12/01/2008 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Colorado Avalanche will try to halt a five-game losing streak in Minnesota, where they play the Wild tonight at Xcel Energy Center.
The Avalanche haven't won in Minnesota since a 2-1 shootout victory on January 6, 2007. The Wild's success over the Avalanche hasn't been limited to just St. Paul either, as they have won six of their last nine overall versus Colorado.
Colorado lost a 3-1 home decision to the Wild back on November 6. Peter Budaj allowed three goals on 20 shots, as the Avs played without Joe Sakic on that day.
Sakic has missed eight of Colorado's last 11 games due to a lingering back issue. He returned to the lineup on Friday against the Coyotes, but didn't play much and then sat out Saturday's 4-3 win over Tampa Bay. Sakic did not accompany Colorado to Minnesota and is out indefinitely.
The Avalanche scored three first-period goals versus the Lightning on Saturday, getting two from Wojtek Wolski and one from Jordan Leopold. David Jones added what turned out to be the game-winning goal in the third frame.
Marek Svatos had three assists in the win to match a career-high for points in a game for Colorado, which also placed defenseman Adam Foote on injured reserve on Saturday due to back and knee issues.
Budaj was given the day off on Saturday, with Andrew Raycroft making just his second appearance of November. Raycroft made 17 saves for his first win since October 18. Budaj should be back in net tonight, as he is 6-7-2 with a 2.80 goals against average lifetime against the Wild.
Colorado begins a three-game road trip tonight and is 5-7-0 as the visiting team this year. The club has lost three of its last four on the road.
Like Budaj, Minnesota starting netminder Niklas Backstrom was given the night off Saturday and should start tonight. Backstrom is 8-1-1 with a 1.96 GAA in 10 starts versus Colorado and made 35 saves in beating the Avs earlier this year.
Josh Harding was in net on Saturday and was backed by a franchise-record tying five power-play goals in a 6-2 win over Nashville. Harding made 25 saves in his second start of the season.
Mikko Koivu scored twice, once on the power play, and had an assist, while Pierre-Marc Bouchard, Andrew Brunette, Owen Nolan, and Craig Weller all scored on the man advantage.
Minnesota is now second in the NHL on the power play at 24 percent (24- for-100).
Brunette added two assists in Saturday's win, with Antti Miettinen chipping in with three helpers for Minnesota, which has won two straight and three of its last four games.
The Wild, one point back of first-place Vancouver in the Northwest Division, is 7-4-1 at home this year and kicks off a three-game residency tonight.
<< Canucks try to rebound with test in Columbus
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Vancouver Canucks will try to avoid a third straight
loss when they visit the Columbus Blue Jackets for tonight's battle at
Nationwide Arena.
The Canucks had won four in a row before being swept in a home-and-home seri
<< Sabres host Predators in western New York
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Buffalo Sabres will aim for their third win in four
games when they welcome the Nashville Predators for this evening's contest at
HSBC Arena.
The Sabres ended a five-game losing streak with consecutive victories over
<< Espanyol lets go of manager Marquez
Barcelona, Spain (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Espanyol have sacked coach Bartolome
Marquez after a 1-0 loss to Sporting Gijon left the club facing a relegation
battle at the wrong end of the La Liga table.
Marquez's side have won just three o
<< Leonardi admits crisis at Udinese
Udine, Italy (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Udinese's general director Pietro Leonardi has
admitted that the club have slumped into a mini crisis, having lost their last
four games in Serie A.
A 1-0 home defeat by Chievo added to the pressure at the
Red Bull announces 2009 driver, crew chief lineup >>
Mooresville, NC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Red Bull Racing set its 2009 Sprint Cup
Series roster Monday with Ryan Pemberton serving as Brian Vickers' new crew
chief and Jimmy Elledge guiding Scott Speed as he runs for rookie of the year
honors.
Kiffin introduced as coach of Vols >>
Knoxville, TN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The University of Tennessee made it official
Monday and formally introduced Lane Kiffin as the 21st head football coach in
school history.
"I met with all of our players last night and they are definitely
Sale of Curlin disallowed >>
Frankfort, KY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The acquisition of the remaining 20-percent
interest in 2007 Horse of the Year Curlin by his majority owner has been
rejected by a Kentucky judge. The decision by Judge Roger Crittenden was made
Monday.
All-Conference Pioneer League Team Announced >>
St. Louis, MO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jacksonville, the PFL regular-season
champion, saw freshman quarterback Josh McGregor pick up the league's Freshman
Offensive Player of the Year award while head coach Kerwin Bell was named the
league's Coach of
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.
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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.
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