Canucks could be without Sedin against Wild
Hockey Betting Lines
02/09/2012 -
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Vancouver Canucks keep finding ways to win close games,
but tonight they may have to find a way to do so without former Hart Trophy
winner Henrik Sedin.
The Minnesota Wild are hoping the possible return of their captain can keep
them in the postseason hunt.
The Wild may have Mikko Koivu back in the lineup this evening against a
Canucks squad that could be minus one half of its high-scoring twin duo after
Sedin was forced to miss practice on Wednesday.
Sedin, the league leader with 46 assists to go along with a 57-point total
that ranks among the best in the NHL, suffered a right ankle injury blocking a
shot in Tuesday's 4-3 shootout win over Nashville. Though Sedin returned to
the game and had a pair of assists, his team-record string of 552 consecutive
games played is in doubt for tonight.
"We're still waiting on results from a CT scan" said Vancouver head coach
Alain Vigneault on Wednesday. "They did an x-ray and couldn't tell from the x-
ray. He was obviously in a lot of pain."
A potential loss of Sedin could be big for the Northwest Division-leading
Canucks. Though they have a comfortable 13-point lead over the second-place
Wild in the division, they trail the Red Wings by three points for the top
spot in the Western Conference.
Vancouver is 5-0-2 in its past seven games and has just two regulation losses
in its past 14 trips to the ice (9-2-3). Still, those spans have come with
anxious moments as the Canucks have gone to a shootout in three straight
games, including the first two of a four-game road trip, and all told each of
their past five games and eight of 10 have gone beyond regulation.
Tuesday was the latest instance as goals by Ryan Kesler, Byron Bitz and Daniel
Sedin staked the Canucks to a 3-1 lead after the first period versus the
Predators, but Nashville scored twice in the second off Roberto Luongo to even
things up. Alexander Edler then won it for Vancouver in the sixth round of the
shootout.
"It's a tight league. Not a lot of separation, and we're going to be involved
in a lot of tight games," Luongo said after making 37 saves.
The Wild open a four-game homestand following Tuesday's 3-1 loss to the Blue
Jackets. Minnesota was hoping that Koivu could return for that tilt, but he
missed his eighth straight game due to a shoulder injury. However, he had a
good practice on Wednesday according to head coach Mike Yeo and said the team
would see how he is today before making a decision on his return.
"I had a good skate and felt better again. I guess each and everyday it's
getting better, so that's a good sign," Koivu said after practice, adding it's
up to Yeo if he plays tonight.
The Wild could certainly use Koivu as they have lost three of four and 18 of
their last 23 (5-13-5) since a seven-game win streak from Nov. 28-Dec. 10.
Nate Prosser scored his first career goal in Tuesday's loss to the Blue
Jackets, while Niklas Backstrom allowed three goals on 37 shots.
"It was back-and-forth. We had a couple chances, but I don't think we deserved
to win the game," Yeo said.
Minnesota enters play tonight tied for eighth in the West with Phoenix, one
more than both Colorado and Calgary.
The Canucks have won six of seven and eight of their past 11 encounters with
the Wild, but have lost five of their past six in Minnesota.
<< Sens welcome Fisher back to Ottawa
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Ottawa Senators were already burned by one former
teammate this week. They hope that same thing doesn't happen this evening
against the Nashville Predators in Mike Fisher's return to Scotiabank Place.
The 31-year-old F
<< Flames hope to stay hot in Phoenix
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Needing a big two points on Wednesday night, the Calgary
Flames turned to pair of Finns to get the job done. The Flames aim to jump
into the playoff picture this evening and stop the Phoenix Coyotes' three-game
winning streak
<< Stars aim to get right against hapless Blue Jackets
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - While the Columbus Blue Jackets are playing for pride, the
Dallas Stars have stumbled as of late in their chase of a postseason spot.
The Stars hope to break out of their scoring slump and get back on the winning
track thi
<< Devils hope to stay on a roll versus the Blues
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The red-hot New Jersey Devils will try to extend their
longest winning streak of the season to six games tonight, when they host the
St. Louis Blues at the Prudential Center.
The Devils, who are coming off Tuesday's contro
<< Ferrero will open for Nadal-less Spain
Oviedo, Spain (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Reigning champion Spain will begin defense of
its Davis Cup title with a 2012 opening-round tie against Kazakhstan this
week, as the festivities will get underway Friday with a singles rubber
between
Flyers seek to halt skid vs. Maple Leafs >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Philadelphia Flyers will try to halt their longest
losing streak of the season when they host the Toronto Maple Leafs in
tonight's Eastern Conference clash at Wells Fargo Center.
The Flyers are in the midst of an 0-2-1
Caps hope to stay in first as they battle Jets >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The first-place Washington Capitals will try to post
consecutive wins for the first time in over three weeks when they host the
Winnipeg Jets tonight at Verizon Center.
The Capitals posted a big win Tuesday against visitin
Kings try to continue mastery of Panthers >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Three goals seems to be the magic number for the Kings, but
their first meeting with the Panthers this season was one of the exceptions to
the rule.
