St. Louis Blues at Philadelphia Flyers Betting Preview
There will be plenty of conspiracies floating around Pennsylvania on election night in the United States, and one of them is why the Philadelphia Flyers (6-3-2) are home underdogs against the St. Louis Blues (3-7-0).
Not only is St. Louis slumping hard right now with a seven-game losing streak, but they are also playing on the back-to-back following yet another defeat, this time 3-1 in Boston on Monday night.
The Blues used their top goaltender Jordan Binnington in that contest and will turn to a backup in Philadelphia, yet despite all this, St. Louis has a -126 price tag for Tuesday night.
St. Louis Falling Fast
All was well in St. Louis when the Blue got off to a 3-0 start to the season, highlighted by a 2-0 win in Edmonton. That October 22nd game against the Oilers was the last bright spot for this team, however, as they’ve dropped seven in a row since then.
Goaltending has been an issue during this slide – but at the same time, this offense is averaging just 1.57 goals/game during the losing streak. St. Louis’ 2.3 goals/game average for the season is the worst in the NHL. Those aren’t great trends heading into a matchup with one of the hottest goaltenders in the league in Carter Hart.
Binnington stopped 34 saves on Monday night; the only problem is that he faced 37. He won’t be available on zero days rest which means Thomas Greiss gets just his third start of the season.
Greiss was solid on Halloween, stopping all 11 shots he faced after Binnington got the hook, but he has allowed eight goals in his two starts this season.
Flyers In a Trap Here?
We’ve got the worst offense in the NHL playing on a back-to-back up against Flyers goaltender Hart who is 6-0-2 and sporting a 1.97 GAA.
The Blues have dropped seven in a row and are on zero days rest, but it’s the Flyers – who have been off since Saturday’s win in Ottawa and have picked up points in four of five home games – who are the underdogs?
Maybe Hart doesn’t start here? That would be the only reason why Philadelphia would not be favored in this spot, but they have Wednesday off, and even turning to a backup would just even the field with the Blues, who are doing the same.
Sure the Flyers have only scored four goals total in their last three games, but those were all on the road, and that’s the same production the Blues have had over their last three.
Blues at Flyers Pick and Prediction
This is a very strange line and one that most definitely looks like the books want us to take Philadelphia.
Philadelphia is fighting through some injuries right now, with James van Riemsdyk out another month with a fractured finger and Sean Couturier still trying to return from back surgery, but the Flyers are back at home, well-rested, and against a slumping team.
When a bet looks too easy, it usually is. Sometimes when every trend in a game points you in one direction, but the odds don’t match up, you have to listen to the line.
Pick: Blues -126
