NHL Game Preview for Thursday February 10, 2011: Carolina Hurricanes @ Philadelphia Flyers

Sports Online Betting Overview

The Philadelphia Flyers seemed to pick up right where they left off last season. But as NCAA basketball betting starts to point towards March Madness, hockey fans are starting to realize that this Flyers team may be an improvement over last year’s. It is highly doubtful that the Flyers will be active in the trade market as the NHL trade deadline approaches as they do not need anything and certainly are not giving anything up. But with additions like goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky and a healthy Jeff Carter, this Flyers team looks to stay up in the NHL standings all season long.

The Carolina Hurricanes are fighting to stay in the playoff hunt. The Hurricanes looked to be down and out at the Christmas break, but now they are working their way up the Eastern Conference standings into the middle of the playoff hunt. They are led by goaltender Cam Ward and captain Eric Staal. They are a young team that has just enough veteran experience to be dangerous. They are a little slow on defense, but the Hurricanes have a solid roster that is capable of making a playoff push late in the season.

Philadelphia Flyers

The Flyers are 8-2-0 in their last 10 games and are currently riding a two-game winning streak. They have an 18-7-2 home record and a +43 goal differential. They are second to Vancouver in goals scored with 183. The Flyers play a physical brand of hockey which probably comes from their size. Jeff Carter, Chris Pronger and Daniel Carcillo are all over six feet tall and more than 200 pounds. Even smaller guys like Danny Briere and Mike Richards give their contribution to the physical game. But what the Flyer forwards do best is crash the net and score goals. This is a very good team that, at times, can lack discipline. But until that lack of discipline starts to cost them hockey games, they will keep playing Flyer hockey.

Carolina Hurricanes

The Canes are 5-5-0 in their last 10 games. They have a 12-12-4 road record, which does not bode well for their chances in Philly. The Hurricanes are an extremely young team. Even leaders like Cam Ward and Eric Staal, two members of the 2006 Stanley Cup team, are still in their mid-20’s. But Carolina is aggressive, and they have the strength to challenge in the corners. Where the Flyers seem to have an advantage over the Canes is in closing out games. The Hurricanes lost five one-goal games in January alone. They are having a problem getting the go-ahead goal and then making it count to the end. With a team like Philadelphia, that is not a good way to play the game.

The Bottom Line

The Hurricanes could be a Cup contender in a couple of years, but right now they are still developing. They will give the Flyers all they can handle in this game, but the Hurricanes do not have the necessary experience to put away a quality team like Philadelphia.

Pick: Philadelphia Flyers

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