 |
 Basketball Betting |
 |
||||
|
 |
||||
|
||||
Blackhawks limp into Honda Center to battle DucksHockey Betting Lines03/17/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Chicago has had a hard enough time picking up victories in Anaheim without having injuries to worry about. Nonetheless, the Blackhawks could be without as many as four key skaters tonight when they visit the Honda Center to take on the Ducks, who could also have an injury-affected lineup. Chicago's quest for the top seed in the Western Conference took a major hit on Sunday. Not only did the Blackhawks blow a three-goal lead in a 4-3 overtime setback to the Capitals over the weekend, but Chicago also lost the services of defenseman Brian Campbell in the first period. Campbell was pushed violently into the boards by Washington's Alex Ovechkin, who received a major for boarding, a 10-game misconduct and ultimately a two- game suspension for a hit in the NHL called "reckless" in its release announcing Ovechkin's punishment. The 30-year-old Campbell, meanwhile, suffered a clavicle fracture and rib fracture. The Blackhawks said on Tuesday that the blueliner likely won't need surgery but will miss seven-to-eight weeks of action. Defenseman Nick Boynton, acquired from the Ducks on March 2, was recalled from Rockford of the American Hockey League on Tuesday. Chicago was also without star forward Marian Hossa and defenseman Kim Johnsson due to upper-body injuries on Sunday and both players are questionable for tonight. Without Hossa, Jonathan Toews stepped up with two goals and John Madden also scored. Antti Niemi made 18 saves through the first two period, but allowed three goals on 11 shots in the third frame before getting beat by Washington's Nicklas Backstrom at 3:10 of overtime. Niemi made 26 saves in all as the 'Hawks lost their second straight game late. They yielded two goals in the final 2:04 of Saturday's setback to Philadelphia, including the game-winning tally with just 2.4 seconds left in regulation. "We let [the Capitals] back in the game. We took penalties and did other little things that gave them a chance," said Toews, whose club has also lost three of its last four and is 18-11-3 on the road this season. Niemi will get the start again tonight with Cristobal Huet battling the flu. Chicago does own an 11-point edge over second-place Nashville in the Central Division and, with 94 points, is two points behind San Jose for the lead in the West. Washington leads the NHL with 103 points. The Blackhawks wrap their season series with the Ducks having lost two of three to them this season. Chicago has also lost five of its last six at Honda Center -- including a 3-0 shutout on Nov. 27 -- and has only two wins and a pair of ties in its last 16 at Anaheim. The Ducks, meanwhile, snapped a five-game overall slide and four-game home losing streak on Sunday with a 4-2 victory over the Sharks, Anaheim's first in six meetings with San Jose this year. Teemu Selanne scored the 599th goal of his career and had an assist before leaving the game with a shoulder sprain. However, he practiced on Tuesday and could play tonight. Selanne is just one goal shy of becoming the 18th player in NHL history to reach 600 goals, and the forward is also two tallies short of tying Hall-of- Famer Jari Kurri for the most goals scored by a Finnish skater. Ryan Getzlaf also left Sunday's game after aggravating a left ankle injury. He underwent an MRI on Monday along with Selanne that showed no further damage to the existing injury and he also hopes to be on the ice tonight. "It's definitely a strong possibility that I will be playing, especially with the situation we're in," Getzlaf told his team's Web site on Tuesday. "We're fighting for our lives right now. I'm going to do everything I can to be in the lineup [Wednesday]." Corey Perry, Lubomir Visnovsky and Bobby Ryan also lit the lamp for the Ducks, who picked up their first win since the Olympic break and improved to 1-2-1 on a seven-game homestand. Anaheim is also 10 points back of a playoff spot with 14 games to play. Jonas Hiller made 31 saves and made a then-season-high 42 saves in a 3-1 victory over the Blackhawks when the clubs last met on Jan. 10.
<< Avs attempt to extend win streak over Flames
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Colorado Avalanche will try for their fourth straight win overall as well as their seventh victory in a row over the Calgary Flames tonight when the two teams clash at Pepsi Center. The Avalanche's current winning stre
<< Devils try to extend domination of Penguins
<< Red Sox prospect Westmoreland has successful surgery
<< Lobos' NCAA history rife with stories of infamy
<< Hughes, Bohannon may give Badgers tournament edge
Redskins sign QB Grossman >>
Ashburn, VA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Washington Redskins have signed quarterback Rex Grossman. Grossman has seven years of NFL experience, and spent last season with Houston in a backup role. He played in one game, complet
Thunder kick off road trip in Charlotte >>
Knicks make a stop in Boston for St. Patrick's Day >>
Spurs finish Florida trip in Orlando >>
Basement brawl: Woeful Nets visit lowly Sixers >>
Work left to do: Villanova, Syracuse, DePaul, West Virginia, Providence Work left to do: Villanova [18-9 (7-7), RPI: 21, SOS: 5] Pounded Rutgers to get back to .500. If Cats can get their last two (at UConn, vs. Syracuse), that should be enough with strong computer numbers and a host of wins away from The Pavilion. The Cats have beaten Texas and swept the Big 5 (never easy in Philly), but have a couple of losses to bubble teams (Xavier, Drexel), too. I still think they'll be OK, possibly even at 8-8. Syracuse [20-8 (9-5), RPI: 53, SOS: 62] History says 10 wins will be plenty, but it might be hard for the Orange to get that last one with a final two vs. G'town, which is trying to win the league title, and at Villanova, which will be desperate for a W. The relative lack of nonconference heft and the weak computer numbers are still concerns, but the Orange have won four in a row and got a very, very big win at Providence on Saturday. DePaul [16-12 (8-7), RPI: 54, SOS: 18] Beat Cincy and should get past South Florida to get to 9-7, but then what? They have beaten Kansas and Cal (right after the DeVon Hardin injury) earlier this season, but also have lost to Bradley and Purdue, among others. They'll likely need a couple of BE tourney wins, too, but we'll see ... West Virginia [19-7 (8-6), RPI: 58, SOS: 125] The game at Pitt on Tuesday night could decide the Mountaineers' fate (barring a deep tournament run). They can still get to 9-7 in the Big East without it by beating Cincinnati, but the nine wins would be against UConn, Villanova, St. John's, South Florida, DePaul, Rutgers, Seton Hall twice and the Bearcats. Beating bubble foes is fine, but where's the beef? Outside of beating PG-less UCLA in nonconference play (still a top quality win), there's not a lot to fall back on (besides maybe NC State). WVU vs. Syracuse would be an interesting debate, as the teams don't play in the Big East regular season. WVU has the best win, but Cuse has played the much better schedule. Providence [17-10 (7-7), RPI: 70, SOS: 33] The Friars likely saw their at-large hopes die at home in the four-point loss to Syracuse, barring an unexpected run to the Big East semis or more. The RPI, bad already, won't be helped by playing St. John's and South Florida in the final two league games. For more March Madness odds go to MySportsbook.com For more College Basketball betting lines go to BettingExpress.com To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com - this sportsbook accepts credit cards.
|
|
