Vancouver Canucks at Philadelphia Flyers odds, picks and predictions
The Vancouver Canucks (2-0-0) and Philadelphia Flyers (1-1-0) meet Tuesday. The opening puck drop at the Wells Fargo Center is slated for 6 p.m. ET (ESPN+). Below, we analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Canucks vs. Flyers odds, and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
Vancouver opened the season with a home-and-home against the Edmonton Oilers. The Canucks have put 48 shots on frame, they’ve put 12 of those efforts (25%) into the net.
The Flyers were undone by 3 powerplay goals in their last contest, a Saturday 5-2 loss at the Ottawa Senators. Last season, Philadelphia went 12-3-1 on 2 days of rest.
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Canucks at Flyers odds
BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 10:22 a.m. ET.
Canucks at Flyers projected goalies
Thatcher Demko (1-0-0, 1.25 GAA, .955 SV%) vs. Carter Hart (1-1-0, 3.53 GAA, .891 SV%)
Demko was sharp in stopping 21-of-22 in Vancouver’s opener. He was then listed as out with an illness on Saturday. The now-27-year-old struggled on the road last season, clocking an .887 SV%.
Hart was sharp in his 1st game but allowed 5 goals to the Ottawa Senators Saturday. The lion’s share of those 5 scores were from distance and without much traffic. Hart owns a .905 SV% over 203 career games.
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Canucks at Flyers picks and predictions
Prediction
Flyers 3, Canucks 2
Philadelphia looked good enough in its Thursday opener at the Columbus Blue Jackets to be considered as a slight underdog in this contest at home, even against a Vancouver club that has looked quite good so far.
The Canucks are not going to shoot 25% all season, and a cross-country road test — with an early start time — could make for a sleepwalk game after 2 tough battles so far.
The Philly defense has done well to limit high-danger chances against. This contest marks the Flyers’ home opener. They are a workable play at +115. Consider a partial-unit play on PHILADELPHIA (+110). Go in with more capital if the tag swings toward +120.
AVOID: lots of juice here.
Figure the Vancouver exploits coloring this total too much. Philly yielding 3 extra-man goals last game also plays in to a decent price here.
