Flyers vs. Rangers Prediction
| Flyers Odds | +180 |
| Rangers Odds | -220 |
| Over / Under | 6 -110/-110 |
Here's everything you need to know about the Philadelphia Flyers vs. New York Rangers on Thursday, April 11 – our expert NHL prediction and pick.
The Flyers and Rangers are headed in opposite directions as the end of the regular season draws near. Philadelphia has lost eight straight and has seen its margin of defeat swell over its past four games.
But remarkably, the Flyers aren't completely out of the playoff hunt and are just two points back of Washington.
Meanwhile, the Rangers are trying to keep their roster healthy while locking up top spot in the Eastern Conference and securing home-ice advantage through the first three rounds of the playoffs.
It has only been a couple of weeks since the last time these teams met at Madison Square Garden in what was a high-scoring affair that the Rangers won in overtime.
Look for plenty of scoring again on Thursday, a pick I'll explain below with my Flyers vs. Rangers prediction.
Philadelphia Flyers
John Tortorella called Tuesday's 9-3 loss in Montreal "rock bottom" for his group, which hasn't recorded a win since beating Boston, of all teams, on March 23. Since that time, the Flyers are 0-6-2 and have given up 5.25 goals per game while scoring just 2.25.
However, they've controlled the action extremely well at 5-on-5. Over the past eight games, their expected goals share is 57.34%, third-best in the league.
They've been undone by a league-low team save percentage of 81.71% at 5-on-5 and by awful results on special teams — a power-play drought that's up to six games and a 61.5% penalty kill — despite disciplined play that has served up only 13 power plays to opponents over those eight games.
Additionally, the Flyers have been outshooting their opponents by an average of more than 10 shots a game — 34.9 to 24.0 over these eight games.
If they could get a save, and a little puck luck, their fortunes could be different. And while they have just three games left to play, the playoffs are still within reach.
New York Rangers
With three games to go, the Rangers hold a three-point lead over the Carolina Hurricanes and Boston Bruins atop the Eastern Conference. It has been an excellent debut season for Peter Laviolette behind the bench, and while the Rangers lost their last game on Long Island on Tuesday, they are perhaps fortunate not to be dealing with lasting injury issues as Mika Zibanejad, Vincent Trocheck and Chris Kreider all went down in heaps of pain at various moments.
Tuesday's loss was just the second in the past 10 games for the Rangers, despite the fact that their 5-on-5 save percentage over the past eight games is actually better than only the Flyers (88.67%). But at 51.5%, their 5-on-5 expected goals share is respectable, and great special teams, including a power play that's humming at 42.1% lately, have helped boost the offense to 4.13 goals per game.
Flyers vs. Rangers
Betting Pick & Prediction
The Rangers have won all three games in this season series — two lower-scoring affairs, then a 6-5 back-and-forth barnburner on March 26th.
And while the Flyers' downward spiral is concerning, surely a point will come when their luck starts to turn. Where better than at Madison Square Garden, against a longtime foe?
Look at both teams' leaky netminding in recent games and target the total — especially with some shops offering even-money at Over 6.0.
Pick: Over 6.0 (+102 at BetRivers; Play to -110)
