Blackhawks hope to stay on track vs. Blue Jackets

Hockey Betting Lines

02/18/2012 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Chicago Blackhawks have put their longest losing streak in over five years behind them and will try to record consecutive wins when they visit the Columbus Blue Jackets today at Nationwide Arena.

The Blackhawks were on an 0-8-1 slide entering Thursday's road game against the New York Rangers and Chicago posted a 4-2 win over the Eastern Conference leaders. It was Chicago's first win since Jan. 20 and it ended the club's longest losing streak since an 0-8-2 stretch from Jan. 4-26, 2007.

Chicago's recent struggles hurt the team's postseason standing and the Blackhawks are currently sixth in the Western Conference and five points behind Nashville for the fifth seed.

Jonathan Toews and Marian Hossa each had a goal and an assist in a big first period Thursday at Madison Square Garden. Toews scored on a penalty shot to make it 1-0 just 65 seconds into the game and Hossa scored at 9:38 of the first to push Chicago's lead to 4-0.

"We have to keep going here because we put ourselves in a tough situation," said Toews. "We need to keep digging our way out of this hole and play hard."

Nick Leddy and Patrick Sharp also scored while Corey Crawford stopped 22 shots for the Blackhawks, who also halted an 11-game road skid. Chicago is 1-6-1 on a nine-game road trip that ends today and the 'Hawks are just 11-15-3 as the visiting club this year.

Following today's tilt, the Blackhawks will return home for their next three games.

Although the Blue Jackets are still dead last in the NHL with 40 points, the club has played its best hockey of the season in recent weeks. Columbus is 4-3-0 in February to match its best win total from any month this season.

Columbus recorded a 2-1 regulation win when it last played on Tuesday against the visiting St. Louis Blues. Derek Dorsett scored the game-winning goal in the third period to lift the Blue Jackets to their fourth win in six games.

James Wisniewski also scored and Steve Mason made 31 saves for the Blue Jackets.

"I thought it was a terrific hockey game and I'm really pleased with the way our guys played tonight," Blue Jackets interim head coach Todd Richards said. "It was one of our best 60-minute performances of the year."

Columbus is 10-15-3 as the host this year and is completing a three-game homestand today. It could have defenseman Brett Lebda back in the lineup tonight after activating him from injured reserve on Friday. He had missed the past five games with a hand injury.

Goaltender Curtis Sanford was placed on IR due to an upper-body ailment.

Chicago has won five straight against the Blue Jackets and is 4-0 in this year's season series. The Blackhawks have taken four in a row and seven of the last eight encounters in Ohio.

Sporstbook Hockey Betting News

<< Flyers, Penguins clash in Philadelphia
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The latest edition of the Battle of Pennsylvania is on tap today in Philadelphia, as the Flyers welcome the Pittsburgh Penguins for an afternoon battle at Wells Fargo Center. Today's contest marks the third of six schedule

<< Kruger owns slim lead at Avantha Masters
New Delhi, India (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jbe' Kruger carded a six-under 66 in the third round Saturday to grab a one-stroke lead after 54 holes of the Avantha Masters. Kruger finished three rounds at 11-under-par 205, but there are 18 players wi

<< Miyazato tops strong leaderboard in Thailand
Chonburi, Thailand (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Ai Miyazato fired a seven-under 65 Saturday to take a one-stroke lead after 54 holes of the Honda LPGA Thailand. Miyazato, the 2010 winner, finished three rounds at 14-under-par 202. She will go for her

<< Roddick upset in straight sets in San Jose
San Jose, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Second-seeded Andy Roddick lost to Russia's Denis Istomin in the quarterfinals, 6-2, 6-4 on Friday at the $531,000 SAP Open. Roddick. a three-time San Jose titlist (2004-05, 2008), was the

<< Bryant paces Lakers over Suns
Los Angeles, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Kobe Bryant had 36 points, nine rebounds and six assists, as the Lakers downed the Suns, 111-99, in the opener of a home-and-home at Staples Center. Andrew Bynum added 17 points and 14 rebounds f

