Pens try to stay hot in Dallas

Hockey Betting Lines

03/01/2009 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Pittsburgh Penguins will shoot for their first three- game winning streak since mid-November when they visit the Dallas Stars for this afternoon's interconference matchup at American Airlines Center.

The Penguins, who are 4-1-1 since Dan Bylsma took over head coaching duties from the fired Michel Therrien, have won two straight and four of their last five games. Pittsburgh hasn't won three in a row since a season-high six-game winning streak from November 1-15.

Pittsburgh is trying to fight its way into the Eastern Conference's playoff seeds. The Pens are currently 10th in the conference with 68 points and are just one point behind Buffalo and Carolina for the East's final postseason berth.

The Penguins began their longest road trip of the season with Friday's overtime victory in Chicago. Evgeni Malkin scored on the power play 1:36 into OT, overshadowing the first career hat trick for Chicago's Jonathan Toews, as Pittsburgh defeated the Blackhawks, 5-4, at the United Center.

Chris Kunitz registered a goal and an assist in his Pittsburgh debut. Kunitz and prospect Eric Tangradi were acquired from the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday in exchange for defenseman Ryan Whitney.

Jordan Staal, Miroslav Satan and Maxime Talbot also scored for the Penguins. Marc-Andre Fleury made 41 saves to pick up the win.

Malkin extended his point streak to seven games and has four goals and five assists during the run. Also, after going scoreless in his first game of the season on February 14, Pens defenseman Sergei Gonchar has registered a point in six straight contests, posting two goals and five helpers over that stretch. Gonchar had two assists in the victory over the Blackhawks.

The Penguins played their second straight game without captain Sidney Crosby, who is hampered by a groin injury that was initially sustained in Sunday's loss to the Washington Capitals. Crosby is still day-to-day and is questionable for today's game, as is winger Petr Sykora (upper body).

Today's test marks the second stop on a five-game road trip for the Pens, who are 14-14-4 as the visiting team this season. Pittsburgh has won two of its last three road tilts after dropping its previous five games away from the Steel City.

Meanwhile, the Stars are currently mired in their longest losing streak of the season, having lost four straight games, including Saturday's 4-3 setback to visiting Anaheim.

Teemu Selanne scored the game-winner in the third period as the Ducks edged Dallas at American Airlines Center.

Mike Ribeiro had two goals and an assist for the Stars, while Marty Turco gave up all four goals on just 18 shots in the loss.

Dallas is tied with Minnesota for 10th place in the Western Conference. The Stars are two points behind the Ducks and Edmonton for the final two postseason berths in the West.

The Stars are just 1-4 on a five-game homestand that ends today. Dallas has a 17-11-4 record as the host this season and will next embark on a three-game road trip, beginning with Tuesday's test in San Jose.

Pittsburgh has won three straight and four of the last five meetings with the Stars and Dallas hasn't won in this series since posting a 3-1 home victory on March 2, 2003. However, the Penguins are just 1-5 with a tie in their last seven trips to Dallas.

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MySportsbook.com and Kentucky Derby Offer Bonuses
The 2008 Kentucky Derby has announced a $1-million bonus for this weekend’s 134th ‘Run for the Roses’ and MySportsbook.com is doing the same.

Well, not quite $1 million, but MySportsbook.com is offering a 75% rebate for Kentucky Derby lines. Check out the exclusive horse racing bonus for all the details.

According to MySportsbook.com, the favorites for Saturday’s Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky are: Curlin (+250); Street Sense (+500); Scat Daddy (+700); Circular Quay (+750); and Nobiz Like Shobiz (+800).

Derby organizers announced this week that there will be a $1-million bonus at the 2007 Kentucky Derby odds if the first-place horse wins by more than 6 1/2 lengths – the margin of Barbaro's victory last year. The bonus would be divided Saturday among the winning trainer, jockey, owner and a charity, with each receiving 25 percent. The designated charity is the Barbaro Memorial Fund.

''It's certainly creative, it's certainly fun and it has something for the horsemen, which we always want to embrace,'' Churchill Downs president and chief executive Robert Evans said at a news conference. ''What's really cool is it will force us to remember Barbaro.''
    
Meanwhile, the Derby favorite – Curlin – is going against the odds this year. It's been 125 years since Apollo won after skipping his 2-year-old season, and not since Regret in 1915 has such a lightly seasoned horse worn the blanket of red roses.

Arkansas Derby winner Curlin – unbeaten in three career races – tries to overcome both those obstacles in Saturday's 133rd Derby.

''We're not running against history,'' trainer Steve Asmussen said Monday. ''We're running against who they load up.''

Six other horses have run in the Derby without benefit of 2-year-old races and with three or fewer starts. The best any of them managed was a sixth-place finish by Showing Up last year.
   
Asmussen dismissed suggestions that Curlin's lack of racing experience could keep him from the winner's circle.

”He exudes confidence and he's got a great presence about him,'' the trainer said. ''I feel great about the position we're in. He's not worried about anything, why should you be?''
   
The Kentucky Derby is at 4:04 p.m., ET Saturday.

For complete odds on the Kentucky Derby, visit MySportsbook.com. Mysportsbook.com online sportsbook accepts Visa and Mastercard credit cards.


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

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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.