The Philadelphia Flyers look to knock off the Buffalo Sabres tonight, Tuesday April 26th, as Game 7 of the Eastern Conference quarter-finals kicks off. These two teams have split their last ten games. NHL oddsmakers have the Flyers as whopping -160 moneyline home favourites over the Sabres (+145) with the over/under set at 5 goals. Be sure to check the Sabres vs Flyers NHL Point Spreads and get your predictions in early.
Buffalo (3-3, 2-1 V) won Game 6, 5-4 (OT) thanks to Ville Leino. The forward scored the game-winner 4:43 into overtime, at HSBC Arena. It was the second straight game to end in OT after Buffalo claimed Game 5 on a Tyler Ennis tally. Buffalo is trying to get past the first round for the first time since it went to the conference finals for the second straight season in 2007. Former Sabres co-captain Danny Briere scored twice for Philadelphia, which had its backs against the wall after dropping Games 4 and 5. Meanwhile, goalie Ryan Miller has played every minute at goaltender for the seventh-seeded Sabres and faced 49 shots Sunday, stopping 44. Both Boucher and Miller are 0-1 lifetime in Game 7s. Thomas Vanek had two goals in Sunday's loss, while Rob Niedermayer and Nathan Gerbe also scored. Derrick Roy was expected to be out for the season when he tore his left quadriceps tendon on Dec. 23, but Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff said the veteran is a go for tonight's all-important test. Roy had 35 points (10g, 25a) in 35 games before suffering the injury. Roy's return will help offset the recent loss of key forwards Tim Connolly and Jason Pominville, who are both expected to miss tonight's game. Pominville sat out Sunday's test after he was injured in Game 5 when his leg was cut by the skate of Philadelphia's James van Riemsdyk.
Philadelphia (3-3, 1-1 H) is 8-6 all-time in Game 7s, including a win over Boston in last spring's conference semifinals. Of course, the Flyers had trailed three-games- to-none in that series against the Bruins and Philly was also able to come back from a three-goal deficit in Game 7. Scott Hartnell tallied the equalizer in the middle of the third period, while James van Riemsdyk also lit the lamp for the Flyers, who fell behind in Game 6 after Michael Leighton gave up three goals on eight shots in the first period. Brian Boucher stopped 24-of-25 shots the rest of the way, but the performances only kept Philadelphia's postseason goaltending carousel spinning. The Flyers have used three starting netminders during this series — Sergei Bobrovsky , Boucher and Leighton. Flyers head coach Peter Laviolette has decided to start Boucher in Game 7. Flyers top defenseman Chris Pronger played on Sunday for the first time since early March, but he was only used on the power play and finished with 4 minutes, 33 seconds of ice time. Pronger had missed the last 16 games of the regular season and the first six tilts of this playoff series with a broken hand. Pronger may have helped Philadelphia record its best power-play performance of the series in Game 6. After going 2-for-26 on the man advantage in the first five tests, the Flyers scored twice on five power-play opportunities in Game 6.
Recent Trends to Consider:
Over is 14-2-1 in the last 17 meetings in Philadelphia.
Over is 21-6 in the last 27 meetings.
Sabres are 5-2 in the last 7 meetings in Philadelphia.
Sabres are 5-1 in their last 6 after allowing 5 goals or more in their previous game.
Sabres are 4-1 in their last 5 road games.
Flyers are 8-1 in their last 9 when their opponent allows 5 goals or more in their previous game.
Flyers are 1-5 in their last 6 games as a home favorite of -151 to -200.
Flyers are 1-6 in their last 7 games as a favorite of -151 to -200.
Flyers are 1-7 in their last 8 games following a win.
Sabres vs Flyers
When: Tuesday, April 21, 7:30 PM ET
Pick: Flyers -165
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The Bottom Line: Flyers should get help from the fans. Go Flyers! Be sure to check Sabres vs Flyers Hockey Point Spreads and get your predictions in early.
