Two clubs that split their season series 2-2 a year ago, the Philadelphia Flyers and the Columbus Blue Jackets clash at Nationwide Arena in a Metropolitan Division showdown. The opening face-off takes place at 7 p.m. ET on Thursday, October 18, and fans at home can witness it live on NBC Sports Philadelphia.
Philadelphia Flyers vs. Columbus Blue Jackets Odds
Columbus (-140) is currently favored over Philadelphia (+120) and the oddsmakers have put the Over/Under (O/U) at an even 6 goals. The odds for betting the total sit at -110 for the over and -110 on the under.
Netting moneyline bettors 0.6 units, Columbus is 3-2 straight up (SU) overall this year. That winning percentage, the second-best in the Metropolitan Division in this young season, isn’t too far off from to the 45-37 record the team managed during last year’s regular season campaign. Of its five games this season, three have gone over the total, while two have gone under and none have pushed. The team’s 1-1 SU at home this year.
The Blue Jackets have successfully scored on 17.4 percent of their power play chances in 2018-19. That mark hasn’t moved a lot from last year, when they were ranked 25th in the league by scoring on 17.0 percent of their extra-man advantages. Their penalty kill has fallen off substantially year-over-year as they’ve gone from successfully defending 75.0 percent of opponents’ power plays (ranked 29th overall last season) to 64.7 percent this year.
As a team, the Blue Jackets have been penalized 3.4 times per game this season. Last year, they posted the lowest mark in the league with 3.1 penalties per game. After serving an average of 7.2 penalty minutes per game a year ago, the team’s had to stave off opponent power plays for 7.2 minutes per matchup this season.
Boasting a .860 save percentage and 26.7 saves per game, Sergei Bobrovsky (one win, two losses) has been the best option in goal for the Jackets this season. If Columbus decides to rest him, however, the team could turn to the undefeated Joonas Korpisalo (2-0 record, .902 save percentage, 2.95 goals against average).
Artemi Panarin and Nick Foligno will each lead the offensive attack for the Blue Jackets. Panarin (seven points) has tallied three goals and four assists while Foligno has two goals and two assists to his credit so far in the early stages of the season.
Over on the visiting bench, Philadelphia is 3-3 straight up (SU) and has netted 0.1 units for moneyline bettors this year. A total of five of its contests have gone over the total, while one has gone under the total and none have pushed. The Flyers are 2-1 SU as the visiting team this season.
The Flyers have recorded a goal on 20.8 percent of their power play chances this year after successfully converting on 19.9 percent of their extra-man opportunities last season (a figure that was right at league average). The team’s gone from killing off 76.3 percent of opponent power plays (ranked 26th overall last season) to 72.0 percent in 2018-19.
Philadelphia’s skaters have been whistled for penalties 5.8 times per game this season, a number that’s climbed noticeably from the 3.6 penalties per game given up last year. After serving an average of 8.6 penalty minutes per game a season ago the team has been forced to stave off opponent power plays for a taxing 13.0 minutes per matchup this year.
Brian Elliott (26.4 saves per game) has been the primary option in the net for Philadelphia. Elliott has two wins and three losses to his credit, and has registered a .874 save percentage and 4.04 goals against average this year.
Jakub Voracek (two goals, six assists) has been one of the primary facilitators on offense for the visiting Flyers.
Philadelphia Flyers vs. Columbus Blue Jackets Betting Predictions
Free Prediction: SU Winner – Blue Jackets, O/U – Over
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Notes
Betting Trends
After posting a 2-7 record in games decided by a shootout last year, Philadelphia is off to a 1-0 start in shootouts this season. Columbus was 6-4 in shootouts last year and has yet to participate in one this time around.
The over has hit in three of Columbus’ last five outings.
Philadelphia skaters recorded 21.6 hits per game last season, while the Jackets logged 21.8 hits per contest.
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