The Philadelphia Flyers are feeling it. Riding a three-game win streak, the Flyers host the slumping Boston Bruins tonight at Wells Fargo Center looking to gain ground in their hunt for a wild-card ticket in the Eastern Conference.
[sc:NHL250 ]The Bruins have gone 1-3-1 in five games since that disastrous loss to Montreal in the Winter Classic.
Read on for a breakdown of this matchup. You can also check out our preview of tonight’s NBA matchup between the Heat and the Clippers here.
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Boston Bruins vs. Philadelphia Flyers Betting Preview
[sc:NHL240 ]The offense failed to show up once again for the Bruins, as they dropped their second-straight game against the Rangers, 2-1, on Monday. The B’s also lost in a tight one on Saturday to the Sens in overtime, 2-1.
Hopefully for the Bruins, who average 3.0 goals for per game this season, they can finally regain their robust scoring ways later tonight in Wells Fargo Center, where they are 8-2 in their last 10 games there.
Having Brad Marchand back in the mix didn’t seem to help Boston’s offense, as the forward has yet to register a point in two games since returning from a three-game suspension.
But Marchand, who is tied with Patrice Bergeron as the team leader in goals with 15, is expected to deliver at some point soon and a game against the so-so defense of the Flyers that ranks 16th in the league with 2.6 goals allowed per contest, presents a perfect opportunity for him to break out of his mini-slump.
Speaking of Bergeron, he also leads the team in points with 38, two of which came in the Bruins’ 5-4 overtime loss to the Flyers in October, when he had a goal and an assist.
As for the Bruins’ defense, it appears to be safe with Tuukka Rask (14-12-4, 2.49 GAA, .916 SV%) in spite of the fact that he’s allowed four goals in his last two starts. Of course, it’s not all on Rask, as he’s faced 70 shots during those games and has turend away 66.
Betting on the Philadelphia Flyers (18-15-7, 43 pts)
Suddenly, the Flyers’ offense is…flying. The Flyers are averaging just 2.3 goals for per game so far this season, but have racked up four goals in each of their last three outings. That stretch included Philly’s impressive 4-0 victory over the Isles at home on Saturday. With three days of rest, the Flyers look to score their second win of the season against rival Boston late tonight.
Oddly enough, the Flyers are enjoying such a boom on offense with their best player in Claude Giroux struggling of late. Giroux, who didn’t record a point against New York, only has one point (an assist) over the team’s last 10 games going back to December 15.
Giroux, however, remains Philly’s most dangerous offensive weapon, as the eight-year veteran tops the Flyers in goals (30) and points (30). In addition, Giroux scored a pair of goals in the Flyers’ aforementioned win over Boston in the first meeting this season.
Despite the stout offense of late, the Flyers are still having issues on the power play, as they’re just 1-for-10 on the man advantage in the past three games.
Goalie Steve Mason, meanwhile, is coming off a terrific performance against the Isles, stopping all of John Tavares and company’s 20 shots on his way to notching his third shutout of the season, third most in the league. Mason (9-10-5, 2.72 GAA, .913 SV%) was instrumental in the Flyers win over Boston back in October, stepping in to relieve Michal Neuvirth and turning away 16 of 18 shots he faced.
