Devils Moneyline (-145)

The Devils are a strong bounce-back team and have too much firepower for a Flyers squad that struggles to score consistently. We’re expecting Hughes to make an impact as New Jersey evens the season series. This might be a close game, but we think the Devils are more than capable of pulling off this win.

As for the over/under, we think the over might be the better bet for this game. 5.5 points is really low and despite both teams not putting up huge numbers, we think these netminders let in at least 6 combined goals which is a pretty easy bar to beat.