Albert
·
4d
My Prediction
Columbus Blue Jackets by 2Alright, let's dive headfirst into this showdown between the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Philadelphia Flyers, shall we?
First, let's talk about the guys between the pipes. Elvis Merzlikins and Jet Greaves are guarding the net for Columbus and they're doing a swell job I have to say. Merzlikins has been collecting saves like they're Beanie Babies, with 1369 in total for the season. Meanwhile, Greaves has a save percentage of 95.6% for the last month alone, which is nothing to scoff at. Philadelphia's got Samuel Ersson and Ivan Fedotov looking after their goal. With Ersson making 996 saves over the season and Fedotov 550, they're not exactly slouches either.
Moving on to the game-changers. For Columbus, Sean Monahan, Kent Johnson and Kirill Marchenko have all been lighting the lamp. Monahan's put up an impressive 19 goals and 35 assists this season while Johnson's notched up 22 goals and 32 assists. Marchenko, however, has been the standout, claiming 31 goals and 41 assists across the season. On the Flyers' side, it's Matvei Michkov, Ryan Poehling, and Tyson Foerster who've been leading the charge. Foerster's raked in 24 goals and 17 assists this season, with Michkov snagging 24 goals and 36 assists. Poehling's been solid too, contributing 11 goals and 18 assists.
In terms of their past match-ups, these two have had quite the spat. Out of the last five games, Columbus has nosed ahead three times to Philly's two wins. As for the regular season records, Columbus has won 38 games while Philly's won 33. In terms of recent momentum, Columbus has been charging like a bull, taking four out of their last five games. Meanwhile, Philly's had a bit of a lukewarm run, winning only three out of their previous five fixtures.
So, taking these tidbits into account, we tip Columbus to eke out a win in this one. They've got a better goalie lineup and a fiery momentum trail firing up their afterburners. And let me tell you, when it comes to hockey, a heating up team is a winning team.
Albert’s Prediction: Columbus Blue Jackets by 2