The Eastern Conference Quarterfinals between the Buffalo Sabres and the Philadelphia Flyers really couldn?t be any more balanced than it is. Sure, Buffalo has the 3-2 series lead, but both teams have netted 12 goals in the five outings. Philly is on the ropes and needs a win to force a do or die Game 7 next week, so it has to take care of business in NHL betting action on Easter Sunday first.
The Flyers really just need to get some healthy bodies together again. The problem that they have is that Chris Pronger, Jeff Carter, and Andreas Nodl have all been out of the lineup, and none of them are really expected to be able to give it a go in Game 6 either. Of course, it would really help matters if Head Coach Peter Laviolette could settle on just one goalkeeper. The net has had three different bodies in it thus far for Philly in this series, as Sergei Bobrovsky, Brian Boucher, and now Michael Leighton have all had their turn. It?s going to be hard to not let Leighton start Game 6 even though he only played in one game in the entire regular season this year after starting the back end of the playoffs last year. The team responded a season ago to the switch by completing an epic comeback against the Boston Bruins and parlaying that into a trip to the Stanley Cup Finals, and the truth of the matter is that the team looked a heck of a lot different when he came into the game on Friday night down 3-0. Sure, he lost in OT, but desperate times call for desperate measures, and right now, Leighton is the only man that Laviolette can really turn to.
Buffalo has no doubts about who is going to be guarding its net in Game 6, as Ryan Miller really has had a relatively strong series. However, it isn?t the defense and the goaltending, but the offense that really has us surprised. You have to have one heck of an offensive output to be able to run not one, but two different goalies right out of a series, and though 12 goals in five games really isn?t all that impressive by normal standards, in a series like this, those goals are invaluable. The injury situation for Buffalo isn?t great either, as Jason Pominville, who has already been a hero in this series with one game winning goal, is doubtful after cutting his leg in Friday night?s Game 5. The most recent hero for the boys in the Empire State is Tyler Ennis. He scored in overtime for the game winning goal in Game 5, and he was also the first man to light the lamp in the first period as well.
Philadelphia Flyers vs. Buffalo Sabres Pick: Why not, right? This series has been back and forth every step of the way, and this game should be no exception.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Philadelphia Flyers -1 +215* vs Buffalo Sabres
NASHVILLE -1?+210*
Vancouver Canucks -1 +215* vs Chicago Blackhawks