Blues play host to sliding Wild >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The St. Louis Blues will try to continue their home success when they host the sliding Minnesota Wild in today's matinee battle at Scottrade Center. The Blues have been nearly unbeatable on home ice all season long, postin

Moving on up: Hurricanes try to stay hot against Islanders >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Their longest point streak of the season has the Hurricanes on the verge of getting out of the Eastern Conference basement. Avoiding a season series sweep this evening at the hands of the Islanders could also have the team th

With an eye on first place, Capitals visit Lightning >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Washington Capitals picked up a much-needed win over the Southeast Division leaders last night. Another victory against a division rival this evening would next land them a share of first place. The Caps hope to avoid

Refreshed Canucks tangle with Maple Leafs >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Vancouver Canucks have been keeping pace for the best record in the league, but used a lot of extra energy to do so. That made Wednesday's regulation win that much more refreshing. The Northwest Division-leading Canuck

Coyotes try to continue surge against Stars >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Dallas Stars are hoping to break out of a small slump this evening in Phoenix. The Coyotes have been anything but a struggling team this month. The Coyotes look to extend a season-high seven-game point streak this even

Big Ten Conference odds

Teams that should be in: Michigan State, Indiana
Work left to do: Illinois, Purdue, Michigan, Iowa

Behind the big two, the pecking order might be in a bit of flux. Has Michigan State passed Indiana after handling the Hoosiers in East Lansing? Where is Illinois in that mix? What looked like a four-big league last week could be morphing into five -- and even six is not unthinkable at this point if everything breaks right.

Should be in:

Michigan State [21-8 (8-6), RPI: 20, SOS: 15] The Spartans made it four-for-four on the homestand, a gigantic accomplishment that leaves them in extremely good shape. MSU is only 1-6 on the road and is at Michigan and at Wisconsin to close things out, meaning the date with the Wolverines on Tuesday looms very, very large. Beating Texas early will hold up well, as will the rout of Bradley and the win over BYU, but will 8-8 be enough? It very well could be, as the computer numbers are good, but why chance it?

Indiana [18-9 (8-6), RPI: 24, SOS: 32] Hmm ... good thing the last two are at Northwestern and home to Penn State, because IU might want to get both to feel completely safe after dropping its third in the last four, fading after halftime at Michigan State. Who knew the best nonconference win would be over Southern Illinois, which is a gift that keeps on giving for the Hoosiers. The win over Wisconsin also looks good on the mantel.

Work left to do:

Illinois [21-9 (9-6), RPI: 31, SOS: 25] A good performance at Penn State leaves the Illini in pretty good shape. Can they go to Iowa and take care of business to really look on their way? That's a huge game, as there is a possible cluster of teams that will end at 9-7. Illinois beat Bradley, but has lost to Xavier. A 9-7 mark and a semifinals trip in Chicago could be enough with the computer profile hanging in there, but it would be better not to mess around, clinching at least a tie for third.

Purdue [18-10 (7-7), RPI: 47, SOS: 28] Couldn't get it done at Iowa, but did win at Northwestern to put 9-7 squarely in sight. Where does that leave the Boilermakers, though? Even if they beat Minnesota and Northwestern at home, that won't help the computer numbers. Nonconference wins over Virginia, DePaul and Oklahoma are solid, but not spectacular. The Boilers very well might need an upset in the B10 quarters to have a legit claim.

Michigan [19-10 (7-7), RPI: 55, SOS: 53] Well, Michigan did what it needed to do, winning at Minnesota to take control of its fate. The Wolverines have Michigan State and an already-wrapped-up-the-league Ohio State at home to close, so the chances are there. Win both and we can talk. There is no marquee win yet in the profile, and the Wolverines were splattered in several games against name opponents. A mediocre computer profile fueled by a lack of road wins isn't helping, either.

Iowa [16-12 (8-6), RPI: 80, SOS: 64] For the sake of being complete, we'll add Iowa, this season's Stanford. It's plausible that the Hawkeyes could get to 10-6 (at Penn State, vs. Illinois left), but where does that leave them after a gruesome nonconference performance where the best win was over ... Toledo? Iowa State? Cornell?? If they get to 10-6, we can start to look at what they need to do in the B10 tourney, although my gut sense is that they would need to make the final and have knocked off Ohio State or Wisconsin on the way to have any real claim.

For more College Basketball betting lines go to MySportsbook.com

Additional sports lines can be found at: www.Sportsbooks.com

To bet on March Madness games this online sportsbook accepts credit cards.


American Idol Betting Odds: Season 6  

The online gambling websites are in the process of deciphering each American Idol contestant and his or her chances of winning Season 6 to come up with the early American Idol betting lines.

Tim Dalton of MySportsbook.com has been locked away in a soundproof room coming up with all the latest tallies, we are told. "American Idol has become one of the most significant betting events of the year," claims Jack Black of MySportsbook.com.  "Last year, millions were bet during the season across the globe, not just in America.

It's tough early on since we really do not have a glimpse as to how well each of these individuals will perform solo on a week-to-week basis.  It's like Week 1 of the NFL.  Pre-season means nada!

We do know the 24 finalists however.

Sanjaya Malakar is the young man whose sister failed to make it into the Top 24.  He's very low key but - unless he totally flubs - will probably win over the young girlie vote for a few weeks anyway.  He's too young to go all the way, according to Payton O'Brien. 

Brandon Rogers - Who?

Phil Stacy is the military guy who missed his daughter's birth because of the Memphis audition.  He should go a good distance.

Chris Sligh - He's got the humor and in many ways he's the Anti-American Idol much like last year's winner Taylor Hicks was.  And this is why he'll probably get pretty far in this competition.  He's chubby, white with a big curly afro....but more importantly, a great voice!  People love "real", not "real cute" to go all the way. 

"Blake Lewis should go far because of his uniqueness and looks.  He's the boy next store with a twist - he beat boxes.  But on top of this, he's a great singer, and I adore him," Payton O'Brien relayed.

A talented beat-boxer Blake Lewis was a hit during the group sing in Hollywood but Simon explained that this is a singing contest just before he told him he was “in.”

Paul Kim has caught our own roving reporter, Jenny Woo's eyes. 

"I love the fact that there is a Korean American on the show and he is bound to get more Asians tuning into the show," Woo said from her Miami Beach estate.  "There has never been a major presence of Asian-Americans on American Idol in the past.  He's a hottie with a nice voice so that should help to take him far.  Expect heavy betting action from the Asian community."

Sundance Head - He's not perfect, but he's got the personality that will take him through a few weeks, plus he's got the lineage (son of Roy Head - whose 1965 single, "Treat Her Right," hit No. 5 in the charts) 

And the others:

Rudy Cardinas
AJ Tabaldo - the 5th time is the charm
Nicolas Pedro
Chris Richardson
Jared Cotter

The girls

"Melinda Doolittle has one of the best voices," says MySportsbook.com Reporter and an acclaimed dancer in her own right, Destiney Lewis.  "It is great to see a back up singer step out like she has.  The girl needs to gain more confidence but that can also be a positive.  I think she will go far."

Alena Alexander - Those tears (she never seems to stop bawling) should get her far.

"Single mom Lakisha Jones I suspect will be a pretty big favorite entering Week 1 of the competition," says Destiny Williams.  Jones is an excellent singer and down to earth.  "She'll have a wide appeal," echoed O'Brien.

Nicole Trellis - Seems to exert confidence.

Amy Krebs - a powerful singer.

Antonella Barba
Gina Glocksen
Hailey Scanardo
Jordan Sparks
Stephanie Edwards
Leslie Hunt
Sabrina Sloan

MySportsbook.com is offering a 20% signup bonus with an initial deposit (i.e. open your American Idol betting account with $300, receive another $60 in which to bet with). 

Last two contestants will be?

1 Male/1 Female +100 (a $10 bet pays $10 plus your initial $10)

2 Males +170 (a $10 bet pays $17 plus your initial $17)

2 Females +130 (a $10 bet pays $13 plus your initial $10)

MySportsbook.com is an online sportsbook accepts Visa Credit Cards and online sportsbook accepts Mastercard Credit Cards for easy American Idol betting lines.