Philadelphia Flyers vs Florida Panthers Picks and Predictions December 5th 2024

Don’t miss out on the NHL showdown between the Panthers and Flyers. The game is starting at 7:00 ET on NBCS, and it’s hosted by the Flyers at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, PA. Get ready to place your bets! The Panthers are favored by -1.5 in this Eastern conference contest against the Flyers. The game’s over/under currently sits at 6 goals.

Florida vs Philadelphia Key Information

• Teams: Panthers at Flyers
• Where: Wells Fargo Center Philadelphia
• Date: Thursday, December 5th
• Betting Odds FLA -163 | PHI +138 O/U 6

The Panthers Can Win If…

With a 4-2 win over the Stars, the Panthers improved to 15-10-2 this season. Florida was favored on the puck line and covered, while the total of 6 goals fell short of the 6.5 set before the game.

Four different players contributed to the Panthers’ scoring, with A.J. Greer breaking the tie at 17:28 in the third period. Sam Reinhart added an empty-net goal to seal the victory.

Four different Panthers found the net in their 4-2 win over the Stars, with Sam Reinhart’s 10th goal coming on an empty net. A.J. Greer scored his first goal of the season, while Evan Rodrigues added his third. Matthew Tkachuk picked up his third goal, which came on a power play.

Carolina took 25 shots on goal and recorded 16 giveaways. The Panthers scored once in the first period, added another in the second, and secured two more in the third.

Defensively, the Panthers will look to carry their momentum from their previous game, where they allowed just 2 goals to the Stars. Spencer Knight made 23 saves with a 92% save percentage, and the Panthers’ defense added 8 takeaways, 22 hits, and 16 blocks. After giving up two goals in the second period, they shut out the Stars in the third, leading to a 4-2 victory.

• Spanning across their last three games, Florida have gone 2-1. This also includes going 2-1 puck line and an over-under mark of 2-1.
• The Panthers have gone 4-6 over their last ten regular season games. This includes going 4-6 vs. the puck line along with an over-under mark of 6-4.

The Flyers Can Win If…

Philadelphia dropped to 12-10-3 after a 3-0 loss to the Bruins. The Flyers were underdogs on the puck line and the total was set at 6.5 goals, but the combined score of 3 fell well short of that mark.

Defensively, the Flyers allowed goals in each period, including an empty-netter in the third. Offensively, they struggled, managing only 20 shots on goal. Philadelphia’s defense also had issues, giving up 15 giveaways in the game.

In their game against the Bruins, the Flyers were shut out, managing 20 shots on goal but failing to find the net. They also had 15 giveaways, which hindered their offensive rhythm.

Philadelphia was held scoreless in all three periods, and none of their players registered a goal or an assist in the 3-0 loss.

On the defensive side, the Flyers allowed the first goal at 13:28 in the first period and another at 11:23 in the second. Boston added a third on an empty-netter late in the third. Samuel Ersson made 8 saves with a 100% save percentage, while the Flyers’ defense had 5 takeaways and 30 hits.

• Philadelphia will look to keep things rolling as they have put together a mark of 3-0 over their past three games. The team has also been excellent vs the spread, going 3-0. Their over-under record in these games was 0-3.
• Across Philadelphia’s last ten regular season games, their record sits at 7-3. In these contests, the team went just 7-3 against the spread, while going 4-6 on the over-under.

The Lean

For a moneyline bet, I’m backing the Flyers to secure a victory over the Panthers at home. With the moneyline currently set at +138, I’m locking in my bet on the Flyers straight-up.

Our projections have the Flyers pulling out a win as the underdog. But if you’re not as bullish as we are on the Flyers, we’d recommend at least getting a bet down on them to cover the puck line.

If you’re looking at the over/under line set at 6 goals, our prediction is that this game will exceed that mark, and we strongly advise placing a bet on the over.

Flyers Look to Extend Momentum

The Philadelphia Flyers (13-8-4) enter Thursday’s matchup against the Florida Panthers (14-6-2) on a roll, posting a 4-0-1 record over their last five games. With overtime success becoming a hallmark of their recent performances, the Flyers are showcasing resilience and timely scoring.

Rookie Matvei Michkov has emerged as a clutch contributor, notching three overtime winners in the past nine games, including Saturday’s decisive goal in a 3-2 victory over St. Louis. Michkov’s knack for delivering in critical moments is a welcome boost for a team seeking consistency in high-pressure situations.

“Michkov has helped us quite a bit,” Flyers coach John Tortorella said, acknowledging the young winger’s growing impact. “Last year, we struggled with overtime, but this year we’re gaining confidence.”

Goaltending Key for Flyers

The Flyers may get a boost with the potential return of starting goaltender Samuel Ersson, who has been sidelined with a lower-body injury since Nov. 11. While backups Ivan Fedotov and Aleksei Kolosov have stepped in admirably, Ersson’s return could provide stability as the team gears up for a critical stretch.

“All this stuff with injuries, including our No. 1 guy gone, gives us a chance to evaluate what we have,” Tortorella said. “But getting Ersson back would help us a lot.”

Panthers Without Bobrovsky?

The Panthers could again be without star goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky, who has been away for personal reasons. In his absence, Spencer Knight allowed five goals on just 16 shots during Tuesday’s overtime loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins.

“It was alright,” Panthers coach Paul Maurice said of his team’s effort. “I don’t think we gave up a tremendous amount, but we didn’t take advantage of some opportunities either.”

Despite the loss, Florida showed its resilience, erasing a three-goal deficit in the third period before falling 5-4 in overtime. Matthew Tkachuk led the charge with two goals and two assists, surpassing 600 career points in the process.

“When we fight back like that, you really want to get the win,” said Tkachuk, who now has 603 career points.

Key Matchups to Watch

Matvei Michkov vs. Panthers Defense

Michkov’s growing confidence will be tested against a Florida blue line that has struggled at times but can dominate when clicking.

Flyers’ Power Play vs. Panthers’ Penalty Kill

Philadelphia’s special teams have been inconsistent, but this matchup could swing the game if the Flyers capitalize on the man advantage.

Tkachuk and Boqvist Brothers vs. Flyers’ Defense

Florida’s scoring depth, led by Tkachuk and the Boqvist brothers, could exploit any lapses in Philadelphia’s defensive structure.

NHL Atlantic Division Predictions can give you an edge on your NHL bets

Recent History

The Panthers edged the Flyers 4-3 in a shootout during their previous meeting in Florida. Both teams will look to set the tone for their January rematch in Philadelphia.

Prediction

With both teams coming off emotional games, the Flyers’ momentum and the potential absence of Bobrovsky give them a slight edge on home ice.

Final Score: Flyers 3, Panthers 2 (OT)