Philadelphia Flyers @ New Jersey Devils - January 29, 2025

The matchup between the Philadelphia Flyers and New Jersey Devils on Wednesday night at Prudential Center promises to be an intriguing clash, especially considering the recent history between these two teams. The Devils enter this game as -161 favorites, but let’s dig deeper into the numbers to see what we can expect.

First off, let’s look at how each team has performed lately. The Flyers recently secured a 4-2 victory against the Devils on January 27, which might just add a layer of animosity heading into this contest. While Philadelphia’s record sits at 19-20-6, they’ve shown signs of life with a solid 4-2 record in their last six games. However, their struggles on the road are evident with only two wins in their last seven away from home.

When it comes to scoring, New Jersey boasts an impressive offensive output averaging 3.1 goals per game with a shooting percentage of about 10.8%. They generate nearly 30 shots per game and have a strong power play converting at over 28%. Their ability to maintain puck possession is highlighted by their corsi percentage of around 53.4%, indicating they control more shot attempts than they concede.

In contrast, Philadelphia averages just under three goals per game with a slightly lower shooting percentage of around 11.1%. Their power play has been less effective, operating at just over 16%, which is significantly below league average. This inefficiency could be pivotal against a Devils’ penalty kill that operates at an impressive rate of over 82%.

Defensively speaking, New Jersey shines brighter than Philadelphia; they boast a save percentage of approximately 90% compared to the Flyers’ subpar figure of around 87.5%. These defensive metrics suggest that while both teams have faced challenges throughout the season, New Jersey has been better equipped to handle opposing offenses.

Now let’s talk about trends: New Jersey’s recent form shows they’ve struggled against the spread (1-13 ATS in their last fourteen games), yet they remain competitive overall with a record that currently stands above .500 (26-15-5). Meanwhile, despite their inconsistency on the road—evidenced by two wins in seven attempts—the Flyers have managed to keep things close enough where covering spreads becomes feasible.

Considering all these factors, I predict that tonight will see New Jersey come out victorious due to their superior offensive capabilities and defensive resilience. However, given Philadelphia’s recent uptick in performance and historical tendencies against this opponent—plus some statistical backing—I believe they’ll cover the spread.

As for total scoring? Given both teams’ tendency towards lower-scoring affairs recently—with four out of six games for Philly going under—it seems reasonable to expect tonight’s total will also land beneath the set line of five-and-a-half goals.

In summary: I foresee New Jersey winning outright while Philadelphia manages to cover; expect an underwhelming total score as both defenses tighten up during this rivalry matchup.