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Blues wrap road trip versus Wild

Hockey Betting Lines

03/14/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The St. Louis Blues conclude a six-game road trip this evening that has kept them in the playoff race. They do so against one of the better home teams in the league, the Minnesota Wild, at Xcel Energy Center.

The Blues have won seven of their last eight games, a span that includes a 4-1-0 mark on their current road trip. That successful spurt has kept St. Louis in playoff discussions as it sits five points back of a playoff spot.

After failing to score in the first period of last night's game in Columbus, St. Louis lit the lamp three times in the second en route to a 5-1 triumph. Andy McDonald had a goal and two assists, while Chris Mason made 24 saves.

Alexander Steen, B.J. Crombeen, David Backes and David Perron also scored for the Blues, who are an impressive 20-10-4 as the road team this year.

"I think the difference in the game was the second period," Mason said. "I thought we had a great second period. We took the play to them with a lot of shots. We had some good shots on the goal there."

The Wild host the Blues two days after they halted a four-game losing streak (0-2-2) that included a 5-1 setback at Detroit on Thursday. Minnesota responded the next night, earning a 3-2 victory in Buffalo.

With Niklas Backstrom missing his second game in a row due to a groin injury, Josh Harding stopped a season-high 43 shots for his first win since Jan. 28.

"[Thursday's loss in Detroit] wasn't good. To a man I thought this team put forth a great effort tonight," said Harding. "Our team wins when the defenseman play well and it sets the tone for everyone else to play well."

Andrew Ebbett, Andrew Brunette and Guillaume Latendresse lit the lamp for the Wild, who are still 21-9-3 at home despite losses in four of their last five as the host. Minnesota, though, has fallen eight points back of Detroit for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference.

Backstrom is again questionable for tonight, meaning Harding should get the start. He is 3-2-0 with a 1.74 goals-against average in his career versus the Blues. Shane Hnidy (leg) and Brent Burns (hip) could also miss their third straight games tonight.

The Blues have won two of three over the Wild this year, including a 1-0 victory when the clubs last met on Jan. 14 in St. Louis. Mason posted a 19- save shutout in that one and is 5-4-2 with a 3.07 GAA in 11 career starts versus the Wild.

St. Louis has also won five of the last seven meetings in the series overall but has lost nine of its last 11 trips to Minnesota.

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Academy Award Betting Odds for Best Picture Offer Great Value

If there is any category that is not an obvious win for any one nominee in this year's Academy Awards, it would be for Best Picture.  Sure the Departed is a 5/7 favorite, but that's hardly anything when we look at Helen Mirren and her "out-of-reach" 1 to 40 odds (which means you would win a whopping $1 for every $40 bet).

For value, take a look at MySportsbook.com Oscars betting odds on my personal favorite, The Queen - a remarkable 12 to 1 long shot.  The film hasn't won any pre-awards for Best Picture (compared to The Departed and Little Miss Sunshine), but there is a tremendous following and it is a strong enough film to warrant a surprise win.

TV Guide advises Oscar watchers should be cautioned not to discount the  drama "Babel" with its strong social themes about overcoming communication gaps among people of different cultures.

"While 'Babel' lost several guild awards to 'Sunshine' and 'Departed,'  it still enjoys loyal support, and historically Oscar voters favor dramas with social messages over comedies like 'Sunshine' and violent crime movies like 'Departed'."

"It hasn't done well in the guilds, which means there isn't much industry support," said Tom O'Neil of awards site TheEnvelope.com, "But several critics are expecting it to win, and that gets my attention." Babel had 7 to 2 odds at press time.

Who is to say independently produced Little Miss Sunshine won't be this year's Crash.  Last year, Crash won for Best Motion Picture, shocking those who bet on gay cowboy flick, Brokeback Mountain, as the favorite to win. 

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your Sportsbook accepts Visa needs.