12/04/2008 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The struggling Washington Capitals will try to avoid a third straight loss when they invite the New York Islanders for tonight's battle at the Verizon Center.
The Capitals, who lead the Southeast Division with 29 points, have lost consecutive games to Columbus and Florida and are just 2-5-0 in their last seven outings. Before dropping five of seven, Washington had picked up wins in six of its previous seven contests.
Washington was blanked, 3-0, in Columbus on Saturday and then was dealt a home defeat Tuesday against the Panthers. Ville Peltonen, Radek Dvorak and Gregory Campbell each had a goal and an assist to lead Florida to a 5-3 decision as it handed the Capitals their first regulation loss at home this season.
Nicklas Backstrom, Tomas Fleischmann and Viktor Kozlov each posted a goal and assist for the Capitals. Alex Ovechkin added an assist in the losing effort.
The uneven Jose Theodore, who earned his 27th career shutout when the Caps defeated Montreal, 3-0, on Friday, allowed four goals on 21 shots for Washington, which is 9-1-1 at the Verizon Center.
The Islanders, meanwhile, ended a two-game losing streak and won for the third time in five games their last time on the ice. New York last played on Saturday when it notched a 4-2 decision over the visiting Ottawa Senators.
Freddy Meyer finished with a pair of goals and an assist to lift the Isles to the recent win at Nassau Coliseum.
Andy Hilbert and Trent Hunter each added a goal and an assist for the Islanders, while Joey MacDonald stopped 19 shots in the win.
New York has picked up 30 percent of its win total this year against the Senators, taking all three meetings between the clubs so far.
Beginning with tonight's test the Isles are playing five of six and seven of their next nine games on the road. New York is 5-5-1 as the visitor this year and has won three of its last four tests away from Long Island.
The Isles have had Washington's number in recent years, winning three straight, five of six and seven of the last nine encounters between the clubs.
New York has also had success in the nation's capital, as its earned wins in three straight and five of its previous seven trips to D.C.
<< Habs aim to extend win streak in test against Rangers
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Montreal Canadiens will shoot for their third straight
victory when they welcome the New York Rangers for tonight's battle between
Original Six teams at the Bell Centre.
The Canadiens are coming off victories over Buff
<< Mighty Sharks welcome Blue Jackets
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The San Jose Sharks' incredible start to the season has
been matched just once in league history. The club looks to extend that start
tonight versus the Columbus Blue Jackets, a team it has dominated at HP
Pavilion.
The S
<< Tellqvist, Coyotes welcome Leafs to the desert
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Riding a hot hand, Coyotes' netminder Mikael Tellqvist will
get a chance to do some damage against an old club. Tellqvist will make his
second straight start tonight in Phoenix's home test against the Toronto Maple
Leafs at J
<< Avs take trip to Nashville without Sakic
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Colorado Avalanche will continue a three-game road trip
tonight without their captain, as they travel to Nashville to take on the
Predators at the Sommet Center.
Colorado begin its swing with a 6-5 win in Minnesota on
Caps recall Aucoin >>
Arlington, VA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Washington Capitals have recalled center
Keith Aucoin from their AHL affiliate in Hershey.
Aucoin, an eighth-year pro with 53 games of NHL experience, leads the AHL in
scoring this season with 36 poi
White Sox deal P Vazquez to Braves >>
Atlanta, GA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Atlanta Braves have acquired right-handed
starter Javier Vazquez and left-handed reliever Boone Logan from the Chicago
White Sox in exchange for four prospects.
Chicago will receive catcher Tyler F
NFLPA to file grievance on Burress' behalf >>
New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The National Football League Players
Association is expected to file a grievance on behalf of suspended New York
Giants wide receiver Plaxico Burress.
The Giants suspended the oft-troubled recei
Keane resigns as Sunderland coach >>
Sunderland, England (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Roy Keane sensationally resigned as
Sunderland manager on Thursday after a little over two years in charge of the
Black Cats.
The 37-year-old Irishman had cast doubts over his future on Wearside
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.
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