The Philadelphia Flyers can close out the New Jersey Devils tonight, Thursday April 22, if they can get a road win during the Eastern Conference Quarters. Philly won Game 4, 4-1 as -108 home favs and lead the series 3-1. NHL oddsmakers at BODOG.com have the Devils as -170 moneyline home favorites over the Flyers (+150) with the over/under set at 5 goals . Be sure to get your 2010 NHL Playoffs: 2010 NHL Playoffs: Philadelphia Flyers vs New Jersey Devils Game 5 Odds & Prediction in now at BODOG.com
The Flyers walked away winners in Game 4 after Jeff Carter (2), Daniel Briere and Daniel Carcillo scored to get a 4-1 win. Goalie Brian Boucher is playing lights out after stopping 30 of 31 shots and is 3-1 with a 1.75 GAA and a .925 SVPCT. The Flyers have outscored the Devils 12-9. But, the win has come at a price. The Flyers received some bad news on Wednesday morning when they learned that forwards Jeff Carter and Simon Gagne are both out with foot injuries that will require surgery . Flyers coach Peter Laviolette said Ville Leino would be inserted into the lineup on Thursday, but wouldn’t name the second forward. The loss of Gagne and Carter will put a big crimp in the Flyers' offense, these two contributed two goals and three assists. Leino has just six goals this season, but he has some of the best hands on the team and consistently dominates in one-on-one battle drills in practices. Leino has playoff experience, too. He picked up two assists for Detroit in four games in the Stanley Cup Finals last season, when he also filled in as an injury replacement. Mike Richards and Claude Giroux (four goals and six assists) will need to carry the Flyers' scoring load. They also need that secondary scoring from players like Dan Carcillo, defenseman Chris Pronger and other forwards on the third and fourth lines. The Flyers are 6-for-23 (26.1 percent) on the power play in the series.
The Devils Goalie Martin Brodeur has shaved off his playoff beard after dropping two straight, hoping to bring him some luck. Brodeur is 1-3 with a 3.50 GAA. A big reason for their struggling is their powerplay and grit. The Devils are 4-for-24 on the power play after going 1-for-8 in Game 4. That just isn't good enough, and the Devils realize that. To make matters worse, Jersey is being outworked and outplayed 5-on-5. “It's hard to understand," Coach Jacques Lemaire said of his team's play at full strength. "When it's time to get pucks to the net, it seems they hit a stick, hit a leg. You look at their goals, a lot of time it bounced back on their stick, and you know what, both teams are going to the net but maybe one is more intense around that net looking for pucks a little more than the other." The Devils are 3-6 in home playoff games since the Prudential Center opened two years ago. The Devils were 13th in the regular season on the penalty kill at 82.8%; in four postseason games, they're just 73.9%.
Recent Trends to Consider:
- Flyers are 6-1 in the last 7 meetings.
- Favorite is 25-8 in the last 33 meetings.
- Under is 5-2 in the last 7 meetings in New Jersey.
- Under is 5-2-2 in the last 9 meetings.
- Home team is 37-15-2 in the last 54 meetings.
- Flyers are 7-20-1 in the last 28 meetings in New Jersey.
Philadelphia Flyers vs New Jersey Devils
When: Thursday April 22, 2010 7:00 PM ET
Line: BODOG.com
Pick: Devils -170
Point-Spreads.com 2010 NHL Playoffs: Philadelphia Flyers vs New Jersey Devils Game 5 Odds & Predictions
The Bottom Line: The Devils must have good goaltending and play with desperation. Go Devils! Be sure to get your 2010 NHL Playoffs: Philadelphia Flyers vs New Jersey Devils Game 5 Odds & Predictions in now at BODOG.com and receive up to 10% in Cash Bonuses and start winning today!
