Flyers vs Blackhawks

With the Flyers coming off a convincing 5-2 win over Vancouver that capped a stretch with points in six of their last seven, while the Blackhawks limp in on a five-game losing streak, the momentum gap here is real. Chicago’s lineup is badly compromised: Connor Bedard, who has been their offensive engine and has already produced a goal and two assists in four career games against Philadelphia, is on injured reserve, and captain Nick Foligno has been sidelined as well, stripping away both top-end scoring and leadership from a team that’s already been outscored 111-98 this season. Philadelphia has their own dents — Tyson Foerster is out long term and their crease has been juggling Dan Vladar and Aleksei Kolosov — but their current core of Trevor Zegras, Konecny, Sean Couturier and Matvei Michkov is intact and driving a modest positive goal differential, and Konecny in particular has torched Chicago lately with nine points in his last five head-to-head meetings. Factor in that this is still well short of the 41-game mark, so it’s more about banking road points than direct playoff leverage, and Flyers -120 feels like the right side, albeit with some caution on the second half of a back-to-back and the potential for a strong outing from Spencer Knight. Grade: B. Odds and availability are subject to change. This bet was made at 23/12/2025 09:50am

The total at 5.5 leans on whether Philadelphia’s recently opened-up offense can overcome Chicago’s combination of a solid starter and a fragile defensive environment, and the evidence suggests there’s enough volatility for goals. The Flyers have been playing higher-event hockey of late, with recent scorelines like 5-2, 5-3, and 5-4 reflecting both their renewed scoring punch and occasional third-period wobbles, and their season numbers sit near three goals for and just under three against per game. Chicago’s five-game skid has featured repeated multi-goal concessions — including 6-4, 4-1, 4-0 and 4-1 defeats — as their blue line has sprung leaks despite Knight’s strong individual numbers, and losing Bedard removes their best puck-possession outlet, which can actually exacerbate defensive-zone time and chances against. Historically this matchup has produced fireworks (the 7-4 Blackhawks win last March is a sharp reminder of how loose it can get), and while Bedard’s absence trims Chicago’s scoring ceiling, a tired Flyers team on the road usually means more odd-man rushes and power-play looks either way, not less. I lean Over 5.5 at -115, but the juice and Knight’s ability to steal a lower-scoring game keep it in the mid-confidence range. Grade: B-. Odds and availability are subject to change. This bet was made at 23/12/2025 09:50am

For the puckline, you’re essentially betting that Philadelphia’s edge in form and health is strong enough to overcome road fatigue and still win by multiple goals, and that’s far less certain than simply backing them to take the game. The Blackhawks’ recent results suggest it’s definitely on the table — four of their five straight losses have come by at least two goals, and their overall goal differential is firmly negative — and without Bedard and potentially without a fully up-to-speed Foligno, they lack the kind of late-game difference-maker who can drag a one-goal deficit back to level. On the other hand, Knight’s underlying numbers this season are legitimately good, and the Flyers themselves have spent a lot of nights in one-goal or overtime decisions even while collecting points, which is a red flag when you’re laying -1.5 with the road side. Given Konecny’s recent dominance against Chicago, Zegras’ history of success versus the Blackhawks, and Chicago’s current defensive slide, Flyers -1.5 at 210 is an attractive long-odds sprinkle rather than a primary position — high reward, but clearly higher risk than the moneyline. Grade: C+. Odds and availability are subject to change. This bet was made at 23/12/2025 09:50am