MetroBet takes a glance at a pair of NHL games on the slate for this Thursday night including the Kings at the Flyers and the Hurricanes at the Sabres.
Los Angeles Kings at Philadelphia Flyers
Moneyline: Kings +115, Flyers -145
Puckline: Kings +1.5 goals (-240), Flyers -1.5 goals (+190)
Betting Total: 5.5 goals (Over -105, Under -115)
Time (Eastern): 7 p.m.
The Philadelphia Flyers (24-23-6) continue to defy logic, as they get outshot heavily almost every night yet manage to win. They seek their ninth straight victory as the bottom-feeding Los Angeles Kings (22-27-4) pay a visit to the Wells Fargo Center on Thursday night.
The Flyers would almost surely have a losing record over their last 10 games were it not for the outstanding goaltending of rookie Carter Hart. Over his last two starts, he’s turned back 81 of the 86 shots against him, including a show-stopper against Canucks right winger Nikolay Goldobin late in the third period on Monday night. Despite his club’s middling record, Hart is now 10-5-1 on the year with a 2.48 goals against average and a .925 save percentage.
“He’s making some miracles out there,” center Sean Couturier (who had one of his team’s two goals in Monday night’s victory) told reporters afterwards. “It’s nice to have him back there.”
L.A. is probably not looking forward to facing Hart, as they’re 30th in the NHL in goals per game at 2.34. Furthermore, the Kings will play their fourth game in six nights on Thursday, and are 3-13 in their last 16 tries in this situation, per Covers.com.
Prediction: Flyers win, 3-1
Carolina Hurricanes at Buffalo Sabres
Moneyline: Hurricanes -105, Sabres -120
Puckline: Hurricanes +1.5 goals (-300), Sabres -1.5 goals (+240)
Betting Total: 6.0 goals (Over -105, Under -115)
Time (Eastern): 7 p.m.
There should be goals aplenty in Thursday night’s showdown between the Carolina Hurricanes (26-21-6) and Buffalo Sabres (26-20-6).
Buffalo’s crease has been poorly protected for most of 2019. In their last eight games alone (including a 4-3 loss to Carolina on Jan. 11), Sabres netminders have surrendered 35 goals, resulting in seven Overs. Carter Hutton has been chased in two of his last three starts, and Linus Ullmark has been uninspiring in relief.
The Hurricanes’ goaltending has been inconsistent. Backup Curtis McElhinney returned from a minor injury (and a six-goal outing against the Rangers on Jan. 15) with a shutout against the Penguins, but Petr Mrazek (2.82 goals against average, .894 save percentage) should be between the pipes on Thursday night. He’s gone 12 straight appearances without a shutout or one-goal game.
Center Sebastian Aho leads a well-balanced attack for Carolina; he was blanked by Pittsburgh most recently but had a five-game point streak going into that contest. Buffalo left winger Jeff Skinner (31 goals this season) is a scoring threat whenever he’s on the ice, and center Sam Reinhart has three goals in his last five games.
Prediction: Hurricanes win, 5-3
The play: Flyers moneyline and Hurricanes vs. Sabres Over Parlay
