Game 1 between the Penguins and Flyers looked like the early rounds of a boxing match. The two teams were probing and seemed like they were more concerned about not making a critical mistake than putting pressure on their opponent.
That’s not uncommon in the first game of a best-of-seven series, especially when it’s between two teams that haven’t been in the postseason in a bit. Playoff hockey takes some getting used to.
Philadelphia ended up on the right side of Saturday night’s coin flip and now has the opportunity to put Pittsburgh in a bind by heading back across the Keystone State with a 2-0 series lead in tow.
The Pens are a -152 favorite to even up the series on Monday night.
Penguins vs. Flyers odds, prediction
Philadelphia has some serious skill at the top of its lineup, but the reason the Flyers are back in the playoffs for the first time since 2020 is because of an improved defense and solid goaltending. That was on display against their in-state rivals in Game 1.
Dan Vladar was composed in goal, stopping 15 of 17, but he was also well insulated by Philadelphia’s stifling defense. Per Natural Stat Trick, the Flyers only surrendered just 0.96 expected goals and five high-danger scoring chances at 5-on-5 in their 3-2 win over Pittsburgh. Just as importantly, Philadelphia bottled up Sidney Crosby, keeping him off the scoresheet and limiting him to three shots on goal.
The Flyers’ defensive form shouldn’t be a shock to anybody. Philadelphia ranked third in the NHL in expected goals against, and only two teams (Vegas and Ottawa) surrendered fewer high-danger scoring chances at 5-on-5 during the regular season.
Betting on the NHL?
Pittsburgh just didn’t have an answer for Philadelphia’s defensive structure in Game 1, and given that the margins between these two teams were already razor-thin coming into the series, I’m happy to take a shot on the Flyers to take a commanding lead with a win on Monday night.
Bettors looking to back the Flyers can afford to be patient, as this number has a good chance of moving towards Pittsburgh as bettors tend to back the zag the result from Game 1, especially if it’s a loss for the higher seed.
The Play: Flyers +126 (FanDuel)
Why Trust New York Post Betting
Michael Leboff is a long-suffering Islanders fan, but a long-profiting sports bettor with 10 years of experience in the gambling industry. He loves using game theory to help punters win bracket pools, find long shots, and learn how to beat the market in mainstream and niche sports.
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
