Philadelphia Flyers at Chicago Blackhawks odds, picks and predictions
The Philadelphia Flyers (29-20-7) look to avoid a 3-game skid as they take on the Chicago Blackhawks (15-38-3) at the United Center Wednesday. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET (TNT). Below, we analyze FanDuel Sportsbook’s lines around the Flyers vs. Blackhawks odds, and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
The Flyers and New Jersey Devils flew over the total (6.5) in the 1st of 2 Stadium Series matchups this past weekend as New Jersey beat Philadelphia 6-3 Saturday. Philadelphia was coming off an OT loss at Scotiabank Arena to the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-3 Thursday, which snapped a 4-game winning streak.
According to Moneypuck.com, the Flyers have a 72.4% chance to make the postseason. Moneypuck also calculates that the Blackhawks have a 21.1% shot at the 1st pick in the NHL draft as Chicago sits at the basement of the league standings with 33 points.
The Blackhawks have just 1 win in their last 10 games — a 3-2 victory over the Ottawa Senators Saturday. C Connor Bedard leads the team in points (39) and is the heavy favorite to win the Calder Trophy (-550 at FanDuel Sportsbook).
This is the 1st of 2 matchups between these teams; they will meet again in Philadelphia March 30.
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Flyers at Blackhawks odds
FanDuel Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 1:05 p.m. ET.
Flyers at Blackhawks projected goalies
Samuel Ersson (15-10-4, 2.64 GAA, .898 SV%, 3 SO) vs. Arvid Soderblom (2-16-1, 4.01 GAA, .875 SV%)
Ersson was lit up for 5 goals against New Jersey at MetLife Stadium while allowing 12 pucks past the net overall in his last 3 starts. The 24-year-old does lead all rookie goaltenders in minutes played (1708) and wins (15), plus only 4 netminders have more shutouts (3).
Soderblom is 0-9-1 in his last 10 starts. The fellow Swede, who is also 24, earned both of his victories vs. Toronto in 2023.
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Flyers at Blackhawks picks and predictions
Prediction
Flyers 4, Blackhawks 3
INCLUDE FLYERS (-240) IN A ML PARLAY.
Too much juice to bet PHILADELPHIA ML (-240) by itself, but pairing the Flyers with the MAPLE LEAFS(-194) at the Arizona Coyotes makes some sense. That comes out to +115 odds.
BET BLACKHAWKS +1.5 (-125).
Bedard has points in all 3 contests — and has scored in 2 straight — since returning from a 14-game absence due to a broken jaw. The Flyers had their hands full with the 2017 No.1 overall pick Saturday as Devils C Nico Hischier scored 2 goals. Expect Bedard, the No. 1 pick in 2023, to get the puck past Ersson at least once, as well, and keep his team in it.
PASS.
Flyers RW Travis Konecny has registered a point in every game he has played this month, and only 6 players in the league have registered more points (11) in February. With Bedard and Konecny heating up and Soderblom in net, the lean is certainly to the Over.
However, both teams are at the bottom of the league in terms of power play percentage, and Philadelphia kills penalties at the highest percentage (86.36 PK%) in the Eastern Conference. Plus, the Flyers feature the top shot-blocker in the league in D Nick Seeler, so Chicago could have trouble getting quality chances.
