Thursday NHL Opening Odds
(The Spread) – An in-state battle between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Philadelphia Flyers is one of nine games on Thursday’s NHL schedule.
The Flyers are currently first in the Eastern Conference with 97 points, one point more than second-place Washington. Philadelphia enters play with a 44-19-9 record and are 21-10-5 in home games. Pittsburgh, fourth in the conference with 92 points, 42-23-8 overall and 20-10-6 on the road.
According to oddsmakers from online sports book SBGGLOBAL.com, the Flyers are -165 moneyline favorites against the Penguins (+145) for Thursday’s contest. The over-under is listed at 5.5.
With star Sidney Crosby out indefinitely and Evgeni Malkin absent for the rest of the year, Pittsburgh has relied on the offense of Chris Kunitz (22 goals, 22 assists) lately. He has totaled four goals and four assists in his last four games. Claude Giroux paces Philadelphia with 24 goals and 44 assists.
According to NHL trends, the Penguins are 6-1 in the last seven meetings in Philadelphia. The under is 5-1 in the last six meetings overall, but the over is 15-6-1 in the last 22 meetings in Philadelphia. Pittsburgh is 21-10 in the last 31 meetings.
Elsewhere in the NHL, the Montreal Canadiens are at the Boston Bruins for a 7:00PM EST start. Boston is a -175 fave and the over-under is 5.5. The New York Rangers are home against the Ottawa Senators at 7:00PM EST. New York is a -240 favorite, while the over-under sits at 5. Out west, the Los Angeles Kings entertain the San Jose Sharks at 10:30PM EST. Los Angeles is a -130 favorite with an over-under of 5.5.
NHL Thursday Opening Odds & Totals
1 Atlanta Thrashers +115 (5.5)
2 New York Islanders -135
3 Montreal Canadiens +155 (5.5)
4 Boston Bruins -175
5 Ottawa Senators +200 (5)
6 New York Rangers -240
7 Pittsburgh Penguins +145 (5.5)
8 Philadelphia 76ers -165
9 Edmonton Oilers +175 (5.5)
10 St. Louis Blues -210
11 Anaheim Ducks +145 (5)
12 Nashville Predators -157
13 Toronto Maple Leafs -120 (5.5)
14 Colorado Avalanche +100
15 Columbus Blue Jackets +150 (5.5)
16 Phoenix Coyotes -170
17 San Jose Sharks +110 (5)
18 Los Angeles Kings -130
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