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The Philadelphia Flyers and the Boston Bruins get things going in the NHL this Saturday in a matchup between two playoff contenders in the Eastern Conference. Game time from TD Garden in Boston is set for 1 p.m. (ET).
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Philadelphia at Boston Game Overview<br />
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Philadelphia is holding down fifth place in the Metro Division standings with 50 points after getting past Vancouver 5-4 on Thursday night in a shootout. It closed as a -176 home favorite and the total went well OVER the five-goal betting line. This was just its second win in its last nine games and the total has gone OVER in five of their last eight games. The Flyers are 8-10-3 in 21 previous road games this year.
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This has been a tough team to figure out lately. Philly was able to reel off 10-straight wins back in late November and early December, but since then the wins have been far and few between. The four goals in regulation on Thursday night was a welcomed sight considering that the Flyers had failed to score more than two goals in four of their last previous six outings. On the year, Philadelphia is ranked eighth in the NHL in scoring with 2.8 goals per game, but its goals-against average of 3.0 falls all the way to 27th in the league.
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The Bruins are in second place in the Atlantic Division behind Montreal, but at 22-18-5 on the year they just behind Philly in the East with 49 total points. They are coming off a 2-1 loss to Nashville on Thursday night as -122 favorites to wrap up a recent four-game road trip with a 2-1-1 record. The total stayed UNDER five in that loss after going OVER in three of their last four outings. Boston returns to TD Garden with a losing 9-10 record at home this year.
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Scoring was an issue in Thursday’s loss, but the Bruins were able to post a combined total of 15 goals in their previous four games. This was a major improvement in that department as compared to a season average of 2.4 goals per game that is ranked 23rd in the league. Boston’s strength this season has been on the other end the ice with a goals-against average of 2.4. Tuukka Rask has started the majority of the games this season in goal, but a neck injury could keep him out of Saturday’s contest. If he cannot go, look for Zane McIntyre to possibly get the start after replacing Rask against the Predators.
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Philadelphia at Boston Game Betting Trends<br />
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The Flyers are 9-3 in their last 12 games following a win, but they have lost their last seven road games. The total has stayed UNDER in five of their last seven games on the road.
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The Bruins are just 2-5 in their last seven home games and they have lost their last seven games against a team from the Metro Division. The total has stayed UNDER in four of their last five games on one day’s rest.
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Head-to-head in this matchup, Boston has a 5-1 edge in its last six home games against Philadelphia and the total has stayed UNDER or ended as a PUSH in six of the last seven meetings overall. The Flyers won the first meeting this season 3-2 on Nov. 29 as -123 home favorites with the total ending as a PUSH.
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