Flyers Blackhawks Betting – Clock Runs Out For Cinderella Flyers

Chicago has been an online betting favorite to win the Stanley Cup since the beginning of the season, and now they’ll finally get their chance to win their franchise’s first Cup in almost 50 years. They’ll have to get rid of a pesky and scrappy Philadelphia team to do so, but the Blackhawks should come out on top.

The Story

The Flyers rolled over New Jersey in five games before completing one of the biggest comebacks in sports history, battling 3-0 deficits in the series and Game 7 of a historic victory over Boston. Philadelphia then went on to oust Montreal in five games in a clash of underdogs, and they’ve had to battle through a number of injuries to do it.

The Blackhawks beat Nashville and Vancouver in six games before romping to a four-game sweep over San Jose in a meeting of the top two teams in the Western Conference, and you have to say that captain Jonathan Toews is the favorite for the Conn Smythe award for playoff MVP.

Who Has The Edge On Offense: Flyers Or Blackhawks?

Philadelphia captain Mike Richards is second to Toews in playoff scoring with 21 points, but he’s gotten some help from players who weren’t even supposed to be playing. Simon Gagne singlehandedly turned the Boston series around with four goals in the last four games of the series, while Jeff Carter notched a pair of goals in the clinching win over Montreal. Both came back from foot injuries to take part in this run, which takes some of the pressure off Richards and Danny Briere.

There may be no team more talented in the NHL than the Blackhawks, and Toews and Patrick Kane have combined for 47 points so far in the playoffs. Their line really didn’t take off until the Vancouver series, when they were joined by Dustin Byfuglien, who scored the Game 4 winner against the Sharks. Patrick Sharp and Marian Hossa thrive off the attention paid to the top line, and the Blackhawks also get scoring from their third and fourth lines, which gives them a slight edge.

Who Has The Edge On Defense/Goaltending: Flyers Or Blackhawks?

The Flyers have gone from Brian Boucher to Michael Leighton, but their defense keeps rolling. Leighton allowed seven goals in five games against the Canadiens, and he’s now 6-1 in the postseason with a 1.45 GAA. Of course, he isn’t doing it on his own as Chris Pronger, Kimmo Timmonen, Matt Carle and Braydon Coburn have been spectacular, and the Flyers’ forwards backcheck as well as anyone in the league.

Antti Niemi was thought to be the weak link in the Blackhawks’ sportsbook odds, but so far he is 12-4 in the playoffs with a 2.33 GAA and he was at his best against a powerful San Jose lineup, posting a 1.67 GAA. Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook are as good a defensive pairing as you’ll find in the NHL, while Niklas Hjalmarsson is very underrated. They’re not as deep as the Flyers, which is why Philly gets the edge, but Chicago’s defense is nothing to sneeze at.

Who Has The Edge In Experience?

The Flyers have one big NHL betting edge in Pronger, who is in his third Stanley Cup final with a different team in the last five years. Richards was a monster at the Olympics for Canada, while Gagne has big-game experience with the 2002 gold-medal team, and Briere has been around the block. The major question is Leighton: will he stay steady for the Flyers?

Toews was named best forward at the Olympics with a sterling performance, and he’s played in many big games for Canada, usually coming up big. Keith and Seabrook also played a big part at the Olympics, along with Kane for the United States. Marian Hossa will be playing for the Stanley Cup for the third straight year after coming up short in Detroit and Pittsburgh, so at least none of his former teams will be in this final. Like the Flyers, the Blackhawks’ biggest question comes in goal, where Philadelphia will be looking to make Niemi blink.

Who Will Win The Flyers vs Blackhawks Series?

The Blackhawks are the sports betting favorites in this series at -230, and these two have met just once this season with the Flyers coming away with a 3-2 win at home in a third period where all five goals were scored. The Flyers have won four of their last five overall against the Blackhawks, but the stakes are high now, and we’re expecting the rest of the Chicago players to follow the lead of Toews, Kane and Byfuglien. The Flyers’ defense are going to have their hands full against Chicago’s big line, but the Blackhawks just have more weapons than Philadelphia.

Pick: Bet Blackhawks In Five