Thrashers try to end skid in clash with Sabres

Hockey Betting Lines

03/16/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Atlanta Thrashers could be in much worse shape than they are when it comes to the Eastern Conference playoff race. Still, the club will not be able to improve their postseason chances until they end a lengthy losing streak.

The Thrashers will try to put the brakes on a six-game slide tonight when they welcome the Buffalo Sabres to Philips Arena.

Atlanta seemed to emerge from the Olympic break with confidence, winning its first two games in March, but since then the Thrashers have lost six in a row. Now with 14 games left, Atlanta is 11th in the Eastern Conference and five points behind Boston for the East's final playoff spot.

Meanwhile, the Sabres are currently first in the Northeast Division and three points ahead of Ottawa.

The Thrashers dropped five straight in regulation before losing a shootout decision Sunday against visiting Phoenix. Adrian Aucoin scored the game-winning goal in the fourth round of the shootout, lifting the Coyotes to a 3-2 victory.

Nik Antropov and Maxim Afinogenov each had a goal and an assist for the Thrashers, who have dropped six straight for the first time since a nine-game slide from December 19-January 5.

Ondrej Pavelec turned aside 32-of-34 shots in defeat.

"The whole 65 minutes it was a team effort. I thought we played really good. Hopefully we can build off that," Antropov said.

Thrashers defenseman Zach Bogosian missed Sunday's test with a hand injury and is questionable for tonight.

Atlanta is playing the third tilt of a five-game homestand tonight. The Thrashers have lost four straight at Philips Arena and are 15-13-5 as the host this year.

Buffalo has lost its last two games on the heels of a three-game winning streak.

Like Atlanta, the Sabres were also able to gain a point with a loss their last time out, dropping an overtime decision in Detroit on Saturday. Brian Rafalski's power-play goal 31 seconds into OT gave the Red Wings a 3-2 victory at Joe Louis Arena.

Buffalo's Tyler Myers was called for delay of game late in regulation and the penalty carried over to the extra session. Nicklas Lidstrom had the puck in the high slot and slid a backhand pass to the left circle where Rafalski cranked a one-timer through a screen and past Ryan Miller for the win.

Jochen Hecht scored both goals while Tim Connolly and Jason Pominville each posted two assists for the Sabres. Miller finished with 34 saves.

Buffalo kicked off a five-game road trip on Saturday and fell to 15-12-4 as the visitor with the loss in Motown.

Tonight marks the end of the season series between the Sabres and Thrashers. The Sabres have taken two of three meetings so far and both of Buffalo's wins came in overtime. The Thrashers still have seven wins in the last 10 matchups overall and Buffalo has dropped five of its last six in Atlanta.

Wwjuno Hockey Betting News

<< Nuggets hope to have Karl back vs. Wizards
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Denver Nuggets hope to have head coach George Karl back on the bench tonight when the Western Conference power kicks off a three-game homestand against the woeful Washington Wizards. Karl announced last Friday that

<< Sliding Bulls make a stop in Memphis
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The fading Chicago Bulls hope to put the brakes on season- long seven-game skid and improve their standing in the Eastern Conference playoff picture when they visit the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday. Chicago's losing

<< Struggling Bruins visit Hurricanes
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Boston Bruins will fight to hold onto their playoff spot when they visit the Carolina Hurricanes tonight at RBC Center. The Bruins are currently eighth in the East with 72 points and are just one point ahead of the New

<< Heat resume homestand vs. Spurs
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Two teams battling for playoff positioning get together tonight in south Florida, as the Miami Heat continue a six-game homestand versus the San Antonio Spurs at AmericanAirlines Arena. The Heat have won the first three te

<< Cavs closing in on Central title; visit Pistons
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The NBA's best road team, the Cleveland Cavaliers, will pay a visit to the Detroit Pistons Tuesday night at The Palace of Auburn Hills. The playoff-bound Cavs have won 14 of their last 19 road games and are 23-11 away from

Habs aim for sixth straight win versus playoff-hopeful Rangers >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The streaking Montreal Canadiens will shoot for a sixth straight victory tonight when they visit the New York Rangers in a battle between Original Six clubs at Madison Square Garden. The Canadiens and Rangers are both figh

Sens try to regain swagger against Leafs >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Ottawa Senators have found it hard to recapture their earlier success upon returning from the Olympic break. The playoff hopefuls hope a visit from the Eastern Conference's last-place team will help end those struggles.

