Sports Betting Overview
Even people that are only involved in NCAA basketball betting are trying to figure out how the Philadelphia Flyers got shut out at home by the Los Angeles Kings over the weekend. As the NHL trade deadline approaches, it is doubtful that the Flyers will be buyers or sellers in the open market. But the betting services are thinking that the shut out loss to the Kings will be more of a wake-up call for Philadelphia than a foreshadowing of bad things to come.
The last time the Tampa Bay Lightning stepped on the ice, they won a very important divisional game over the Carolina Hurricanes. But that was three days ago. Sustaining momentum can be difficult with more than a day or two off in between games. The Lightning trail the Flyers by four points in the Eastern Conference standings, and this game can go a long way to helping to determine who will take the top spot as the playoffs get closer.
Philadelphia Flyers
The only thing the Flyer have to worry about when it comes to the shut out loss to the Kings is that the Kings were really on a roll and the Flyers could not stop them. It is the same problem the Flyers has in the playoffs last year. The Chicago Blackhawks were really on a roll, and the Flyers could not stop them. But the Flyers know how important this game is, and they intend to put some space between themselves and the Lightning. Despite the loss to the Kings, the Flyers are 7-3-0 in their last 10 games. Even more impressive is the fact that the Flyers are 17-6-3 on the road. The Flyers have a better road record than home record. A team that is that comfortable on the road has a very good shot at getting back on track in an opponent’s building.
Tampa Bay Lightning
The Lightning are an extremely tough team at home. This season, Tampa Bay is 19-6-2 at home. The Lighting are also 3-0 this season against the Flyers, and the Lightning have been able to score against the Flyers while shutting the Philadelphia offense down. Tampa Bay is the one team that the Flyers do not want to play in the regular season or in the playoffs. As the trade deadline approaches, the Lightning are not looking to make any moves at all. That means that the Flyers may have to deal with this Tampa Bay team in the playoffs, and it could be Philly’s Achilles heel.
The Bottom Line
The Flyers need this game, but after getting shut out by the Kings the Flyers are vulnerable. They are especially vulnerable against a Tampa Bay team that just shut Philadelphia out two weeks ago. Flyers fans may have to accept the fact that the Lightning has their number and that this could be a big problem for the Flyers. The Lightning are coming off of an emotional win just a few days ago, and they will find a way to use that to their advantage against the best team in the Eastern Conference.
BSN Sports Pick: Tampa Bay Lightning
