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05/06/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The defending Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins will try to take a 3-1 series edge tonight, when they visit the eighth-seeded Montreal Canadiens at the Bell Centre for Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals.
The surprising Canadiens earned a split in Games 1 and 2 in Pittsburgh after posting a 3-1 victory in the second meeting at Mellon Arena, but the Penguins bounced back with a 2-0 win in Tuesday's Game 3 matchup in Montreal. Marc- Andre Fleury needed to stop just 18 shots to notch his first shutout in this postseason and give Pittsburgh a two games to one lead in the best-of-seven series.
Evgeni Malkin and Pascal Dupuis both tallied in the third period for the Penguins to make Fleury's effort stand up.
Fleury, who now has four career playoff whitewashes, blanked an opponent for the first time since a 6-0 decision over the Flyers in Game 5 of the 2008 Eastern Conference finals.
"It was a good feeling winning in Montreal," said Fleury, who grew up roughly 50 miles north of the hockey mecca. "They came out strong in the beginning of the game, took some great shots, but overall I had a good feeling with this one. In the third period it got tough, not only on the ice, but with the crowd. We had a one-goal lead and [Jaroslav] Halak was tough but we got through it. I had to make some key saves to keep us in the game."
Halak played well in defeat, turning aside 23-of-24 shots for the Canadiens, who hadn't been held scoreless beyond the regular season since Game 1 of the 2004 Eastern Conference semifinals against Tampa Bay.
"I'm not surprised how we started in the first period. We certainly had our chances, but they play a patient game, waiting for the right chance to capitalize," noted Canadiens head coach Jacques Martin. "There were a couple shifts in the third period where we struggled and it showed. They get that power play and capitalized."
A win tonight for the Penguins would give the two-time defending Eastern Conference champs a chance to close out the series Saturday, when they host Game 5 at the Igloo.
Pittsburgh is 4-0 on the road in these playoffs and has won five straight postseason tests as the visitor since dropping Game 5 of last year's Stanley Cup Finals in Detroit. Of course, the Penguins, who had a solid 22-16-3 record as the guest during the 2009-10 campaign, won Game 7 on the road to claim Lord Stanley's Cup last spring.
The Canadiens are just 1-3 as the host in this postseason and had a mediocre 20-16-5 record on home ice during the regular season. Montreal won three out of four games on the road in its shocking seven-game upset of top-seeded Washington in the opening round.
The Pens won Game 3 despite the absence of forward Bill Guerin, who sat out for the contest with an undisclosed injury and is questionable for tonight's tilt. The 39-year-old Guerin has three goals and five assists in eight playoff games this year.
In addition to Guerin, both teams are dealing with key injuries in this series. Penguins centerman Jordan Staal, a Selke Trophy finalist this year, is sidelined indefinitely after having surgery to repair a lacerated tendon in his right foot following Friday's series opener. Staal did practice for the first time on Wednesday and remains day-to-day, though it is still unknown when he will return.
Montreal's top defenseman Andrei Markov is also out indefinitely with a lower- body injury sustained in Game 1. Markov's injury is in addition to the absence of steady veteran Jaroslav Spacek, who has been battling an undisclosed illness and hasn't played since Game 3 against Washington. Spacek did skate on Wednesday and is questionable for tonight's tilt.
The Habs and Pens have met just once before in the playoffs and that was back in the opening round of the 1998 postseason when Montreal notched a six-game series victory.
The Penguins won three of four against the Canadiens during the regular-season series. Pittsburgh took the first three encounters by a combined 12-4 margin before Montreal avoided the season sweep with a 5-3 home victory on Feb. 6.
<< Magic try and grab 2-0 series lead against Hawks
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Atlanta Hawks will try and rebound from one of their
worst playoff performances in franchise history as they resume their Eastern
Conference semifinals series with the red-hot Orlando Magic tonight at Amway
Arena.
Th
<< Stewart's HR in 12th lifts Rockies over Padres
San Diego, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Ian Stewart smacked the game-winning homer
in the top of the 12th inning, as the Colorado Rockies snuck past the San
Diego Padres, 6-5, in the rubber match of a three-game series at Petco Park.