Playoff-hopeful Suns welcome Wolves to the desert >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The playoffs are likely a foregone conclusion for the Phoenix Suns, who resume a season-long seven-game homestand tonight against the Western Conference's worst team, the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Suns improved

Lakers eye 50th win in Sacramento >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The reigning NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers shoot for a third straight 50-win season tonight in California's capital against Pacific Division foe Sacramento. The Lakers won their third straight game last night i

Panthers shoot for win against Ovechkin-less Caps >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - While the Washington Capitals have already secured a playoff spot, the Florida Panthers have been making a late push for the postseason with their play as of late. The resurgent Panthers aim for their first victory this se

El Duque expected to throw Tuesday

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- New York Mets pitcher Orlando Hernandez, sidelined at spring training because of arthritis in his neck, is expected to resume throwing on Tuesday.

Hernandez received a cortisone shot Thursday after leaving camp and returning to New York to have his neck examined. The 41-year-old right-hander is penciled in as the team's No. 2 starter behind Tom Glavine.

El Duque's health is a major issue for the Mets, who won the NL East in 2007 and came within one victory of the World Series. Their aging and unsettled rotation is a big question mark this year.

MySportsbook.com has the Mets as -110 favorites to repeat as NL East champions odds. 

Hernandez went 11-11 with a 4.66 ERA last season, including 9-7 with a 4.09 ERA in 20 starts after the Mets acquired him from Arizona in late May. But he missed the playoffs because of a torn calf muscle.

New York already is without Pedro Martinez, out until at least midseason following rotator cuff surgery. Among those competing for starting jobs are prospects Mike Pelfrey, Philip Humber and Jason Vargas, plus veterans Chan Ho Park, Jorge Sosa and Aaron Sele.

Notes: Mets manager Willie Randolph is excited about two new utility players he could have on his bench: Damion Easley and David Newhan. ''Their value is really all over the place,'' Randolph said. Easley can play anywhere in the infield and could be used as an emergency outfielder, though Randolph said he would prefer to keep the veteran in the infield. Newhan, meanwhile, can play second base, third or any outfield position for the Mets. ''I love versatility,'' Randolph said. ''I love guys that can give me options when I need them to step in.''

Additional baseball lines and World Series odds can be found at: www.MySportsbook.com

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com - this sportsbook accepts credit cards.

Mayweather picked to beat De La Hoya
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA -- Golden Boy Oscar De La Hoya and his rival Floyd Mayweather Jr. arrived at the MGM Grand here Wednesday amid the pomp and pandemonium befitting two of the biggest stars in the sport who are about to duke it out for the WBC super welterweight crown this Saturday (Sunday in Manila).

As of Wednesday, MySportsbook.com closed its book with Mayweather a favorite to defeat De La Hoya at -170 (a $100 bet wins $70), while De La Hoya is a +140 underdog (a $100 bet wins $140).

Mayweather arrived at about 11:30 a.m. on a big truck with his face and a big "World's Best Pound-for-Pound" sign scribbled across the vehicle. He was accompanied by his entourage made up of rappers and his training team.

A crowd of close to 3,000 eager fans packed the MGM Grand lobby, with their cameras in tow, all trying to vie for position to get a good angle at Mayweather, who is acknowledged as the world's best fighter pound-for-pound.

Eric Gomez, Golden Boy Promotions vice-president, described the fan turnout as "amazing" and swore he had never seen anything quite like this event.

"The crowd was fantastic. Everybody was just too eager to see the two fighters," said ALA manager Michael Aldeguer, who was among those who waited at the lobby together with his ward Rey "Boom Boom" Bautista and AJ Banal.

De La Hoya made his own grand entrance at the hotel lobby at around 12:30 p.m. accompanied by GBP chief executive officer Richard Schaefer and trainer Freddie Roach.

The same group of fans who trooped to see Mayweather also lingered around to get a close look at De La Hoya, who has been secretly working out at a Las Vegas gym for days after arriving from his main training camp in Puerto Rico.

The golden boy then took part in a closed-door afternoon workout with Bautista and Banal. The two, along with Aldeguer and wife Christine, as well as an HBO crew were the only ones allowed inside the gym.

De La Hoya and Mayweather take part in today's final press conference before the official weigh-in this Friday.

Ring Magazine, the acknowledged bible of boxing, reported in its June 2007 issue that 12 out of 20 boxing experts it interviewed have favored Mayweather to defeat De la Hoya, with only 8 favoring the latter.

But Filipino ring icon Manny Pacquiao said in a recent interview with The Freeman's Emmanuel Villaruel that De La Hoya will win by unanimous decision over Mayweather.

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your bet on boxing needs.