Free NHL Picks Today: Philadelphia Flyers vs Boston Bruins 4/9/23

The Philadelphia Flyers (+215), one of the NHL’s top penalty killing teams, host the Boston Bruins (-265) and their weak power play offense at Wells Fargo Center on Sunday. The total is 6.5 (O: +100, U: -120)Both teams will be playing the second of a back-to-back. The Bruins are 10-3 without a day off, while the Flyers are 2-12.

Boston (62-12-5) is coming off a 2-1 win over the Devils yesterday, their fifth win in a row. The Bruins committed four penalties in the game, though they held New Jersey without a power play goal. Pavel Zacha scored the only goals, finding the net twice for the Bruins.

Linus Ullmark saved an impressive 29 of 30 shots (.966%) in the win. Philadelphia (29-37-13) dropped their sixth in a row, falling 4-0 to the Islanders yesterday. Carter Hart saved only 15 of 18 shots (.833%) after starting in the loss.

HEAD TO HEAD

The Bruins have won both games between the teams this season, including a 6-0 victory in their most recent meeting in January, their fourth straight win against Philadelphia. Zacha (2G 1A), David Pastrnak (2G 1A), and David Krejci (0G 3A) each had three points to lead Boston. Jeremy Swayman saved 29 shots to earn the shutout win.

FACING OFF

Boston is averaging 3.62 goals per game for the season, second in the NHL, and they are taking on a Flyers team that is allowing 3.34 goals a game (23rd).

Meanwhile, Philadelphia has found the net 2.63 times a game on average, 29th in the league, and won’t find goals any easier to come by against the Bruins’ stout defense, which is holding opponents to a league-best 2.09 goals per game.

Expect a few power play opportunities for the Flyers, as the Bruins are averaging 4.38 penalties per game, fifth-most in the NHL. The visitors’ 10.52 penalty minutes a game ranks ninth-highest. The home team has been penalized 3.92 times a game (11th) for an average of 10.61 minutes (8th).

The Flyers’ 32nd-ranked power play offense (15.21%) will be put to the test against the Bruins, who are the league’s best penalty killing team (87.23%). Boston, meanwhile, has scored on 22.22% of their power play opportunities (11th), which the away team will be seeking to add to against Philadelphia’s 27th-ranked 75.00% penalty killing rate.

TOP PERFORMERS:

With 105 points this season, fifth-most in the NHL, Pastrnak is the top skater for the Bruins. He is among the league leaders with 57 goals (2nd) and has added 48 assists. In the net, Ullmark (39-6-1) is Boston’s top goaltender by goals against average. He has a 1.89 GAA, best in the league, and a .938% save percentage, also best.

Travis Konecny and Kevin Hayes lead the Flyers in scoring with 56 and 54 points, respectively. Konecny has 29 goals and 27 assists, while Hayes has 18 goals and 36 assists. Hart (21-23-10) is the top goalie for Philadelphia with a goals against average of 2.94. He has a save percentage of .907%.