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12/26/2008 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Phoenix Coyotes and Los Angeles Kings begin a home-and- home set tonight, as they meet in California at the Staples Center.
Phoenix, which will host Los Angeles tomorrow, posted a 4-2 home victory over the Kings on December 2 for its seventh win in its last nine games versus Los Angeles. The Coyotes have also won four of their last six trips to the Staples Center.
Phoenix was last in action on Tuesday, when it dropped a 5-4 overtime decision to the Colorado Avalanche. Though it was their second loss in a row, the Coyotes have earned a point in seven of their last eight games (4-1-3).
Trailing by two goals in the third period, Shane Doan scored twice in the final five minutes of the frame, including the tying goal with 48 ticks on the clock. However, Ilya Bryzgalov, who made a career-high 43 saves, was beaten in the OT by Colorado's Brett Clark.
Bryzgalov had allowed just three goals over his previous three starts and is 7-2-1 with a 2.21 goals against average in his career versus the Kings.
Olli Jokinen had a goal and two assists, Joakim Lindstrom tallied a goal and Ed Jovanovski had two assists in the loss.
Phoenix is 5-10-3 on the road this season.
The Kings, meanwhile, halted a four-game losing streak on Tuesday with a 3-0 victory over Columbus. Making just his sixth NHL appearance and fourth career start, Jonathan Quick notched 24 saves for his first-ever shutout.
It was also just the second win of Quick's career and he could earn the start again tonight over Jason LaBarbera. Quick has never faced the Coyotes.
Patrick O'Sullivan, Raitis Ivanans and Peter Harrold each tallied once for the Kings, who hadn't won since a December 13 contest against Minnesota. O'Sullivan also had an assist, while Anze Kopitar finished with a pair of helpers.
Los Angeles will play three of its next four at home, where it is 10-6-6 this season. The Kings have notched a point in six straight as the host, going 3-0-3 in that span.
<< 'Hawks aim to tie record win streak vs. Flyers
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Blackhawks will try match their franchise record for
consecutive wins tonight against a team they haven't beaten in over seven
years. Chicago will play host the also red-hot Philadelphia Flyers tonight at
the United Cente
<< Lightning try to get on a roll against Panthers
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Tampa Bay Lightning will aim for back-to-back wins
for the first time since early November when they visit the Florida Panthers
for tonight's Southeast Division battle at BankAtlantic Center.
This is the opener of a ho
<< Scuffling Preds welcome Red Wings to town
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Nashville Predators have had all sorts of trouble
scoring goals as of late. That is not a good thing with Detroit Red Wings
coming to town.
The Predators will host the first-place Red Wings tonight at the Sommet
Cente
<< Capitals set to take on Sabres
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Washington Capitals will aim for their seventh
victory in eight games when they welcome the Buffalo Sabres for tonight's
matchup at the Verizon Center.
The Capitals have won six of seven, with their lone setback in tha
Bobcats, Nets clash in Garden State >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The New Jersey Nets aim for their second straight win when
they host the Charlotte Bobcats in the front end of a home-and-home set
between the two clubs at the IZOD Center.
New Jersey ended a two-game losing streak with a
Monchengladbach snaps up Brazilian Dante >>
Monchengladbach, Germany (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Borussia Monchengladbach have
strengthened their defense with the capture of Dante.
The 25-year-old Brazilian moves to the Bundesliga strugglers from Standard
Liege on a four-and-a-half y
Hammers striker Ashton faces lengthy absence >>
London, England (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - West Ham's injury-jinxed striker Dean
Ashton could miss most of the rest of the season as he continues to be
troubled by ankle problems.
The 25-year-old has not featured for the Hammers sinc
Army names Ellerson new football coach >>
West Point, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Army has tabbed Rich Ellerson as its new
head football coach, the program announced Friday.
Ellerson makes the jump to Army from the Football Championship Subdivision
ranks, having coached at Cal
BILLS (+10) at Steelers SPORTSBOOK LINES
It's impossible to gauge how a team will react after something like the Steve Everett situation, and it probably doesn't matter. That being said, the Bills are going to lose several games this year where they keep things close but fall short in the end to superior teams. Ben Roethlisberger and company could have a field day against Buffalo's decimated defense, but I like the Bills to cover.
BENGALS (-7) at Browns SPORTSBOOK LINES
All you can ask out of your NFL team is that it has a plan. You may not always agree with it as a fan, but as long as it appears the organization is going in some sort of direction, you have to go with it. Which brings us to the Cleveland Browns. You flip a coin to determine whether Chuck Frye or Derek Anderson should start the preseason opener. You start Frye in Week 1, but pull him in the first half. And then you deal him to the Seahawks for a sixth-round pick? Hmm... the Bengals could get six turnovers again this week.
COLTS (-7) at Titans SPORTSBOOK LINES
Tennessee signed ex-Colts cornerback Nick Harper in the offseason so that should help slow down Peyton Manning. Just ask Jason David and the Saints. Oh wait... One of these weeks, I'm going to learn to not pick against Tennessee, which has won seven of its last eight games. But it's not happening against Indy.
