NHL Betting Free Picks: Philadelphia @ New Jersey
Added on Feb 10, 2010 by Jack Thurman in
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The sportsbooks have a good selection of NHL betting opportunities up for Wednesday, and we’ll take a look at a NHL Eastern Conference matchup between the New Jersey Devils and Philadelphia Flyers. Devils are 2nd in the Eastern Conference, leading third place Buffalo by 2 points while the Flyers are trying to hang on to the 8th and final playoff position in the conference as the Winter Olympic break draws near:
Philadelphia Flyers at New Jersey Devils
February 10, 4:05 PM Pacific
Quick rematch from Monday night, when the Flyers won at home 3-2. In some ways, this play is ‘deja vu all over again’ but there’s a reason for that. Sports handicappers (as well as horse racing handicappers) frequently address the concept of ‘form’. Typically that refers to how one team is playing or how one horse is running, but when handicapping NHL totals I like to refer to what I call ‘game form’ in matchups between two specific teams. Basically, this is the same thing as the boxing cliche that ‘styles make fights’. Specific teams often play a certain type of game when they face each other. In-season game form is one of the most valuable tools a handicapper has, and particularly in the NHL.
In this situation, we’ve got the best type of in-season ‘game form’. These teams played less than 48 hours ago, and there’s no reason this game won’t play out in a very similar fashion. Devils have only gone ‘Over’ in 4 of 16 vs. their own division this season. As was the case on Monday night, the extra half goal from 5 to 5? is important here as 6 of the last ten head to head have seen five goals exactly. Devils need to avenge their Monday defeat to keep pace with Buffalo, so this could be an even more tightly contested affair.
Bet Philadelphia/New Jersey Under 5′ -135
