There’s good value on one of the best teams in hockey in the January 13th NHL free pick as Boston is priced at just -136 on Monday. Granted the Bruins have had their struggles against Philadelphia as of late as the Flyers have won three straight in the series. Philly has lost 5 of 6, but have been playing mostly on the road. Can the Flyers get another one being at home as +115?
Boston Is Rolling Right Now
The Bruins have 65 points which is tied for the most in the league. You can tell Boston is starting to feel the pressure from streaking Tampa Bay (9-1 L10) as Bruce Cassidy’s team has won three straight. That includes wins over playoff hopefuls in Nashville, Winnipeg, and the Islanders.
The reason the price isn’t higher for the January 13th NHL free pick is because Philadelphia has had the Bruins number in 4 of the last 5 games. The Flyers are also getting some great goaltending at home. Even so, Boston ranks 8th in the league in scoring and has allowed the 2nd fewest goals on the season. Throw in a power play unit that has scored a man-advantage goal in 13 straight games and Boston is truly a team that can win every night out. They have collected a point in 12 of the last 13.
Monday’s total is just 5.5 as the Bruins have been getting some great goaltending from Tuuka Rask per usual. Rask has allowed 2 goals or less in 5 of the last 6 but Boston will instead turn to #2 Jaroslav Halak vs. the Flyers. Halak allowed 4 goals on just 21 shots to Winnipeg on Thursday but was bailed out by 5 goals from his offense. Don’t expect the Bruins to net the pucks at that rate in Monday’s game.
Philly Just a Tough Matchup for Bruins?
The Flyers have to have confidence ahead of Monday night’s tilt after taking the last three head-to-head games in this series. That includes taking the last two in Boston including a 3-2 SO win back in early November.
Philadelphia is at home on Monday, a place where they are 14-3-4 on the year. The Flyers dropped a home game on Saturday, but did their best in limiting the red hot Lightning in falling just 0-1. That’s a outing in net for Carter Hart against the league’s #1 scoring offense. Hart makes the Flyers a great wager in this one with his 12-2-2 record and 1.49 GAA at Wells Fargo this season.
The Flyers’ recent run of going 2-6 in their last 8 doesn’t look great but all but the last two have been away contests. Since returning back to Philadelphia the Flyers have notched a 3-2 win over 1st place Washington and fell 0-1 to a Lightning team that has won 9 of 10.
January 13th NHL Free Pick
Boston is on a nice roll and have won 3 in a row over quality teams. The Flyers have gotten amped up for this series over the last two years though and has been a completely different team at home. If Rask was in net, it would be a safer wager on the Bruins (and the ‘under’). With Boston’s veteran goaltender sitting for Tuesday’s tilt with Carolina, the goaltending and game edge shifts to Carolina.
Pick: Philadelphia Flyers +115
