In a game that features two teams currently on losing skids, the Detroit Red Wings and the Philadelphia Flyers clash at the Wells Fargo Center. NBC Sports Philadelphia will broadcast this Eastern Conference matchup, and the opening face-off takes place at 7 p.m. ET on Tuesday, December 18.
Detroit Red Wings vs. Philadelphia Flyers Odds
Detroit (+130) is entering this one as the underdog to Philadelphia (-150) and the Over/Under (O/U) has been placed at 7 goals (-120 over, +100 under).
Detroit is 14-20 straight up (SU) and has lost 0.1 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through 34 regular season matches, 17 of its games have gone over the total, while 15 have gone under and just two have pushed. This 2018-19 Red Wings team is 6-9 SU on the road.
Detroit has converted on 18.2 percent of its power play chances this season, a mark that’s right around league average. Its penalty kill is ranked 21st out of 31 teams, and it has successfully killed off 78.0 percent of its penalties.
For the team as a whole, Detroit has been penalized 4.2 times per game overall this season, 4.0 per game over its last five matchups total, and 4.6 per game over its last five on the road. The team’s had to stave off opponent power plays 9.8 minutes per contest over their last five road games.
Sporting a .922 save percentage and 29.9 saves per game, Jimmy Howard (10-13-4) has been the primary option in goal for Detroit this year. If head coach Jeff Blashill decides to rest him, however, Detroit could turn to Jonathan Bernier (4-10-1), who has a .890 save percentage and 3.59 goals against average this year.
Dylan Larkin and Gustav Nyquist will both lead the offensive attack for the visiting Red Wings. Larkin has 32 points on 14 goals and 18 assists, and has recorded multiple points in eight different games. Nyquist has nine goals and 21 assists to his credit (and has registered at least one point in 20 games).
On the other side of the ice, Philadelphia is 12-19 straight up (SU) and has lost 9.8 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through 31 regular season matches, 19 of its games have gone over the total, while 12 have gone under and none have pushed. It’s 5-9 SU at home this year.
Philadelphia has converted on just 12.9 percent of its power play chances this season, a mark that’s ranked 30th in the NHL. Its penalty kill is also ranked 30th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 73.5 percent of all opponent power plays.
The Flyers have been penalized 4.2 times per game this season, and 3.6 per game over their last ten games. The team has been forced to defend opponent power plays 11.6 minutes per game over their last five home outings.
Brian Elliott (25.0 saves per game) has been the top choice in goal for Philadelphia. Elliott has seven wins and seven losses to his name and has maintained a .911 save percentage and 2.59 goals against average this season.
Claude Giroux (11 goals, 28 assists) will lead the attack for the Flyers.
Detroit Red Wings vs. Philadelphia Flyers Free Picks
Prediction: SU Winner \u2013 Flyers, O/U \u2013 Under
Betting Notes
- For both of these teams, the total has gone over in three of their last five matches.
- Detroit has managed 29.8 shot attempts per game over its last five road games while Philadelphia is averaging 36.6 shots per game over its last five at home.
- The Flyers are 4-9 SU in games where they serve more penalty minutes than their opponent while the Red Wings are 10-11 SU when they serve more minutes than their opponent.
- Two of Detroit’s past 10 outings have ended in a shootout. The team’s 0-2 in those games and 2-4 overall in shootouts this season.
- Philadelphia is ranked 29th overall with 5.4 takeaways per game. That figure has trended higher recently, as the team has forced 6.4 takeaways over its last 10 games and 6.8 takeaways over its last five.
- Detroit has allowed 3.4 goals per game overall this season, but is giving up 4.7 goals per match up over its three-game losing streak.
- Detroit has averaged 8.2 takeaways per game over its last five road games, an improvement over its season average of 6.5 takeaways per game (ranked 25th overall).
