Flyers vs. Penguins Prediction
The NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs kicks off Wednesday night with a trio of games, including the first contest between the Philadelphia Flyers and the Pittsburgh Penguins. Will Game 1 turn into a high-scoring affair between the two teams?
Game Snapshot
(005) Philadelphia Flyers at (006) Pittsburgh Penguins
Wednesday, April 11, 2018
TV: NBCSN
Public Betting Information
According to oddsmakers from online sportsbook YouWager, the Penguins are -190 money line favorites to beat the Flyers, who currently are +165 underdogs to pull off a Game 1 upset. Our NHL Public Betting Information page shows that 59% of the betting tickets wagered at online sportsbooks are on the Penguins to win on the money line tonight.
Brian Elliott set to start Game 1 for the Flyers
Brian Elliott is expected to be in net tonight for the Flyers when they kick off their Stanley Cup Playoffs campaign. The 33-year-old goaltender was the only Flyers goaltender that didn’t participate in the morning skate on Wednesday. He missed 25 games with a lower-body injury before returning to the starting lineup to play the final two games of the regular season. The Flyers won those two games as Elliott finished the year with a 23-11-7 record and a 2.66 goals-against-average to go along with his .909 save percentage.
The Flyers last won a playoff series in 2012 when Claude Giroux was 24-years old. He’s one of the few players on Philadelphia’s roster that have won a playoff series before. Giroux was a significant contributor for the Flyers this season with 34 goals and 102 points in 82 games. The Flyers will need him to come up big if they’re going to pull off the upset tonight.
Matt Murray to start in goal for the Pittsburgh Pirates Wednesday
Murray will get the nod for tonight’s Game 1 matchup with the Flyers. He was the first goaltender off the ice at the morning stake. He didn’t really tear it up during the regular season but he’s a two-time Stanley Cup champion and Pittsburgh hopes he rediscovers the magic he had in those previous postseasons.
Meanwhile, Derick Brassard is listed as a game-time decision for the opener due to a lower-body injury. He didn’t take part of Pittsburgh’s optional morning stake but practiced in full on Monday and Tuesday so should play. Josh Jooris could be scratched if Brassard returns.
Betting Trends
Philadelphia
The Flyers are 1-4 in their last five road games and have dropped five of their last seven Conference Quarterfinals games.
Pittsburgh
The Penguins are 4-1 in their last five games overall and have won seven of their last eight Conference Quarterfinals games.
Our Prediction
The Penguins are probably a good bet to cash tonight but I like the over more because it provides better value. The over is a perfect 5-0 in the last five meetings between these two teams and is 15-5-1 in the last 21 meetings between these two teams in Pittsburgh. The over is also 23-9 in the Pens’ last 32 games overall and is 9-1 in the Flyers’ last 10 Eastern Conference matchups.
Our Prediction: Flyers/Penguins over 6