Los Angeles shoots for its eighth straight win over struggling Florida th
Fish will open for U.S. against Federer-led Swiss >>
Fribourg, Switzerland (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - An opening-round Davis Cup tie
between the United States and host Switzerland will commence Friday when
American Mardy Fish takes on Swiss slugger Stanislas Wawrinka.
The best-of-five aff
Illini and Hoosiers duke it out in Big Ten brawl >>
Bloomington, IN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Illinois Fighting Illini are hoping a
win tonight at No. 23 Indiana will give them a boost as they come down the
home stretch in what has been a fairly odd season thus far.
Illinois is 16-7 on the year,
NFL Football Betting : Odds on NFL Division to Win the Super Bowl
NFL Super Bowl Betting
The AFC South and the NFC East are the favorite divisions to have the next Super Bowl champ among them in the NFL betting odds. But more down to the point, these football odds are in favor of the Indianapolis Colts, by far the strongest team in the AFC South, and the Dallas Cowboys of the NFC East.
Most sports fans would agree that these two teams top the list to win it all before the season even begins. In the BetUS Sportsbook football futures, the Colts are +800 in the odds to win the Super Bowl, while the Cowboys are sitting at +1000 and the Super Bowl XLIV champions New Orleans Saints at +900. In the AFC South, the Colts won the division for five straight years after the 2002 realignment, before the Tennessee Titans won it in 2008. But the Colts came back strong in 2009 to win the division again en route to the Super Bowl. The Cowboys are the favorite to win the NFC East, as well as to advance far into the post season. The Cowboys won the division last season before their horrendous loss in the NFC Divisional playoff to Brett Favre and the Minnesota Vikings. But the ‘Boys will take that loss humbly and be ready for the playoffs this time around.
The NFC South is also very strong, at +600 in the NFL futures, considering that it is home to the defending Super Bowl champions. However, some predictions have the Atlanta Falcons with possibilities of claiming the divisional title this season in place of the Saints, as no team has won back-to-back division championships since the division realignment took place. Let’s not overlook the AFC North at +500. As TO goes to Cincinnati to join Chad OchoCinco and Adam “Pac-Man” Jones, this team looks to claim the division title again. And it is likely they will do so. The Bengals lost in the AFC Wild Card spot in a hard-fought battle against the New York Jets last season. Lest not forget the Pittsburgh Steelers, the XLII Super Bowl Champions… All these teams present interesting odds and matchups for the upcoming season, but the safest and surest bet seems to be with the Colts in the AFC South and the Cowboys in the NFC East. Play this weekly NFL Football Contestto see if you can win.
To visit this sportsbook go to MySportsbook.com for all your NFL football betting needs.
Kansas City, MO - Kansas City has not officially named Matt Cassel its starting quarterback, but there can be no doubt now.
NFL Betting
After praising his leadership and work ethic through spring workouts, the Chiefs announced Tuesday they had signed the 27-year-old Cassel to a multiyear contract. Terms were not disclosed, but he will almost certainly be one of the highest-paid members of the team.
"We are excited to be able to reach a long-term agreement for Matt Cassel to be a Kansas City Chief for many years to come," owner and board chairman Clark Hunt said in a statement. "His proven leadership on and off the field will be a tremendous asset to the organization."
Patriots made him their franchise player, meaning his salary for this season will be about $15 million.
New head coach Todd Haley, taking over for Herm Edwards after a 2-14 season, refused to name a starter at any position during offseason workouts. But it was obvious to everyone the team belonged to Cassel.
"I go out there each and every day with that focus that I'm the starter," Cassel said during a June minicamp. "Competition brings out the best in everybody."
The signing will come as welcome news to Cassel's new coaches and teammates. Amiable and hardworking, online football betting he appeared to win over everyone at minicamp.
"I think he's got some unique leadership qualities. I think his teammates like him and have respect for him. I think he's doing a pretty good job on the field, too," Haley said last month. "He's doing everything that I'm asking him, that our coaches are asking him to do. I don't have one single complaint how he's carrying himself."
After one workout, wide receiver Devard Darling declared Cassel "a breath of fresh air."
"He has a lot of swagger, a lot of confidence. It's good for us," said Darling. "We trust in him that he's going to go out there and lead us all the way."
nse to accommodate his specific abilities.
Trapped on the bench behind Heisman winners Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart at USC and then unable to unseat Super Bowl MVP Brady at New England, Cassel seemed destined to be a backup all his life. As Brady was helped off the field last September, Cassel seized the opportunity he'd been waiting for since high school.
In his only sustained action since his teens, he hit 349 of 555 passes for 3,949 yards at New England. He had 23 touchdown passes and 13 interceptions as the Patriots, who had gone unbeaten through the regular season the year before, finished 11-5 and out of the playoffs.
Chiefs general manager Scott Pioli, who had been Bill Belichick's assistant in New England, engineered the trade after the Patriots became convinced that Brady would recover fully from his knee operation.
"Since Matt arrived in Kansas City, he has embraced the team and the community," Pioli said. "His work ethic, his ability and competitive presence is what we expect from our players."
NFL Betting Lines
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