Win Leaves Flames Against Puck

Hockey Betting Lines

"Craig was outstanding," said Ottawa coach Paul MacLean. "It would've been nice to have the win, but when we look back at this it's gonna be a pretty big point."

 

Ottawa expects to get leading goal-scorer Milan Michalek back tonight after he missed the last five games with a concussion. The Czech winger passed his baseline concussion test on Thursday and is considered ready to go for tonight. Michalek has 19 goals and six assists this season.

 

Montreal edged the Senators, 2-1, in Ottawa on Nov. 4, giving the Canadiens wins in three of the last four meetings in this series. The Habs have also taken three out of four in Canada's capital city.

 

Pascal Dupuis, Jordan Staal, James Neal and Joe Vitale all scored for the Penguins in Friday's road win over the Jets, while Chris Kunitz added two assists.

 

"I think the guy (counting) the shots was sleeping a couple of times, he (missed) a lot," said Fleury. "Other than that, in the second though, it was quiet, sometimes kind of (slow) back there, but that's when you have to stay focused and get ready for the next shot."

 

Pittsburgh is still without superstar Sidney Crosby, who is dealing with concussion-related symptoms. Defensemen Paul Martin (leg), Zbynek Michalek (concussion) and Kris Letang (nose/concussion) are also sidelined with their own issues. Martin could return tonight and is listed as questionable.

 

Pittsburgh has won its last two home games and is 10-3-2 as the host this season.

 

Carolina posted an overtime win over Ottawa on Friday and emerged from the Christmas break to defeat the New Jersey Devils on Monday. The 4-2 decision over the Devils ended a three-game homestand for the Hurricanes. Carolina, which is 4-9-4 as the guest this year, will try to end a three-game road skid this evening.

 

Sutter scored his seventh goal of the season, but he was denied the second multi-goal game of his career. Tuomo Ruutu and Anthony Stewart also tallied for the Hurricanes, who have won three of five.

Wiseowlcasino Hockey Betting Blog

<< Games With Season Ottawa

<< Blues For Victory Hitchcock

<< Left Circle Adds Jets With Pavelski

<< Right Puck Highlight Name Down Sutter

<< Houston Games Crush Claim Into Quarterback

Toronto Weber Edge Leaving In Predators >>

Left Side Boosts Shot In Side >>

Innings Joins Games From Pujols >>

TDS Games Crush Claim Into Football >>

Limiting Opponents State Highlight Name Down Poll >>

Super Bowl 2009 Betting

Super Bowl 2009 Betting propositions

Underdog bettors love the Super Bowl and, history suggests, the underdogs love them back. And the big dogs bite harder.

Even so, there is a warning in store for Super Bowl gamblers who must love dogs: The Arizona Cardinals Super Bowl betting lines might not be enough of a Cinderella to make it worth your while.

Although the Cardinals were widely panned as one of the worst division winners and least playoff-worthy teams in recent memory, their trip to Super Bowl XLIII Jan. 31 in Tampa against the Pittsburgh Steelers Super Bowl betting lines comes with a little more respect from the oddsmakers than you might imagine. They are a 7-point underdog at most sports books.

If you count yourself among those who covet the big dog in the big game, this isn’t exactly great news. You should have been hoping for more points. This is because the facts show that the bigger the dog, the better the bet in the Super Bowl.

Case in point: Over the past 13 seasons, double-figure underdogs in the Super Bowl are 4-0-1 ATS and have won the past three outright. In fact, the last double-digit chalk to do the deed for bettors was the 1995 San Francisco 49ers, who managed to beat the astounding 19-point spot afforded backers of the San Diego Chargers in the 49-26 romp in Super Bowl XXIX.

By contrast, 7-point favorites are 2-1-1 ATS in the same span, the last such contest resulting a cover grinded out by the Colts in their 29-17 win over the Bears two seasons ago in Super Bowl XLI.

In 2004, the Patriots failed to cover the number in their 32-29 triumph over the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl props while the Rams and Titans gave everyone a refund in 2000 after the Rams posted a 23-16 win as a seven-point favorite.

So while Arizona’s run has included impressive upsets as a 10-point road underdog to the Carolina Panthers and Sunday’s 32-25 win in the NFC championship game to the 4-point favored Philadelphia Eagles, their long-shot story lacks a bit of the David vs. Goliath storyline of past Super Bowl underdogs.

While the seven-point spread represents a significant gap in the perception of strength between the two teams, it is far from monumental. For example, last season the Giants were the wild-card afterthought turned road-warrior buzzsaw, with stunning wins over the Buccaneers, Cowboys and Packers to earn their place in the Super Bowl.

There, they played spoiler to New England’s bid to become the first 19-0 team in NFL history and cemented their place in sports betting lore with a 17-14 win as a 12.5-point underdog.

In other words, the Cardinals appear to have their work cut out for them as a mid-range underdog. But in homage to the spread beaters who have come before them, here is a brief look back at recent colossal upsets in the Super Bowl:

SB XLII -- 2008 -- New York Giants 17, New England Patriots 14 (Giants +12.5) – Eli Manning’s 13-yard touchdown pass to Plaxico Burress in the final minute clinched the historic upset for the Giants, who used a masterful defensive plan to slow down Tom Brady and the previously undefeated New England Patriots.

XXXVI -- 2002 -- Patriots 20, Rams 17 (Patriots +14) – This was the coming out party for the aforementioned Brady, who went from obscure sixth-round draft pick to Super Bowl hero in one fell swoop. He led the game-winning drive in the final minute – eschewing analyst John Madden’s advice to take a knee and play for overtime – leading to Adam Vinatieri’s memorable 48-yard field goal that split the uprights as time expired.

XXXII 1998 Broncos 31, Packers 24 (Denver +12) – The first of John Elway’s two consecutive Super Bowl titles to put an end to his Hall of Fame career was an upset for the ages. The Broncos used the determination of Elway and a 157-yard, three-touchdown performance from Terrell Davis to turn back Brett Favre and the heavily favored Packers.

Get free 2009 Super Bowl Betting from top rated online sportsbook MySportsbook.com. Mysportsbook.com online Super Bowl betting VISA Mastercard