After a wobble against the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Philadelphia Flyers (34-25-8) face the Boston Bruins in what could well be a pivotal matchup. While John Tortorella will be back after a two-game suspension, it remains to be seen whether that will be enough to galvanize the troops following a tough defeat.
If you’re looking to bet on the action, here’s all you need to know:
Philadelphia Flyers vs Boston Bruins: How to watch
When: 7PM EST, Sat 16th Match
Where: TD Garden
How: NBC Sports Philadelphia
Philadelphia Flyers vs Boston Bruins: Betting info
Moneyline: Boston Bruins -198 | Philadelphia Flyers +164
Total: Over/Under: 5.5
Spread: Boston Bruins -1.5 +130 Philadelphia Flyers +1.5 -155
Boston Bruins
The Bruins are 5-2-3 in their last 10 games, coming off a 2-1 win against the Canadiens. Their playoff fate is all but sealed, but the race for the Atlantic Division crown is on, and they won’t want to be slowing down here.
This is bound to be an emotional game for both teams, with James van Riemsdyk set to make his 1,000th NHL appearance. It’s very fitting that it comes against his former team, who he spent 8 years of his impressive career with, across two stints. This season, JVR has 11 goals and 27 assists across 63 games, sporting an impressive +11 rating. The Flyers will be looking to contain him tonight.
He’s not the only danger, however. The Bruins have been heating up over the last few weeks, with David Pastrnak riding a four-game point streak, and Pavel Zacha a six-game streak.
The Bruins will also be riding the hot streak of Johnny Breecher. The 23-year-old has become an invaluable depth player who looked strong against the Canadiens.
Matt Grzelcyk will also return following an absence in their most recent win.
Jeremy Swayman will start at goalie and is bound to give the road team a hard time. His .920 save percentage ranks third in the NHL and he maintains a record of 21-7-8 along with 3 shootout wins.
Philadelphia Flyers
The Philadelphia Flyers enter this matchup following a disappointing 6-2 loss to the Maple Leafs. They’re 4-5-1 in their last 10 games and currently sit third in the Metro, with the New York Islanders only 4 points back with 2 games in hand. Every game matters for the Flyers, making Tortorella’s return even more important.
Felix Sandstrom will get the call in goal and enters this game with a .846% save percentage across 3 starts and a win to his name.
Travis Konecny is the obvious player to watch here. He leads the Flyers in both points and goals this season but is going to need support in order to find success against Swayman.
Cam Atkinson will also get the nod for the Flyers this evening. The veteran has 28 points in 62 games for Philadelphia this season despite a much slower season having battled an injury in 2022-23, and his veteran presence will replace that of Bobby Brink, who struggled mightily against the Maple Leafs. The move won’t be forever, but it’s interesting to see the Flyers being so active in making sharp changes at such a crucial stage.
Predictions
This could be an exciting affair for the Flyers, who need to play with a sense of urgency ahead of the postseason. They are notably 17-11-5 on the road this season, but the Bruins are hardly a walkover and will sniff blood in the water following Toronto’s dismantling of Philly on Thursday.
The defense could be an area to watch tonight. The Flyers are still navigating a depleted blueline and will be looking to keep things tight against the Bruins, knowing that they’re at a disadvantage against one of the most potent offenses in the league.
I like the OVER on the goals for this one, with the Flyers needing to stay in the game with postseason consequences at hand, and the Bruins possessing a huge advantage against a beaten-up Philly backend.
AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar
