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Caps crush 'CanesHockey Betting Lines11/12/2008 - Raleigh, NC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Capitals line of Alexander Ovechkin, Alexander Semin and Nicklas Backstrom combined for 12 points in Washington's 5-1 domination of the Carolina Hurricanes at RBC Center. Semin had two markers and three helpers for a career-high five points and is riding a five-game point streak while Ovechkin collected a goal and two assists. Backstrom notched his first goal of the season and assisted on three others in tying a career-high with four points. Mike Green contributed a goal and an assist for the Capitals, who extended their winning streak to a season-high four games and took over sole possession of first place in the division from Carolina with the win. Brent Johnson stopped 13-of-14 first-period shots before leaving with an undisclosed lower-body injury prior to the second. Jose Theodore took over and halted each of the 13 shots faced over the final two periods. Scott Walker scored the lone goal for Carolina, which has dropped three of its last four contests. Michael Leighton was peppered with 37 shots in the loss. The Caps took the lead early when Semin intercepted an errant 'Canes pass at his own blue line and skated up the right side before feeding Ovechkin in the slot. The reigning league MVP deked Leighton to the ice and moved to his right, sliding the puck into an empty net just 5:11 into the contest. Semin's goal just after the midway point of the first made it 2-0. A faceoff draw was won back to the left point where Green let a slap per go wide of Leighton. The puck caromed directly back out to Semin on the right side and he swatted it into the net. Walker's power-play tally cut the deficit to one with an almost carbon-copy of Semin's goal 1:19 later. The 'Canes won a faceoff back to the left point for a Joni Pitkanen shot that went wide and Walker put in the rebound. The Caps restored their two-goal advantage on the power play shortly thereafter as Green's shot from just above the right circle made it through a screen in front and past Leighton to make it a 3-1 game after one. After a wild opening period, the teams were scoreless through the first half of the second until Ovechkin retrieved a loose puck along the right boards and fired a pass through the slot to Semin, whose one-timer skimmed under the pads of Leighton and trickled in for a 4-1 lead, which was held entering the final frame. Backstrom collected a shot down low from Ovechkin that deflected off a 'Canes skate and rammed it into the back of the net to complete the scoring barrage at 8:36 of the third. Game Notes The Hurricanes have lost four straight against Washington, including a 3-2 setback in D.C. last Thursday in what was the first of six meetings between the clubs this season...The Capitals improved to 3-4-1 as the visiting club this year...Wednesday's loss marked the end of a three-game homestand for the Hurricanes, who are 3-4-0 as the host this year...Washington was without forward Sergei Fedorov and defenseman Shaone Morrisonn for the third straight game due to injuries suffered in last Thursday's contest against the Hurricanes...Pitkanen returned to action for the first time in nine games, having been sidelined with a knee injury...Semin now has (17 G, 11 A) 28 points in 21 career games against the Hurricanes.
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NFL Football BettingBILLS (+10) at Steelers SPORTSBOOK LINES It's impossible to gauge how a team will react after something like the Steve Everett situation, and it probably doesn't matter. That being said, the Bills are going to lose several games this year where they keep things close but fall short in the end to superior teams. Ben Roethlisberger and company could have a field day against Buffalo's decimated defense, but I like the Bills to cover. BENGALS (-7) at Browns SPORTSBOOK LINES All you can ask out of your NFL team is that it has a plan. You may not always agree with it as a fan, but as long as it appears the organization is going in some sort of direction, you have to go with it. Which brings us to the Cleveland Browns. You flip a coin to determine whether Chuck Frye or Derek Anderson should start the preseason opener. You start Frye in Week 1, but pull him in the first half. And then you deal him to the Seahawks for a sixth-round pick? Hmm... the Bengals could get six turnovers again this week. COLTS (-7) at Titans SPORTSBOOK LINES Tennessee signed ex-Colts cornerback Nick Harper in the offseason so that should help slow down Peyton Manning. Just ask Jason David and the Saints. Oh wait... One of these weeks, I'm going to learn to not pick against Tennessee, which has won seven of its last eight games. But it's not happening against Indy. TEXANS (+6.5) at Panthers SPORTSBOOK LINES Houston's Mario Williams, the first pick in the '06 draft, has more touchdowns than Reggie Bush after one week. Somehow I don't see that lasting. Meanwhile, Carolina bottled up what was expected to be a pretty high-octane offense in St. Louis in Week 1. Could this be the Panthers' defense everyone expected last year? Maybe. This feels like a 20-16 Carolina win. RAMS (-3) vs. 49ers SPORTSBOOKS LINES Absolutely love this game. Everyone's favorite pick for this year's surprise team -- the 49ers -- laid an egg on Monday night (not that anyone was watching with the game ending in the middle of the night for those of us on the East Coast). St. Louis wasn't much better, delivering a lackluster effort against the Panthers that included two Steven Jackson fumbles and panic from his fantasy owners. Jackson rebounds this week, and the Rams get their first win. PACKERS (+1.5) at Giants SPORTSBOOKS LINES Do you really trust this guy to win an NFL game if Eli Manning can't go? I say no. I'd feel alot better about this Packers team if it had any semblance of a running game, but I still think Green Bay's defense is good enough to give it a 2-0 start. JAGUARS (-10) vs. Falcons SPORTSBOOKS LINES Does it scare me to pick Jacksonville to cover a double-digit spread after it scored just 10 points last week against the Titans? Absolutely. But can I bring myself to pick Atlanta under any circumstances? No. Check out this poll on ajc.com. It asks what Atlanta's most urgent deficiency is: offense, defense, specials teams or all of the above. "All of the above" has 57 percent of the votes. Ouch. SAINTS (-3) at Buccaneers SPORTSBOOKS LINES I'm picking way too many road teams this week. Oh well. New Orleans has had some time to reflect on its lackluster showing in the opener, and the Buccanneers just aren't a very good football team. Anyone else surprised Tampa Bay hasn't made a move to sign Byron Leftwich? I thought that's what they do. VIKINGS (+3) at Lions SPORTS BETTING LINES Run the ball and stop the run. Minnesota can do both, and that will keep them in a lot of games this season. Even though it was only one week, Adrian Peterson looks like he was a steal at No. 7 in last year's draft. Not only will he produce, but Peterson delivers excitement to what otherwise would be one of the league's most boring teams. DOLPHINS (+3.5) vs. Cowboys SPORTS BETTING LINES Lost in the Tony Romo lovefest is just how bad the Cowboys' defense was last week. I know they're banged up, but Dallas' 'D' allowed 438 yards to the Giants' offense, and backup running back Derrick Ward averaged 6.8 yards per carry. Meanwhile, Cam Cameron's decision to split carries between Ronnie Brown and Jesse Chatman sounds about as can't-miss as Larry David's plan to show up to Marty Funkhouser's party a night late. Still, gotta go with Miami to cover at home. SEAHAWKS (-2.5) at Cardinals SPORTS BETTING LINES I'm probably missing something, but this game seems too easy. Arizona blew Monday night's game against the 49ers in typical Cardinals fashion, and the Seahawks beat Tampa Bay by two touchdowns. Love Seattle in this one. BRONCOS (-9.5) vs. Raiders SPORTS BETTING LINES Special teams was a major story line in Week 1. Take a look at the Broncos. They had to rush on to the field to get a Jason Elam field goal as time expired against the Bills. Denver drove into Buffalo territory on eight of 10 drives but came away with just a pair of field goals and a touchdown. Look for more scoring from the Broncos this week against an Oakland defense that gave up 36 points to Detroit in Week 1. BEARS (-12) vs. Chiefs SPORTS BETTING LINES Everyone talks about Rex Grossman when dissecting the Bears' offense, but Chicago's quarterback got no help in last week's loss to the Chargers. Meanwhile, Kansas City confirmed what we all thought while watching Hard Knocks: The Chiefs are going to stink this year. It could be a rough first month for Larry Johnson fantasy owners. Kansas City's RB was limited to 43 yards on 10 carries in Week 1, and the Chiefs face the Bears, Vikings and Chargers the next three weeks, all formidable run defenses. RAVENS (-10) vs. Jets SPORTS BETTING LINES A big dose of Willis McGahee and a usual sound defensive effort will give the Ravens their first win. According to Football Outsiders, no team in the NFL rushed only three defenders on pass plays last year more than the Jets. And according to my special Jets correspondent Ben Stauber, New York did the same in Week 1. Whoever starts at quarterback for the Ravens should have all day to throw. PATRIOTS (-3) vs. Chargers Friends and I were discussing how Bill Belichick goes about paying his $500,000 fine for cheating. Does he just write one check to the NFL? Do you need some sort of clearance to make such a monstrous financial transaction? I guess I shouldn't complain about the security deposit I have to put down on my new apartment. Anyway, two of the league's best teams square off in what should be a good one Sunday night. The Patriots always respond well just when you think they're in trouble. And their offensive attack was the story in Week 1. Note: Monday night game will be picked Monday. Lines used are from football betting. |
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