by Chuck Sommers
Saturday, Feb 25, 2023
Time: 7 p.m. ET
Venue: Prudential Center, Newark, NJ
Where to watch: MSGSN, NBCSP
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: Devils -295, Flyers +245
FanDuel: Devils -295, Flyers +245
BetMGM: Devils -275, Flyers +225
Caesars: Devils -295, Flyers +245
Season record
Flyers: 23-27-10
Devils: 38-15-5
The All-Star break is over, the second half of the NHL season can officially begin, and we're bound for what should be a very exciting second half of the hockey season. Basketball and hockey are about to rule the roost in the sports betting world once the Super Bowl is done with, and we should all be very excited for what's to come. When the trade deadline hits and players switch teams, you know things are about to get hectic over these final 30 games or so. One way you can stay tuned with the action is following what our champion handicappers are doing in the world of the NHL. Look at ASA, Inc., reeling in a $6,750 profit off a 17-9-0 run. Al McMordie is also doing well on the ice with a 13-5-0 run and a net profit of $6,050. Scott Rickenbach has also been hanging strong with a lot of betting action, in what's been an unusual year, with a 24-18-0 run and reeling in $5,950. You know this action is going to be great now that games are back and a busy second half if on the horizon. All you need to do is head to our BEST BETS page at bigal.com to find out all of what we're trying to tell you. Make sure you're locked in at bigal.com and go to our Best Bets page to find out what our champion handicappers have to say in the world of the NHL!
Flyers - Devils preview, prediction and analysis
The Philadelphia Flyers will be playing The New Jersey Devils on Saturday, February 25 in Newark, New Jersey.
The Philadelphia Flyers lost against the Montreal Canadiens on Friday, February 24 at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with a score of 5-2. The Philadelphia Flyers currently rank 7th in the Metropolitan Division.
Owen Tippett and Ivan Provorov scored for the Flyers (23-27-10), who have lost six of seven (1-5-1). Carter Hart made 26 saves.
It was their first game back after playing four in six nights on a Western road trip
"Played a little bit in the third for a few minutes, but we looked pretty sluggish," Philadelphia coach John Tortorella said. "Sometimes those road trips work against you, you're coming across the time zones. ... As a group, we were sluggish right on through."
The game seemed to turn when Flyers forward Olle Lycksell was called for slashing at 7:52 of the first period. The Canadiens didn't score but had five shots on goal and controlled the tempo the rest of the way.
"I think our first 10 or so minutes were pretty good," Philadelphia forward Joel Farabee said. "I think once they got that first power play, we kind of lost our game a little bit."
Montreal scored the first three goals before Tippett scored nine seconds into the third period to make it 3-1.
"I think he's going to be a really good player for us," Tortorella said. "You lose another game, you have some questions about certain things, but I look at some other things and where some players are improving as you forecast and you look to the future. That's an exciting one."
Montreal scored another two goals, and Provorov finished a give-and-go with Tony DeAngelo at 18:32 for the 5-2 final.
The Philadelphia Flyers have won three of their last 10 games.
The New Jersey Devils won against the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday, February 23 at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey with a score of 4-3 in overtime. The New Jersey Devils currently rank 2nd in the Metropolitan Division.
Dawson Mercer had three points, Tomas Tatar had a goal and an assist, Hamilton had two assists and Vanecek made 19 saves for the Devils (38-15-5).
Los Angeles scored the first two goals before Tatar cut it to 2-1 at 16:44 of the second period on a backhand from the slot after Mercer stole the puck behind the net.
Mercer tied it 2-2 on a snap shot from the right hash marks at 2:23 of the third period. Sean Durzi gave the Kings a 3-2 lead at 15:41 on a shot at the left post off a backdoor pass from Kopitar.
The Devils have an NHL-best 21 comeback wins this season; their record is 23 (2017-18).
Mercer's first NHL overtime goal came after Nico Hischier tied it 3-3 with 39 seconds remaining in the third period. With goalie Vitek Vanecek pulled for an extra attacker, Hischier redirected a pass in the slot from Jack Hughes.
Mercer scored his second goal of the game at 2:30 of overtime. Mercer took a pass from Dougie Hamilton in the slot and scored on a redirection for his seventh goal during an NHL-career high five-game goal streak.
"When you're out there with some pretty good players like Dougie and Jack [Hughes], I want to make sure I get myself open and Dougie found me and it went in the back of the net," Mercer said. "It was a lot of excitement. We stuck with it, we never gave up, and obviously we capped it off there in overtime."
"I think we've had a great tendency to deal with adversity, hunker down and overcome bad plays," New Jersey coach Lindy Ruff said. "So, to come back from 2-0 ... they're a tough team to generate chances. They're a very well-structured team, so you've got to give our guys a lot of credit.”
The New Jersey Devils have won seven of their last 10 games.
Prediction
Devils 4, Flyers 0
The Philadelphia Flyers lost against the Montreal Canadiens on Friday, February 24 at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with a score of 5-2. The Philadelphia Flyers currently rank 7th in the Metropolitan Division.
Owen Tippett and Ivan Provorov scored for the Flyers (23-27-10), who have lost six of seven (1-5-1). Carter Hart made 26 saves.
It was their first game back after playing four in six nights on a Western road trip
"Played a little bit in the third for a few minutes, but we looked pretty sluggish," Philadelphia coach John Tortorella said. "Sometimes those road trips work against you, you're coming across the time zones. ... As a group, we were sluggish right on through."
The game seemed to turn when Flyers forward Olle Lycksell was called for slashing at 7:52 of the first period. The Canadiens didn't score but had five shots on goal and controlled the tempo the rest of the way.
"I think our first 10 or so minutes were pretty good," Philadelphia forward Joel Farabee said. "I think once they got that first power play, we kind of lost our game a little bit."
Montreal scored the first three goals before Tippett scored nine seconds into the third period to make it 3-1.
"I think he's going to be a really good player for us," Tortorella said. "You lose another game, you have some questions about certain things, but I look at some other things and where some players are improving as you forecast and you look to the future. That's an exciting one."
Montreal scored another two goals, and Provorov finished a give-and-go with Tony DeAngelo at 18:32 for the 5-2 final.
The Philadelphia Flyers have won three of their last 10 games.
The New Jersey Devils won against the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday, February 23 at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey with a score of 4-3 in overtime. The New Jersey Devils currently rank 2nd in the Metropolitan Division.
Dawson Mercer had three points, Tomas Tatar had a goal and an assist, Hamilton had two assists and Vanecek made 19 saves for the Devils (38-15-5).
Los Angeles scored the first two goals before Tatar cut it to 2-1 at 16:44 of the second period on a backhand from the slot after Mercer stole the puck behind the net.
Mercer tied it 2-2 on a snap shot from the right hash marks at 2:23 of the third period. Sean Durzi gave the Kings a 3-2 lead at 15:41 on a shot at the left post off a backdoor pass from Kopitar.
The Devils have an NHL-best 21 comeback wins this season; their record is 23 (2017-18).
Mercer's first NHL overtime goal came after Nico Hischier tied it 3-3 with 39 seconds remaining in the third period. With goalie Vitek Vanecek pulled for an extra attacker, Hischier redirected a pass in the slot from Jack Hughes.
Mercer scored his second goal of the game at 2:30 of overtime. Mercer took a pass from Dougie Hamilton in the slot and scored on a redirection for his seventh goal during an NHL-career high five-game goal streak.
"When you're out there with some pretty good players like Dougie and Jack [Hughes], I want to make sure I get myself open and Dougie found me and it went in the back of the net," Mercer said. "It was a lot of excitement. We stuck with it, we never gave up, and obviously we capped it off there in overtime."
"I think we've had a great tendency to deal with adversity, hunker down and overcome bad plays," New Jersey coach Lindy Ruff said. "So, to come back from 2-0 ... they're a tough team to generate chances. They're a very well-structured team, so you've got to give our guys a lot of credit.”
The New Jersey Devils have won seven of their last 10 games.
Prediction
Devils 4, Flyers 0
Betting trends
Devils are 4-1 in the last five meetings in New Jersey.
Favorite is 5-2 in the last seven.
Over is 13-6-1 in the last 20 meetings in New Jersey
Projected lines
Flyers:
Scott Laughton -- Kevin Hayes -- Wade Allison
James van Riemsdyk -- Morgan Frost -- Owen Tippett
Olle Lycksell -- Noah Cates -- Joel Farabee
Nicolas Deslauriers -- Patrick Brown
Ivan Provorov -- Travis Sanheim
Cam York -- Rasmus Ristolainen
Nick Seeler -- Tony DeAngelo
Justin Braun
Carter Hart
Scott Laughton -- Kevin Hayes -- Wade Allison
James van Riemsdyk -- Morgan Frost -- Owen Tippett
Olle Lycksell -- Noah Cates -- Joel Farabee
Nicolas Deslauriers -- Patrick Brown
Ivan Provorov -- Travis Sanheim
Cam York -- Rasmus Ristolainen
Nick Seeler -- Tony DeAngelo
Justin Braun
Carter Hart
Devils:
Tomas Tatar -- Nico Hischier -- Dawson Mercer
Yegor Sharangovich -- Jack Hughes -- Jesper Bratt
Ondrej Palat -- Erik Haula -- Jesper Boqvist
Miles Wood -- Michael McLeod -- Fabian Zetterlund
Jonas Siegenthaler -- Dougie Hamilton
Ryan Graves -- John Marino
Kevin Bahl -- Damon Severson
Vitek Vanecek
Tomas Tatar -- Nico Hischier -- Dawson Mercer
Yegor Sharangovich -- Jack Hughes -- Jesper Bratt
Ondrej Palat -- Erik Haula -- Jesper Boqvist
Miles Wood -- Michael McLeod -- Fabian Zetterlund
Jonas Siegenthaler -- Dougie Hamilton
Ryan Graves -- John Marino
Kevin Bahl -- Damon Severson
Vitek Vanecek
Don't miss our champion handicappers' free picks and expert hockey picks today. And if you enjoyed this Philadelphia Flyers - New Jersey Devils prediction, be sure to drop by every day for our daily NHL projections and previews.
Chuck Sommers
About the Author:
Chuck Sommers has camped outside of sportsbooks since he can remember, learning the tricks and nuances of the trade. He still has nightmares of betting $5,000 on the Raiders in the Tuck Rule game but has since turned that to 25 years of veteran handicapping greatness. You can find him mostly in the shadows at the Red Rock or Aliante casinos wondering if the over is cashing on any given Sunday.
