The Flyers and Avalanche look to protect home ice against two teams coming in on hot streaks
NHL hockey starts early Saturday with two exciting games to start your day. The red hot Flames look to keep their four game-winning streak alive against the Flyers and the Cats look to keep things close on the road against the best home team in the league with the Avalanche.
Both matchups should start your day off with a bang and if you are looking to get in on the action early, here are some best bets you can take that can help you get some extra cash, if you are going out Saturday night.
All betting odds listed are from Bet365 and are subject to change.
Calgary Flames @ Philadelphia Flyers
The Flyers were a team that almost everyone picked to be a lottery team this season but impressed fans with their aggressive, speedy young lineup. They've had breakout stars appearing everywhere like Pokémon with forwards Owen Tippett and Joel Farabee along with blueliners Travis Sanheim and Cam York all playing big roles in the Flyers winning ways. They were a fun team to watch but have fallen on hard times with a 1-3-3 record in their last seven games with losses to surging teams in the Predators, Kraken and Oilers.
They also lost to the Flames on the road in Calgary and look to respond in their second home game back after a long five game road trip that had seen the Flyers not play at home since before Christmas. The Flames are coming in with six wins in their last eight games with the reputation of being one of the hardest teams in the league to play against with their relentless effort. The Flames have also won seven of their last ten games against the Flyers with everyone riding high on them.
It feels like a perfect let-down spot for betters with so far 76% of betters taking the Flames, according to action network. It never hurts to take the home team with the Flyers especially in a spot where they are desperate to get a win and avoid their worst losing streak since April of last season.
Pick: Flyers ML (-105)
Florida Panthers @ Colorado Avalanche
The Cats are coming off their first ever win against the Golden Knights in Sin City and have now won six straight games with wins in extremely tough environments on the road like Tampa Bay, Vegas and the recently dangerous Mullet Arena with the Coyotes. They have been impressive lately despite making headlines for a Nick Cousins dirty play every other day. They are playing extremely good defense with a 1.67 goals against average during their winning streak. The only teams better than the Cats lately are the Jets, Kraken and the Avs.
Colorado has been blowing through teams like an avalanche with a 4.11 goals per game average and the second-best record in the NHL with 7-1-1 during their last nine games. Centre Nathan Mackinnon has been the hottest player in the league with an average of two points a game over his last 20 games with 16 goals and 40 points. The Cats will come in with a lot of momentum but will be going against the best home team in the league this season with Colorado having a 16-4-0 record and the most goals per home game by a large margin with 4.35 a game. It should be an exciting game and possibly the best of the day.
Pick: Avalanche ML (-140), Over 6.5 goals (-105)