Flyers vs. Hurricanes NHL Odds, Preview and Prediction (Archive)
The Carolina Hurricanes have the fewest losses in the NHL and oddsmakers don’t expect them to add another Friday when they host the Philadelphia Flyers. Which way to lean at BMR’s top-rated sportsbooks?
Philadelphia Flyers vs. Carolina Hurricanes
Friday, November 12, 2021 – 07:00 PM EST at PNC Arena
The Carolina Hurricanes are one of a few teams yet to lose at home this season as they welcome the Philadelphia Flyers to Raleigh, N.C. on Friday night. It’s the first meeting of the year between the Metropolitan Division rivals.
Because they are in the same division, they will play four times this season – and maybe again in the playoffs. This writer could see Carolina winning the division and Philadelphia finishing fourth, and in that scenario, a first-round postseason matchup would happen. To win the Metro, Carolina is a +175 favorite at BMR’s top-rated books. To make the playoffs, the Flyers are -115 with no at -105.
Due to last season’s divisions being scrambled because of the pandemic, the Flyers and Hurricanes didn’t play. In 2019-20, Philadelphia won three of four meetings. The favorite is 5-1 on the NHL odds in the past six meetings and the total has gone over in five of those six.
Flyers On Alternating Trend
Philadelphia (6-3-2) has alternated wins and losses over its past six, but I’m predicting that the NHL betting trend changes Friday. The Flyers were short home underdogs Wednesday against Toronto and couldn’t capitalize on the Maple Leaf’s missing star John Tavares as Philly lost 3-0. It was the second time this year the team was blanked, also losing 4-0 in Calgary on Oct. 30.
Carter Hart allowed all three goals on 33 shots to fall to 3-3-2 on the year with a 2.49 GAA and .924 save percentage. Hart has now surrendered at least three goals in six of eight starts. Friday is the front end of a back-to-back for the Flyers, but Hart already has been named the starter. He has faced the Hurricanes four times his career and is 2-2 with a 2.69 GAA and .911 SV. All nine goals allowed were at even strength.
The big offseason addition for the Flyers was defenseman Ryan Ellis, but he missed an eighth straight game Wednesday with a lower-body injury. That Ellis was close to playing could bode well for this one. He has a goal and three assists and a plus-three rating in three games. Center Kevin Hayes has yet to play this season due to injury and is not expected to this weekend. Philadelphia is 8-17 on the NHL picks in its last 25 games vs. teams with a losing record.
Hurricanes Finally Back Home
While Carolina (10-1-0) doesn’t lead the NHL in points, it is the only team with just one loss and has the league’s best goals differential at plus-20. That defeat was 5-2 at an excellent Florida team (which leads the NHL in points but has played a few more games) last Saturday.
The Canes come off their first overtime game of the season, which is hard to believe, a 2-1 comeback win in Tampa on Tuesday. Teuvo Teravainen’s third goal of the season tied the game 1-1 at 9:08 of the third and Martin Necas’ third of the year won it at 3:26 of OT.
Frederik Andersen stopped 17 of 18 shots to improve to 9-1-0 with a 1.73 GAA and .939 SV. He became the first goalie in Hurricanes/Whalers history to win nine of his 10 games played.
The Swede has been arguably the best offseason signing of any team and is an early Vezina Trophy favorite on the NHL futures odds. Andersen has held the opposition to two or fewer goals seven times and should be in net Friday. He is 8-3-3 in 14 career outings vs. the Flyers with a 3.21 GAA and .905 SV.
There could be a bit of a bug going around the Hurricanes, so that’s worrisome. Both Necas and Jesper Fant missed practice Thursday due to an illness. Necas has three goals and three assists this year and Fast five goals and a helper.
Winger Nino Niederreiter, defenseman Brett Pesce, and backup goaltender Antti Raanta are all out injured. Carolina is 5-0 on the NHL odds in its past five at home following a road trip of at least seven days. This will be the Canes’ first home game since Halloween and they’ll win it.
NHL Pick: Hurricanes at -167 with BetOnline (visit our BetOnline Review)
*The line and/or odds on picks in this article might have moved since the content was commissioned. For updated line movements, visit BMR’s free betting odds product.