NHL Betting - Bruins @ Flyers

The Boston Bruins have been the subject of plenty of talk after the Matt Cooke hit. They’ll try to keep their focus on the ice on Thursday.

Thursday March 11, 2010 – 7:00 ET
Wachovia Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
NHL Betting Line: Philadelphia -160

The Boston Bruins and Philadelphia Flyers skated to a memorable 2-1 Bruins’ overtime win in this year’s Winter Classic at Fenway Park on New Year’s day 2010. The Flyers won the first two games of the season before the outdoor game, and take a two games to one lead in to the final contest of the season between these teams. Both Boston and Philadelphia are in the thick of the Eastern conference playoff race, but are headed in opposite directions. The sixth place Flyers have won consecutive games and seven of their last nine to pull seven games up on the ninth placed New York Rangers with two games in hand, while the eighth placed Bruins are just three points up with two games in hand after dropping consecutive games.

What The Bruins Will Have To Do To Win:

One year after clinching the top spot in the Eastern conference, the Bruins have struggled to compete for a playoff spot in 2010. The team’s main issue all season has been its inconsistency on offense, which could become an even bigger problem with number-one center Marc Savard out indefinitely after suffering a grade two concussion after the blindside hit to the head he took from Pittsburgh’s Matt Cooke in Sunday’s loss. Patrice Bergeron has three points in his last three games, and will have to continue to produce in place of Savard on the top line. Michael Ryder has struggled to score after a productive 2009 campaign, and along with David Krejci, Miroslav Satan, and Blake Wheeler will have to step up. Tuukka Rask has the second best goals against average in the league, and fourth best save percentage in the league, and will have to play to that standard against the high-scoring Flyers.

What The Flyers Will Have To Do To Win:

Philadelphia has scored at least three goals in seven of its last eight games, so scoring isn’t their problem. However, questions remain in goal for the Flyers after they lost starter Ray Emery for the season. General manager Paul Holmgren decided not to add a goalie at the deadline, a nod of confidence to Michael Leighton and Brian Boucher. Leighton has performed well since being acquired off waivers and is 16-7-2 overall this season, and has allowed two goals or fewer in seven of his past nine starts. In those seven games, the 28-year old went undefeated, an indication of how important his play is to Philadelphia’s success.

Outlook and Pick:

The Flyers are hitting their stride at the perfect time. With just seventeen games to go in the season, Philadelphia still has a chance to catch the New Jersey Devils for fourth overall in the Eastern conference, which would mean home-ice advantage. Boston has struggled on offense all season, and without Marc Savard, they could continue to struggle down the stretch, which makes Philadelphia the obvious choice.

Pick: Philadelphia -160