The Flyers host the ‘Canes in a Wednesday night showdown at the Wells Fargo Center. The Hurricanes are boasting a phenomenal 13-4 record and enter as faves against a Flyers team sitting at a mediocre 8-9-2.
So, who’s going to win this matchup in Philly? Here’s everything you need to know and our bold prediction for the game.
The Hurricanes are clearly favored at -225, while the Flyers sit as underdogs at +185. These odds don’t surprise us too much as the Hurricanes are on an absolute tear this season.
The total is set at 6.5 goals which tells us this will most likely be a high-scoring affair.
Recent trends favor the Flyers in certain situations, as they’ve covered the puck line in their last 6 home games as underdogs against streaking opponents — which is exactly what this game looks like.
Meanwhile, Carolina has struggled to cover in this specific matchup recently. They’ve failed to do so in 4 of their last 5 visits to Philadelphia. Will history repeat itself or will the Hurricanes come out on top?
Carolina has been firing on all cylinders as of late. They’re averaging 4 goals per game while giving up just 2.41 GPG.
Their special teams are really clicking, with a dominant 23.7% power-play success rate and an 85% penalty kill. Both of these are easily in the top 5 of the NHL.
Players like Martin Necas (sitting at 11 goals and 11 assists) and Sebastian Aho (11 assists) continue to provide most of the drive for the offense, while goalie Frederik Andersen has been rock solid between the pipes as he’s allowed just 6 goals on 101 shots.
Despite their success, the Hurricanes have shown they have some vulnerabilities. This is particularly apparent on the road against conference rivals like the Flyers.
Losing the 3rd period in 3 of their last 4 games as road favorites could spell trouble if this one is close late in the game.
The Flyers come in averaging a mere 2.79 goals per game and have struggled defensively. They’ve allowed 3.47 goals per game which is a big part of what’s holding them back.
However, their PK unit has been impressive at a decent 86.4%, a big reason they’re staying competitive.
Travis Konecny leads the charge with 11 goals, including at least 1 goal in each of his last 4 matchups against Carolina. Rookie Matvei Michkov has also been a bright spot in the lineup with 9 assists, which goes to show the potential of Philadelphia's youthful core.
The Flyers' home ice has been a tough venue for the Hurricanes in the past, with Philadelphia winning 6 of their last 10 games at Wells Fargo Center. Their ability to push through and win as underdogs, combined with Carolina's occasional lapses on the road, makes this matchup worth watching and betting on.
While the Hurricanes are the better team on paper with their record, the Flyers have proven to be a scrappy team and effective as underdogs at home. That murks the water just a bit.
Travis Konecny’s scoring streak against Carolina, paired up with their strong PK unit, gives the Flyers a fighting chance. Add to that Carolina's struggles in closing out games on the road, and this one could get interesting in the final 20 minutes.
Our best bet is to back the Philadelphia Flyers at +185.
They’ve shown they can rise to the occasion at home, and at this price, they offer massive value as a live underdog. We expect a competitive game where the Flyers can potentially pull off an upset and you can cash in.
BettorsInisder Prediction: Flyers 4, Hurricanes 3