Ottawa Senators at Philadelphia Flyers (-170, 5.5)
It took three attempts, but the fading Flyers finally got their new coach a victory.
Philadelphia, under Peter Laviolette since last Friday, snapped a five-game losing streak with a 6-2 win over the Islanders on Tuesday.
The six goals were the most the Flyers have posted since Nov. 2, but Philadelphia still remains skates deep in a 2-8-0 skid after starting the season with a 12-5-1 mark.
Another chance to ease Philly’s pain may come at the expense of the Senators who have lost five of their last six games.
Ottawa is allowing opponents to net goals at an alarming rate, surrendering an average of 4.2 goals over its last five games.
Brian Boucher is expected to get his second straight start under the net for the Flyers after Ray Emery had surgery on his lower stomach to repair a torn muscle on Wednesday. Emery will be out at least six weeks.
"[Boucher] has been playing pretty good for us,” said Laviolette, who dismissed the notion of backup Johan Backlund playing in the near future. “Before I got here, he was on a pretty good roll. Right now, he’s going to be the guy that runs with it.”
Boucher is 3-5-0-0 this season with a 2.53 goals against average, but is 1-4-0 with a 3.57 average in seven career games against the Senators.
The last four meetings in this series have gone over the posted total with the teams scoring an average of 7.5 goals per game.
Pick: Over
Pittsburgh Penguins at Montreal Canadiens (+135, 5.5)
The Canadiens will try to improve upon their three-game win streak at home against the Penguins on Thursday. Montreal has given up a total of three goals during its victory foray.
Pittsburgh has had Montreal’s number recently, however, winning the last four meetings in the series. In two matchups this season in Pittsburgh, the Canadiens were outscored by the Pens 9-2. Winger Sidney Crosby totaled four goals and one assist in those two outings.
Crosby appears to be back at full strength after missing a game last Saturday with a groin injury. He scored his 20th goal of the season in his return on Monday, a 3-2 loss to Carolina.
"I felt pretty good," Crosby said. "Hopefully [the injury] won't give me any more trouble."
Marc-Andre Fleury has been stonewalling opponents for the Pens during his last five games, giving up an average of 2.2 goals per outing. Habs goalie Carey Price is surrendering 2.4 goals per game over his last five starts, including a pair of one-goal performances.
These two teams have combined to cash 36 unders this season.
Ice Picks 12/10
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