Following a season-opening loss to the New York Rangers, the Chicago Blackhawks regrouped and found immediate success when they beat the New York Islanders in back-to-back fashion. The defending Stanley Cup champions now take the road again to face the Philadelphia Flyers, who are staring at an opportunity to win consecutive games for the first time this season. Will the Blackhawks flash their championship form again? Or will the Flyers bully Patrick Kane and company?
For more hockey, you can also read our previews for Bruins vs. Avs and Coyotes vs. Ducks.
[sc:NHLArticles ]Chicago Blackhawks vs. Philadelphia Flyers Betting Preview
Where: Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia
When: Wednesday, October 14, 2015 7:30 PM ET
Line: Chicago Blackhawks (-145) vs. Philadelphia Flyers (+125); total: 5.0 – view all NHL lines
Betting on the Chicago Blackhawks
[sc:NHL240 ]The Blackhawks sure are enjoying a terrific second line that has carried the team to two wins early this season. With Patrick Kane on fire and rookie Artemi Panarin playing like he’s got the NHL all figured out, Chicago’s second line is fast becoming a more terrifying unit than most thought of before the season began.
Three games into the season, Kane has already recorded three goals and three assists, while Panarin has two goals with as many assists. The duo was particularly excellent in Chicago’s 4-1 win over the Islanders on Saturday, combining for six points.
What’s even scarier for Chicago’s opponents—including Philadelphia—moving forward is that the top line that features Marian Hossa and team captain Jonathan Toews has yet to make its presence felt on the scoreboard. That unit is just waiting for a breakout game and that may come later tonight against the Flyers’ struggling defense that has already given up 11 goals in three games this season.
The Philadelphia tilt should also come as a reprieve of sorts for Blackhawks goalie Corey Crawford, who went 1-1-0 with a 2.50 GAA and .921 save percentage in two starts against top Cup contenders in the Islanders and Rangers.
Crawford will face the Flyers’ measly offense that has scored just four goals in Philly’s last three outings. Chicago has also been perfect on the penalty kill so far this season, stuffing all four power play attacks. Chicago is 3-1 in its last four road games.
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Betting on the Philadelphia Flyers
Like the Blackhawks, Philadelphia is also yet to get goals from its first liners. Even more unfortunate for the Flyers is that there is very little support coming from the secondary lines, which explains why the team is just 26th in the NHL in scoring with only 1.3 goals per game thus far this season.
With Jakub Voracek and Claude Giroux—who combined for 47 goals last season—finding it hard to find the back of the net, most of the heavy lifting on offense has been done by Brayden Schenn, as the third liner currently paces the team with two goals. Wayne Simmonds, who led the team with 28 goals last season, also is scoreless so far in this 2015-16 campaign.
The quiet offense of Philly’s stars, however, is partly caused by the Flyers being a weak possession team, as the Flyers have a -1 Corsi entering tonight’s matchup with the defending champions. The Flyers are still 10th in the league in shots per game (32.3), but allow opponents to take 31.0 per contest. The Flyers’ blue line will have to be at best later tonight, considering that Chicago can turn it on anytime on the attack.
Limiting Chicago’s shots is going to be easier said than done, so whoever it is between the pipes for Philly (Michael Neuvirth or Steve Mason) should expect a busy night. It’ll likely be Neuvirth, as Mason is currently away from the team to deal with personal matters. Neuvirth was excellent in his relief of Mason in Philadelphia’s 1-0 win over Florida on Monday, stopping all 31 shots he faced in 60 minutes of time on ice. He is 0-2 with a 4.02 GAA and 862 SV% in two career starts against the Blackhawks.
In case the Flyers need a confidence-booster for the looming showdown with Chicago, they can look at their 9-1 record in the last 10 times the Blackhawks paid a visit to Broad Street.
Writer’s Prediction
Chicago (-145) wins, 4-2.
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