<p>Join Daily Faceoff’s Andy MacNeil as he handicaps Wednesday’s Metropolitan Division matchup between the <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/philadelphia-flyers/line-combinations">Philadelphia Flyers</a> and <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/new-jersey-devils/line-combinations">New Jersey Devils</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Bruins vs. Sabres Odds</h2>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Philadelphia Flyers Moneyline: +155</li>



<li>New Jersey Devils Moneyline: -190</li>



<li>Puck Line: Flyers +1.5 (-160), Devils -1.5 (+135)</li>



<li>Game Total: 5.5 (Over -115, Under -105)</li>
</ul>



<p><em>Game odds via Sports Interaction.</em></p>



<div class="bam-inline-promotion-block" data-max-length="2" data-placement-id="2110" data-context="web-content-promocard" data-property-id="330"></div>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Handicapping the Flyers (22-28 SU, 26-25 ATS, 25-24-2 O/U)</h2>



<p>The <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/philadelphia-flyers/news">Flyers</a> defeated the Devils 4-2 on Monday in New Jersey and now return home to complete the home-and-home series. Philadelphia has won three straight and four of the last five meetings against New Jersey. The Flyers are 7-5-1 against the Devils since the start of the 2021-22 season.</p>



<p>Philadelphia’s underlying metrics are strong, ranking fifth in even-strength expected goals percentage and ninth in shot share. However, goaltending has been the team’s biggest weakness this season. The Flyers rank last in the league in on-ice save percentage (.875), with Samuel Ersson’s early struggles contributing to the issue.</p>



<p>Ersson went 6-5-2 in his first 15 games with a 3.03 goals against average and an .884 save percentage. Since Dec. 21, though, he has turned things around, going 9-3-1 with a .904 save percentage and a 2.45 GAA. Over the past month, the Flyers rank among the top 10 in goals against per 60 minutes, suggesting their goaltending has finally caught up with their strong overall play.</p><div class="injected-ad injected-video" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="0" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="190"></div>



<p>Since Nov. 6, Philadelphia has posted the league’s best even-strength expected goals percentage, and only four teams have a better shot share. While the Flyers remain mediocre on special teams, both the power play and penalty kill have shown improvement over the last month.</p>



<p>On the injury front, several Flyers players are listed as day-to-day heading into Wednesday’s game. Defenseman Egor Zamula and forward Ryan Poehling are both dealing with injuries, while forward Sean Couturier is sidelined with an illness.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Handicapping the Devils (28-24 SU, 21-31 ATS, 18-32-2 O/U)</h2>



<p><a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/new-jersey-devils/news">New Jersey</a> also has injury concerns, as captain <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/devils-nico-hischier-out-day-to-day">Nico Hischier</a> missed Monday’s game in Philadelphia due to an undisclosed injury, and goaltender <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/new-jersey-devils-jacob-markstrom-out-four-six-weeks-lower-body-injury">Jacob Markstrom</a> is sidelined until early March. However, what’s more concerning is that in terms of five-on-five play, the Devils’ two worst performances have come against the Flyers this season.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="1" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="132"></div>



<p>On Jan. 18, New Jersey controlled just 13.5 percent of the expected goals and just 37.5 percent of the shots at five-on-five in a 3-1 home loss against Philadelphia. Then, on Monday, the Devils owned just 46 percent of the shots and 34 percent of the expected goals.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The two teams have nearly identical even strength metrics over the last month, but despite the fact that New Jersey has better underlying metrics year-to-date, the Flyers seem to be a big problem for this team.&nbsp;</p>



<p>With Hischier banged up, Jack Hughes reportedly less than 100 percent, and Markstrom out of the lineup altogether, it’s strange that New Jersey is such a big favorite. Not to mention, the Devils rank 15tth in both even strength expected goals percentage and shot attempt percentage over the last month.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="2" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="134"></div>



<p>The Devils are 14-8-4 at home this season, and 8-5-4 versus Eastern Conference teams. Meanwhile, goaltender Jake Allen is 7-9-1 with a .900 Sv% and a 2.70 GAA, but according to Evolving Hockey, he has saved the team approximately five goals above expected.</p>



<div class="bam-inline-promotion-block" data-max-length="2" data-placement-id="2110" data-context="web-content-promocard" data-property-id="330"></div>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Best bet for Devils vs. Flyers</h2>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Philadelphia Flyers Moneyline (+155) at Sports Interaction</li>
</ul>



<p>Philadelphia hasn’t been a profitable underdog bet on the moneyline this season, but the Devils haven’t been good as home favorites. In fact, New Jersey is the third-least profitable home favorite year-to-date. So, while neither team has lived up to expectations this season, the Flyers are at least playing well, and New Jersey’s current form is not that of a -190 moneyline favorite. Not to mention, Jake Allen has lost both games against the Flyers so far.&nbsp;</p>



<p><a href="https://app.actionnetwork.com/4zu6/chznhm6b"><em>Follow Andy’s hockey bets on the Action App!</em></a></p>
