Stanley Cup betting is about to get underway as Atlantic Division rivals Philadelphia and New Jersey will square off, and the Devils would like to send a message in the first game after the Flyers dominated the season series.
Flyers vs Devils odds – Wednesday, April 14, 7:30 PM ET
The Flyers needed to go all the way to a shootout to get to the postseason, edging the New York Rangers 2-1 on Sunday after a tough home-and-home series between two teams clawing for the playoffs. Matt Carle scored in the third period to tie the game up, while Brian Boucher stopped Olli Jokinen to put the Flyers in the second season. The Flyers should have won this game more handily, as they outshot the Rangers 47-25, but New York goalie Henrik Lundqvist stood on his head to keep the Rangers in it, and the Flyers should be proud of beating one of the best goalies in the game.
Jamie Langenbrunner scored the winner with three second left in a 2-1 win at home over Buffalo on Saturday, while Travis Zajac tied the game in the second period. Martin Brodeur stopped 22 shots for the Devils, who enter the playoffs with four wins in their last five games, and Brodeur has allowed four goals in those five games. The surefire first-ballot Hall-of-Famer was a little shaky after the Olympic break, and sports book players were wondering if getting pulled for Roberto Luongo on the Canadian team affected him mentally. But Brodeur is one of the top five goalies in NHL history, and he proved that he’ll be alright.
Online sports betting odds should favor the Devils in the first game of this series, and the Flyers have lost three of their last five in New Jersey. There may be some worry for New Jersey fans as the Devils have lost five of six against the Flyers this season, including one of two at home, and they’re going to need Boucher at his best. Brodeur has been miserable against the Flyers this year with a 1-4 mark in six games with a 3.34 GAA and a .878 save percentage, but we’re willing to bet anything that he turns it around for the playoffs, especially given the roll that he’s on right now. Many are wondering if the Flyers spent all of their bullets just trying to get into the postseason, and going on the road in their first game, Philadelphia may not have the energy that New Jersey has.
NHL betting pick: New Jersey