Maple Leafs vs. Flyers Pick
Do the visiting Toronto Maple Leafs have what it takes to defeat the Philadelphia Flyers tonight at 7PM ET?
According to oddsmakers at Bovada.lv, the Flyers are listed as a -120 favorite to win on the moneyline. The Maple Leafs are a -110 underdog, while the total is set at 5.5 goals.
Toronto enters with a 25-17-3-1 record after a 2-1 home overtime loss Tuesday against the Blues. Philadelphia is 20-16-5-3 following a 5-1 loss Tuesday at the Rangers. The Flyers have won both meetings this season, both by 4-2 scores on each team’s home ice. Philadelphia is 3-2 in five meetings since the start of last season. The over has gone 2-1-2.
The Maple Leafs received a shorthanded unassisted goal from Connor Brown to give them a 1-0 lead midway through the second period in the loss to St. Louis. The Blues tied it at 1-1 in the final minute of the second period before clinching the victory in overtime. Frederik Andersen accounted for 40 saves on 42 shots in the losing effort.
In the loss at New York, Jordan Weal scored the Flyers’ goal on assists from Radko Gudas and Wayne Simmonds. Brian Elliott allowed five goals on 21 shots to take the loss. He was eventually replaced by Michal Neuvirth in the second period, who saved all eight shots sent his way. Weal’s goal gave Philadelphia a quick 1-0 advantage before New York scored five unanswered goals.
The home team is 4-1 in the last five meetings. The over is 4-1-3 in the last eight meetings. Toronto is 5-11 in the last 16 meetings in Philadelphia.
Philadelphia has won the first two meetings this season, but it doesn’t strike me as the better team in this matchup. Toronto, despite having some deficiencies in the back end, have an explosive offense. After being held to only one goal last game, I expect the Maple Leafs to come out firing and setting the record straight in their own minds against a conference rival.
NHL DAILY PREDICTION: TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS -110