For those betting on the Philadelphia Flyers, this is an excellent time to shop. Sure, there is the option of wagering on Tuesday night’s game against the Pittsburgh Penguins, which is the first of three this week.
But the NJ sports betting crowd is thinking bigger picture, as in the Stanley Cup playoffs. At this point, the Flyers’ odds at NJ sportsbooks in various categories represent good value as they approach the one-third mark of the 56-game NHL season.
The Flyers have longshot-return wagering odds for the Stanley Cup, conference, and division championships. As a likely playoff team (three points out of first in the East), they should be able to take a shot at the playoff payoffs.
Once the postseason starts, anything can happen.
Here are some of the major choices available at New Jersey online sportsbooks.
Philadelphia Flyers and the immediate future
The Flyers opened a major five-game road stretch Saturday with back-to-back wins over the Buffalo Sabres, both by a 3-0 score. Add in the Jan. 19 victory over Buffalo, also by a 3-0 score, and Philadelphia can check off a small franchise milestone.
The @NHLFlyers shut out an opponent in three consecutive meetings for the first time in franchise history and became the second team in five years to achieve the feat. The other: Florida (Dec. 30, 2017 vs. MTL, March 8, 2018 vs. MTL & March 19, 2018 at MTL). #NHLStats pic.twitter.com/7lPnXDVHMT
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) February 28, 2021
The Penguins are up next on March 2, March 4, and March 6.
Betting note: The Flyers just got Claude Giroux back from the COVID-19 protocol list and had Jakub Voracek back in the lineup over the weekend, too.
For those thinking about betting on the Flyers, here are the odds for their next game.
What at the Flyers’ odds to win the Stanley Cup?
So at this point of the season, bettors are pondering which NHL teams have the best shot of winning the Stanley Cup. If we look at the long-term futures at DraftKings Sportsbook, the Tampa Bay Lightning is still the odds-on choice to repeat as Stanley Cup champions.
The line was +575 as of Monday morning followed by the Toronto Maple Leafs (+650). By comparison, the Flyers were at +1600, an excellent value.
The Washington Capitals (+2500) and Penguins (+2600) were further down the board.
What about reaching the finals?
Tampa Bay is +235, a reasonable price
The Vegas Golden Knights, who reached the finals last year and have excellent goaltending, are +450. This is worthy of strong consideration.
And the Flyers come in at +750 to reach the finals, with only seven teams in front of them.
These bets show the value of winning the final playoff round. Throughout the major sportsbooks, a team to reach the finals is usually worth about 50% of the payout than if they win the whole thing.
Note, futures odds are occasionally taken down during the games and returned the following morning.
State of the East Divison betting picture
Switching gears to the Eastern Division, the Boston Bruins, who seem to own the Flyers and the rest of the league so far, were +110 to capture that title. The Flyers at +375 are next, which is a fair price.
Philadelphia edged past the New Jersey Devils in the opening round of the playoffs last season before falling in seven to the New York Islanders, who then lost a tough series to the Lightning. The Flyers will have to defeat Boston in order to capture this division. This is the same Bruins team that has won all five matchups versus the Flyers so far this season, including last month’s outdoor game in Lake Tahoe.
Here are the favorites to win the division as of Monday morning:
- Bruins +110
- Flyers +375
- Islanders +475
- Capitals +550
- Penguins +600
Burning Flyers’ question: What will familiarity breed?
This is the most unique time to watch and wager on the Flyers.
The grouped series’ against the Sabres and Penguins reflects the NHL’s decision to limit travel, making hockey schedules resemble MLB’s. And like MLB, there are more chances for teams to split series.
How have the Flyers done in these back-to-back games this season?
Here is a quick recap of the season to date:
- Dropped five consecutive matchups against the Bruins
- Won three of four versus the Sabres
- Swept two meetings against the Devils and Islanders
- Split with the New York Rangers
And going forward, at least for home games, a limited number of fans could soon be permitted at the Wells Fargo Center.
Breaking News!
Pennsylvania will now allow 15% indoors and 20% outdoors
So that means Sixers and Flyers games could have close to 3,000 people indoors and Phillies could have over 8,000 people
City of Philly now has to match that for Sixers and Flyers to start having fans pic.twitter.com/JNtBxk9EqP
— John Clark (@JClarkNBCS) March 1, 2021
Flyers + in-game betting enjoyment
There has been nothing better, or bettor, in the hockey world, than the proliferation of in-game betting.
It’s a major reason DraftKings reports a betting uptick over previous seasons. Books have made hockey more bettor-friendly.
Consider any game or a long slate of league games with a bevy of enticements like these:
At DraftKings, there are not only props to score the next goal, but time props. They start with a team getting a goal in the first 10 minutes of the game. It extends to how many goals will be scored between the teams at any given time, say the end of each period.
Prior to the two games against the Sabres, they have scored inside of the first 10 minutes in each of their three games back since suffering a string of COVID-19-related postponements. It would be nice to view a larger wagering sample, but after a large amount of time off, recent form is all that matters.
There’s a unique offering of a team to fall behind and win, or score the first goal and win. That’s a good one. It must be made before the game starts but brings several possible outcomes into play.
There are usually a couple of nice payouts in this category on most NHL nights.
Last week, the Winnipeg Jets overcame a 2-0 deficit against the Montreal Canadiens to triumph 6-3.
New Jersey came from behind to topple the Sabres in overtime, 4-3.
Gamblers can make these come-from-behind bets before or during the game. When a team falls behind by two goals, as Winnipeg did, it pays handsomely in a triumph.
Another nice gambling tool is to play the next goal. It provides all types of possibilities, including making amends if one believes he/she picked the wrong team at the start of play.
Imagine having the foresight to hop on the New York Islanders Thursday night against the Bruins. The Isles snapped a 2-2 third-period tie with five unanswered goals, winning 7-2. How about if you took them five times to score next?
Very few bettors would have forged the insight to do this, but you know somebody did.
Will Hill Betting has a similar setup that adjusts the odds of a team winning after each goal is scored.
Its pre-game lineup includes anytime scorers, a score-and-win prop for various players, and an exact margin of victory.
The NHL has caught up with other major sports regarding betting innovation. So if you’re a Flyers’ bettor who wants all action, all of the time, there are options.
Related Articles
