The Philadelphia Flyers are set to take on the Washington Capitals at Wells Fargo Center tonight. The Flyers, coming off a whopping 4 consecutive losses, are desperate to break their slump and notch a win. The Capitals, on the other hand, have won 3 straight games and look to continue their momentum on the road in the nation’s capital.
Both teams have struggled with goaltending early in the season, which will undoubtedly make for a high-scoring game.
Puck Line: Flyers +1.5 (-218), Capitals -1.5 (+180)
Moneyline: Flyers +120, Capitals -142
Total Goals: Over 6 (-105), Under 6 (-115)
Philadelphia has had a rough start to their season as they’re currently sitting at 1-3-1 and have a total of 3 points.
Their biggest issue has been keeping pucks out of the net. They’ve allowed at least three goals in each of their four losses.
Goaltender Samuel Ersson is expected to start tonight, though his .894 save percentage and 2.99 goals-against average ranks near the bottom among NHL goaltenders. His backup, Ivan Fedotov, hasn’t done any better, with a disastrous 6.09 GAA.
On the other side of the ice, Charlie Lindgren will start in goal for the Capitals. His numbers are only slightly better than Ersson's, making this matchup a goaltending nightmare for both sides.
With shaky netminders and offenses that have found the net at times this season, we’re seeing plenty of reasons to expect a few goals.
Philadelphia’s goal-scoring has been inconsistent, to say the least. However, they have managed to score at least 3 goals in 4 out of their five games this season. Despite this, they have yet to score at home, which is a big concern coming into this matchup.
Rookie Matvei Michkov has been somewhat of a bright spot, tying for the team lead in goals (2) and points (4), though both of his goals came in a single loss to Edmonton.
Defensively, the Flyers have been a mess.
They’ve allowed 20 goals in their last 4 games, and their goaltending issues make it difficult to predict a clean performance tonight. Their -9 goal differential is the worst in the Eastern Conference, and they’ve shown little improvement on the defensive end as well.
The Capitals have won three straight games after an opening loss, and their offense has looked lethal at times.
Washington is tied for third in the NHL in goals per game (4.00), despite having a power play that ranks near the bottom of the league.
Alex Ovechkin, who has been a thorn in Philadelphia's side for years now, has 49 career goals against the Flyers, and while he’s off to a relatively slow start this season, his presence alone is a constant threat.
The Capitals’ defense hasn’t been perfect but good enough to rack up a 4-1 record so far. They’ve allowed 6 goals in 2 of their games. However, their offense has been able to cover up some of those mistakes.
Given the Flyers' defensive struggles, it’s easy to see Washington continuing their offensive dominance tonight.
Given the poor goaltending on both sides of the puck, this game has the makings of a high-scoring shootout.
The Flyers have allowed 6 goals in 2 of their games, while the Capitals have seen at least 6 goals in 3 of their 4 games. Both teams will most likely continue to struggle defensively, which makes the Over 6 goals a strong bet.
In terms of a straight-up winner, the Capitals are the better team right now. There’s no arguing that.
Philadelphia’s goaltending issues and inability to find a rhythm offensively, especially at home, make it hard for us to back them. The Flyers have yet to win a game in regulation this season, and that trend could continue against a Capitals team riding high.
BettorsInsider Prediction: Capitals 4, Flyers 3.
The combination of weak goaltending and capable offensive units we’re feeling should lead to a high total tonight.
The Flyers' defense has been terrible, and while Washington’s defense has had its own issues, they have the firepower to put up goals. The Over 6 goals bet gives solid value, especially given the goal-scoring trends for both teams.