Caps hope to rebound in Atlanta

Hockey Betting Lines

03/21/2008 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Washington's current road trip features several favorable matchups. However, the Capitals' offense failed itself last time out and the club will try to rebound tonight in a test with the Atlanta Thrashers at Philips Arena in a matchup that features the top two goal scorers in the NHL.

Washington had won four straight to stay in contention in both the Eastern Conference playoff race and Southeast Division title. However, the Capitals were blanked by Chicago, 5-0, on Wednesday and fell five points back of first- place Carolina in the division. The Hurricanes extended that lead to seven points with Thursday's victory over Florida.

The Capitals are also two points back of Philadelphia for the eighth and final playoff spot in the East with seven games to play.

Olaf Kolzig was bombarded with 42 shots on the night, making 37 saves. Washington has now split the first two games of its current six-game road trip that next features a big stop in Carolina on Tuesday. The Capitals are 16-16-5 as the road team this year.

Despite Atlanta having the second-lowest point total in the East, the Capitals have dropped four of their seven matchups with the Thrashers this year (3-2-2).

Alex Ovechkin, who leads the NHL with a career-high 58 goals and 102 points, has four goals and four assists in seven games versus Atlanta this year. He is two goals shy of becoming the first skater to net 60 goals in a season since Pittsburgh's Mario Lemieux (69 goals) and Jaromir Jagr (62) both did so in the 1995-96 season.

The Russian sniper would also become the second Capitals player in club history to hit the 60-goal mark, joining Dennis Maruk, who posted a franchise record 60 goals in 1981-82.

Countryman Ilya Kovalchuk is second in the league with 50 goals and is just two tallies shy of the career-high 52 he netted in 2005-06. He failed to light the lamp in the Thrashers' last game, and Atlanta didn't help Washington's playoff hopes after getting defeated 5-3 by Carolina on Wednesday.

Johan Hedberg stopped 28-of-33 shots for Atlanta, which lost its fourth straight game and was defeated for the 14th time in 16 games. Steve McCarthy, Bryan Little and Vyacheslav Kozlov all tallied for the Thrashers. Atlanta and its 70 points are 14th in the East.

The Thrashers play the second portion of back-to-back home games tonight and are 18-17-3 as the host this year. Atlanta plays its next three on the road.

Kovalchuk has three goals and five assists in six games versus the Capitals this year, while Todd White has four goals.

Overall, Atlanta has won nine of its last 15 against Washington and two straight as the host.

Gemcasino Hockey Betting News

<< Sixers try to stay hot in Orlando
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The surging Philadelphia 76ers will take their momentum to the road tonight, when they pay a visit to the Orlando Magic at Amway Arena. The Sixers have been the hottest team in the Eastern Conference as of late, having

<< Pacers need a win against Minnesota
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Indiana Pacers still have an outside chance at a playoff spot, and will wrap up a three-game homestand tonight versus the Minnesota Timberwolves at Conseco Fieldhouse. Indiana sits two games off the eighth and final

<< Cleveland hosts the Raptors
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Cleveland Cavaliers will shoot for their ninth straight win at home this evening, when they host the Toronto Raptors at Quicken Loans Arena. Cleveland posted its season-high eighth straight win as the host with Wedne

<< Defending-champion Spurs host Kings at AT&T Center
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - After showing signs of breaking out of a recent slump their last time out, the San Antonio Spurs shoot for back-to-back wins when the defending NBA champions host the Sacramento Kings tonight at the AT&T Center. S

<< Wizards try to improve playoff status in Miami
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Washington Wizards take aim at improving their playoff positioning and continuing a strong recent stretch in tonight's encounter with the lowly Miami Heat at AmericanAirlines Arena. Washington comes in having won f

Wild visit Canucks for pivotal Northwest battle >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - With nothing but divisional games left on the schedule, the Wild are in the driver's seat in the Northwest standings. Minnesota continues its quest for a divisional crown tonight, as they visit the Vancouver Canucks at GM Pla

Ducks, Sharks tangle in San Jose >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - With a playoff berth already locked up the San Jose Sharks will try to get more separation at the top of the Pacific Division tonight, as they host the Anaheim Ducks at HP Pavilion. The Sharks knocked off the Minnesota Wil

Arkansas Derby loses second prep victor >>
Hot Springs, AR (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - This year's $1 million Arkansas Derby will be without the two winners of Oaklawn's two major prep races. Rebel Stakes winner Sierra Sunset has been scratched from the April 12 race with an ankle injury,

Pistons, Sixers battle in the City of Brotherly Love >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Detroit Pistons will try to get back on the winning track this evening, as they take on the Philadelphia 76ers at the Wachovia Center. Detroit had a five-game winning streak stopped in Tuesday's 98-94 loss to the Ne

Toronto hosts the Bucks >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Toronto Raptors have hit a snag and will try to right the ship when they open a two-game homestand tonight versus the Milwaukee Bucks at the Air Canada Centre. The Raptors will also welcome the New Jersey Nets to tow

MySportsbook.com week 1 NFL lines


Now that the 2008 NFL schedule is finally out, it is only matter-of-course for lines on “Week 1” to follow.  Of course MySportsbook.com is the first to churn out odds for the NFL’s inaugural week for the upcoming season.   Expect a lot of fireworks the first Thursday night of the season as the defending champion Indianapolis Colts face off against the surprise of the 2008 season, the New Orleans Saints.  These teams were ranked #1 and #3 in the NFL respectively a season ago so a high scoring affair could be in order.  As of now, the Colts will be giving 6 points to the Saints; keep in mind the Saints were one of the better road teams last season going 6-3 SU and 7-2 ATS.  The first Monday night of the season will again provide a “double feature”. Coming off a disappointing season, the Cincinnati Bengals will look to get back to playoffs and improve their public image as they take on the AFC North favorite Baltimore Ravens.  The second game features a couple of teams that haven’t had too much success recently but each could make some noise if the NFC is as weak as it was last year as the San Francisco 49ers host the Arizona Cardinals. The most interesting game of the opening week will feature the NFC champion Bears as they hit the road to take on the NFL’s top team during last year’s regular season, the San Diego Chargers.

MySportsbook.com Week 1 odds:

Saints +6 @ Colts -6

Falcons @ Vikings (pick ‘em)

Panthers @ Rams (pick ‘em)

Broncos -3.5 @ Bills +3.5

Chiefs -1 @ Texans +1

Dolphins +3 @ Redskins -3

Patriots -5 @ Jets +5

Eagles -3.5 @ Packers +3.5

Steelers -4 @ Browns +4

Titans +6 @ Jaguars -6

Bears +6 @ Chargers -6

Lions +3 @ Raiders -3

Bucs +6.5 @ Seahawks -6.5

Giants +4 @ Cowboys -4

Ravens +3 @ Bengals -3

Cardinals +3 @ 49ers -3

 Super Bowl line (2008)

NFC +6.5 vs. AFC -6.5

MySportsbook is a large, publicly traded company with strong financial backing. You will find their customer service is second to none and their web site is extremely user friendly and easy-to-use. All major professional sports games are available. Once you signup with MySportsbook, you may never use another online sportsbook again.

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your football sportsbook needs. Mysportsbook.com online sportsbook accepts Visa and Mastercard credit cards.