NHL Picks: Can Philadelphia Bounce Back Against Toronto?

Philadelphia Flyers at Toronto Maple Leafs

The Flyers forgot the memo last night. Most teams play along with the pace of the New York Rangers. Philadelphia became passengers at times for the ride. That had to irk John Tortorella and the coaching staff. New York outshot Philadelphia 36-19 and even then needed a Chris Kreider breakaway goal to win 1-0 in overtime. 

Now, the likely question is, who starts for Philadelphia tonight in Toronto? It looks like  Felix Sandstrom. Starting a young goaltender against Toronto usually is dangerous. No one knows how Toronto is going to come out. For what it is worth, the Maple Leafs are better at home. Oddly enough, they are 3-1 with their only loss coming to Arizona.

Could Philadelphia score a few goals on Ilya Samsonov? That is possible. Most pundits remember that Samsonov played formally for the Capitals. The Flyers handled the goalie pretty well for the most part. What does Philadelphia have left in the tank? How will the Maple Leafs look after resting a few days from their West Coast trip?

The Maple Leafs desperately need a win, no matter how ugly it looks. Blowing a 3-1 lead in Anaheim on Sunday night cranked the panic level to a 15 in Ontario. Even Ontario sports bettors have had enough of Toronto right now. American sports bettors feel the same, too, especially when one looks at a -300 moneyline for the Maple Leafs.

Expect the game to be full of tension, and yes, this contest is not on TNT or NHL Network, so fewer eyes may be on it. Toronto's puckline (-125) is even troubling. If the Under goes to 7, that may be a worthwhile wager here. 

Pittsburgh Penguins at Buffalo Sabres

The Penguins go into Buffalo after giving up a three-goal lead against the Boston Bruins on Tuesday night. It was 5-2 late when Boston struck for four unanswered goals, including the overtime game-winner. The game had the feel of a playoff contest from the 1980s at times. It was entertaining, and honestly, Pittsburgh and Boston were nuts!

Pittsburgh figures to start Casey DeSmith, while Buffalo projects Craig Anderson to be in goal. Anderson has started three games and won all three while yielding just five goals. However, Pittsburgh on the back end of a back-to-back after last night’s loss is quite an unknown.

There are some enticing options to take little bites at tonight. One is that Over of 6.5 goals which is -115. If that tilts into the negative category too much, then pass. Buffalo or Pittsburgh, in regulation, does not feel all that safe. The Sabres could blow Pittsburgh out, or this goes south. No one truly knows.

The Buffalo Moneyline stands at +105. If that stays near Even, it might be a possibility tonight. Again, small wagers on nights like this can be more intelligent than trying to reach for a bet. Bet with your head, not with your heart.

Some Picks And More To Chew On

• Buffalo and Pittsburgh Over 6.5 goals at -115
• Maple Leafs to win by 1 at +700, by 2 at +550
• Buffalo Moneyline at +105

Good luck, and once again, thanks for reading! We will have a few more plays on social media as conditions warrant.

All odds today come from BetMGM.