The Philadelphia Flyers (21-36-11) head to the Big Apple to face the New York Rangers (44-20-5) Sunday at Madison Square Garden. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET (NHL Network). Below, we look at the Flyers vs. Rangers odds and lines, and make our expert NHL picks, predictions and bets.
The Flyers are channeling their inner Tom Petty and Free Fallin’ as losers of four in a row and five of six. They have been outscored 21-11 during the four-game losing skid.
The Rangers had a four-game win streak snapped with a head-scratching 3-0 home defeat at the hands of the New York Islanders Friday. They should have some extra drive in their stride tonight.
Flyers at Rangers odds, spread and lines
- Money line: Flyers +220 (bet $100 to win $220) | Rangers -280 (bet $280 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Flyers +1.5 (+105) | Rangers -1.5 (-130)
- Over/Under (O/U): 6.5 (O: +105 | U: -130)
Flyers at Rangers projected goalies
Martin Jones (8-14-3, 3.40 GAA, .900 SV%) vs. Alexandar Georgiev (11-9-2, 3.11 GAA, .892 SV%, 1 SO)
Jones has lost his last two starts and given up nine goals combined. He was really good previously in March and had allowed more than 2 goals just once while going 2-2 in his first four starts before the skid.
G Igor Shesterkin could start here, but it makes more sense to rest him after the Isles found the net three times on 18 shots Friday. Georgiev has allowed 4 goals in two straight games, but the offense backed him up both times in overtime wins. He was 4-1 with a 3.30 GAA and a .877 SV% in March.
Prediction
Rangers 4, Flyers 1
Money line
PASS.
Even though the Rangers feel underpriced at -280 here, there’s no value in the money line.
Against the spread
This one is going to buck some trends.
The Rangers have won seven of 10, but just two of them have been by more than 1 goal. New York is 2-0 against Philly this year, and one of them nailed the puck line. This is a game of momentum, and the Flyers are stuck on the runway with 2.6 goals (30th) per game. This is a “get right” game for New York, and I expect them to win this handily. Take the RANGERS -1.5 (-130).
Over/Under
There are a lot of Over trends for the Flyers, but the Under is 5-0 in the last five meetings between these two teams and is 8-1-1 the last 10 times after the Rangers lost by 3 or more goals.
Look for them to lock it down defensively and keep it a low-scoring affair until the third. It’s not a great feeling here, but I’d have a lot more trepidation if the total was 5.5. LEAN to the UNDER 6.5 (-130).