Playing Bad
Even poor play can’t seem to slow down the Philadelphia Flyers.
Philadelphia looks to continue racking up points Thursday when it hosts the Atlantic Division rival New Jersey Devils.
Oddsmakers from online sports book Sports Interaction have made Philadelphia -140 money line favorites (NHL Odds) for today’s game, the over/under has been set at 5.5 goals (Matchup). Current public betting information shows that 58% of bets for this game have been placed on Philadelphia –140 (View NHL Bet Percentages).
The Flyers (12-7-5) did everything they could to give away Tuesday’s game against Tampa Bay, but wound up with a 4-3 overtime victory to improve to 8-1-2 in their last 11 games.
Philadelphia took a 3-1 lead over the Lightning on Jeff Carter’s second goal of the game and NHL high-tying 18th of the season with 15:24 left in the third period, but Tampa Bay rallied to tie the game.
The Lightning then had a chance to go ahead with 16.3 seconds left in regulation when Ryan Malone was awarded a penalty shot after Philadelphia forward Scott Hartnell threw his glove at the puck on a breakaway.
Malone’s attempt, however, went wide when Martin Biron just got a piece of the puck, and Philadelphia won on Mike Richards’ second goal of the game 2:05 into overtime.
"I was out there for a long shift at the end, and I was chasing Malone from behind, and it was just a desperation play," Hartnell told the Flyers’ official Web site. "I threw the glove and looking back it was kind of stupid, but Marty came up huge. He basically won us the game there on that penalty shot and we were able to do it in overtime."
The win proved costly for the Flyers, though, with Danny Briere suffering a severe groin strain that will keep him sidelined four to five weeks. Briere had missed the previous nine games with a groin problem. He has appeared in only nine games, registering five goals and four assists.
The Flyers began this season with just two wins in their first seven games on home ice, but have turned things around with a 4-0-1 mark in their last five.
Philadelphia beat the Devils 3-2 in overtime on a goal by Carter at the Wachovia Center on Oct. 25. The Flyers also won 6-3 in New Jersey the night before behind two goals by Hartnell and four assists from Richards.
They have won three straight over the Devils after going 3-13-5 in the previous 21 meetings.
New Jersey (12-8-2) enters after having its season-high five-game winning streak snapped with a 4-1 loss at Pittsburgh on Saturday. Sidney Crosby registered a hat trick for the Penguins, who limited the Devils’ chances after they scored 24 goals during the win streak.
"We just didn’t have it," New Jersey coach Brent Sutter said. "For the first 40 minutes, we didn’t play like we had been playing for 10-plus games, and it showed.
"I thought in the third period we played much better, but 20 minutes against a very good hockey team and you’re down, 3-0. That makes it tough."
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