TEXANS (+6.5) at Panthers SPORTSBOOK LINES
Houston's Mario Williams, the first pick in the '06 draft, has more touchdowns than Reggie Bush after one week. Somehow I don't see that lasting. Meanwhile, Carolina bottled up what was expected to be a pretty high-octane offense in St. Louis in Week 1. Could this be the Panthers' defense everyone expected last year? Maybe. This feels like a 20-16 Carolina win.
RAMS (-3) vs. 49ers SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Absolutely love this game. Everyone's favorite pick for this year's surprise team -- the 49ers -- laid an egg on Monday night (not that anyone was watching with the game ending in the middle of the night for those of us on the East Coast). St. Louis wasn't much better, delivering a lackluster effort against the Panthers that included two Steven Jackson fumbles and panic from his fantasy owners. Jackson rebounds this week, and the Rams get their first win.
PACKERS (+1.5) at Giants SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Do you really trust this guy to win an NFL game if Eli Manning can't go? I say no. I'd feel alot better about this Packers team if it had any semblance of a running game, but I still think Green Bay's defense is good enough to give it a 2-0 start.
JAGUARS (-10) vs. Falcons SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Does it scare me to pick Jacksonville to cover a double-digit spread after it scored just 10 points last week against the Titans? Absolutely. But can I bring myself to pick Atlanta under any circumstances? No. Check out this poll on ajc.com. It asks what Atlanta's most urgent deficiency is: offense, defense, specials teams or all of the above. "All of the above" has 57 percent of the votes. Ouch.
SAINTS (-3) at Buccaneers SPORTSBOOKS LINES
I'm picking way too many road teams this week. Oh well. New Orleans has had some time to reflect on its lackluster showing in the opener, and the Buccanneers just aren't a very good football team. Anyone else surprised Tampa Bay hasn't made a move to sign Byron Leftwich? I thought that's what they do.
VIKINGS (+3) at Lions SPORTS BETTING LINES
Run the ball and stop the run. Minnesota can do both, and that will keep them in a lot of games this season. Even though it was only one week, Adrian Peterson looks like he was a steal at No. 7 in last year's draft. Not only will he produce, but Peterson delivers excitement to what otherwise would be one of the league's most boring teams.
DOLPHINS (+3.5) vs. Cowboys SPORTS BETTING LINES
Lost in the Tony Romo lovefest is just how bad the Cowboys' defense was last week. I know they're banged up, but Dallas' 'D' allowed 438 yards to the Giants' offense, and backup running back Derrick Ward averaged 6.8 yards per carry. Meanwhile, Cam Cameron's decision to split carries between Ronnie Brown and Jesse Chatman sounds about as can't-miss as Larry David's plan to show up to Marty Funkhouser's party a night late. Still, gotta go with Miami to cover at home.
SEAHAWKS (-2.5) at Cardinals SPORTS BETTING LINES
I'm probably missing something, but this game seems too easy. Arizona blew Monday night's game against the 49ers in typical Cardinals fashion, and the Seahawks beat Tampa Bay by two touchdowns. Love Seattle in this one.
BRONCOS (-9.5) vs. Raiders SPORTS BETTING LINES
Special teams was a major story line in Week 1. Take a look at the Broncos. They had to rush on to the field to get a Jason Elam field goal as time expired against the Bills. Denver drove into Buffalo territory on eight of 10 drives but came away with just a pair of field goals and a touchdown. Look for more scoring from the Broncos this week against an Oakland defense that gave up 36 points to Detroit in Week 1.
BEARS (-12) vs. Chiefs SPORTS BETTING LINES
Everyone talks about Rex Grossman when dissecting the Bears' offense, but Chicago's quarterback got no help in last week's loss to the Chargers. Meanwhile, Kansas City confirmed what we all thought while watching Hard Knocks: The Chiefs are going to stink this year. It could be a rough first month for Larry Johnson fantasy owners. Kansas City's RB was limited to 43 yards on 10 carries in Week 1, and the Chiefs face the Bears, Vikings and Chargers the next three weeks, all formidable run defenses.
RAVENS (-10) vs. Jets SPORTS BETTING LINES
A big dose of Willis McGahee and a usual sound defensive effort will give the Ravens their first win. According to Football Outsiders, no team in the NFL rushed only three defenders on pass plays last year more than the Jets. And according to my special Jets correspondent Ben Stauber, New York did the same in Week 1. Whoever starts at quarterback for the Ravens should have all day to throw.
PATRIOTS (-3) vs. Chargers
Friends and I were discussing how Bill Belichick goes about paying his $500,000 fine for cheating. Does he just write one check to the NFL? Do you need some sort of clearance to make such a monstrous financial transaction? I guess I shouldn't complain about the security deposit I have to put down on my new apartment. Anyway, two of the league's best teams square off in what should be a good one Sunday night. The Patriots always respond well just when you think they're in trouble. And their offensive attack was the story in Week 1.
Note: Monday night game will be picked Monday. Lines used are from football betting.
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