Tim S
<< Brewers break out bats in another rout of LA
Los Angeles, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Rickie Weeks went 3-for-5 with three RBI
while Prince Fielder and Casey McGehee each drove in a pair, as the Brewers
upended the Dodgers, 11-3, behind another offensive outburst.
After being shut out
<< Longoria helps Rays handle Mariners
Seattle, WA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Evan Longoria drove in two runs, including the
go-ahead single in the eighth inning, and the Rays continued their amazing
success on the road with an 8-3 win over the Seattle Mariners.
Matt Garza (5-1) t
Angels aim to snap skid in finale with Red Sox >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim try to put the brakes on
a six-game losing streak this evening, as they attempt to salvage the finale
of their four-game series with the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park.
Los Angeles remained
Rangers hope to get on track in opener versus Royals >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Texas Rangers try to avoid a third straight loss this
evening when they begin a four-game set with the Kansas City Royals at Rangers
Ballpark in Arlington.
The Rangers had won the first four legs of their six-game road
Braves could be without some power in clash with Nationals >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Atlanta Braves could be without slugging phenom Jason
Heyward this evening when they close out a three-game set with the Washington
Nationals at Nationals Park.
Heyward left last night's contest in the second inning wi
Road-ready Rays go for sweep of Mariners >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Tampa Bay Rays, off to one of the best road starts in
the majors in seven years, will try to record a three-game sweep over the
hosting Seattle Mariners, who will try to avoid a sixth loss in a row this
evening
NFL betting action is back! At MySportsbook, all of the pro football odds are posted for the NFC North. Check out how we see the four teams in this cloudy division stacking up this year in the chase for the playoffs! Green Bay Packers (+125) - With QB Aaron Rodgers leading the offense and DC Dom Capers working his magic on defense, the Packers are a real force to be reckoned with.
Virtually nothing changed on this offense for Green Bay from last year to this year, save for the addition of rookie OT Brian Bulaga to the bunch. Expect more huge numbers from the Pack, and a relatively favorable schedule should get them over the hump and into the playoffs once again this season. My NFL Betting Predictions: 11-5, 1st place in NFC North Minnesota Vikings (+130) - There are still too many unknowns about the Vikes this year. There is a huge difference between QB Brett Favre and either Tarvaris Jackson or Sage Rosenfels under center. Plus, is Favre comes back, is he really going to be able to keep his pick total under double digits again? Depth at running back looked like it might have been an issue with RB Chester Taylor fleeing in free agency, but drafting RB Toby Gerhart should pick up the difference. This defense is still suitable, but with a first place schedule, making the playoffs is going to be very tough regardless of whether #4 comes back or not.
There is a huge difference between QB Brett Favre and either Tarvaris Jackson or Sage Rosenfels under center. Plus, is Favre comes back, is he really going to be able to keep his pick total under double digits again? Depth at running back looked like it might have been an issue with RB Chester Taylor fleeing in free agency, but drafting RB Toby Gerhart should pick up the difference. This defense is still suitable, but with a first place schedule, making the playoffs is going to be very tough regardless of whether #4 comes back or not. Play this weekly NFL Football Contestto see if you can win.
Chicago Bears (+350) - The Bears are probably a bit of an overhyped team once again this year.No, we don't think it is plausible for QB Jay Cutler to have as bad of a season as he did last year, and we do think the additions of RB Chester Taylor and DE Julius Peppers are going to help immensely, but there's still something in the water in the Windy City that we aren't so sure about. Maybe Chicago finds its way to .500... but then again, maybe it doesn't. If Favre comes back, Cutler might be the worst quarterback in this division this year.
Detroit Lions (+1500) - The Lions are probably once again going to be the whipping boys for the rest of the teams in the NFC North, but they aren't just going to roll over and die once again. There is some real talent amassing on this team offensively, as the combination of QB Matt Stafford, RB Jahvid Best, WR Calvin Johnson, and TE Brandon Pettigrew should put a bunch of points on the board if the offensive line can even remotely hold up. The questions really lie on defense, where it feels like DT Ndamukong Suh is going to be trying to stop opposing teams all by himself. This year should show some marked improvement in the Motor City.
The Patriots will make NFL betting fans a lot of money this season, get in early and enjoy the cash.
To visit this sportsbook go to MySportsbook.com for all your NFL football betting needs.
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
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