12/04/2008 - (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 Sharks 5-2 victory over Toronto on Tuesday improved their record to 21-3-1 this season and they lead the NHL with 43 points. Only the 1943-44 Montreal Canadiens, led by Maurice "Rocket" Richard, have posted as many points (43) over the first 25 games in league history, going 20-2-3 on the way to a 38-5-7 overall record and their fifth Stanley Cup title.
In Tuesday's record-tying win, the Sharks scored four goals in the first period, with Joe Thornton factoring in on all the tallies. Thornton had a goal and three assists in the frame to tie a franchise record for most points in a period.
Thornton will hit another franchise milestone tonight, as he will play in his 248th straight game with the Sharks once he hits the ice. He is currently tied with Vincent Damphousse for the team's all-time ironman mark.
Devin Setoguchi, Dan Boyle, Joe Pavelski and Marc-Edouard Vlasic also scored for the red-hot Sharks, who won their season-high eighth consecutive game. Evgeni Nabokov made 29 saves in the victory, which came against former coach and current Toronto head coach Ron Wilson. Wilson was fired this past offseason and is the team's all-time leader in wins with 206.
The Sharks haven't won nine straight games since their club-record 11-game win streak set from February 21-March 14 of last season with Wilson at the helm.
San Jose won the opener of its season-high five-game homestand and remains the only team in the NHL without a regulation loss at home this season (13-0-1).
That likely won't change tonight, as the Sharks are 14-0-1 all-time at home versus Columbus, with the lone blemish being a 3-2 overtime loss on January 8, 2004. That includes a 5-2 win at HP Pavilion over the Blue Jackets on October 14, their fourth straight overall against Columbus.
Nabokov is 15-4-0 with a 1.66 goals against average and three shutouts lifetime versus the Blue Jackets.
Columbus will have something it didn't have in that last meeting though -- goaltender Steve Mason. Mason was selected as the top rookie for November after going 5-2-1 with a 2.09 GAA and two shutouts in eight starts during the month.
He didn't slow down to start December, making 30 saves in Monday's 3-2 win over Vancouver. Tonight will mark his first-career start versus the Sharks.
Kristian Huselius scored the game-winning goal with 4:44 left in the third period and assisted on another score in the win. Andrew Murray and Fredrik Modin also scored for the Blue Jackets, who won their second straight game after posting just two wins over their previous seven games. Rick Nash notched two assists.
The Blue Jackets begin a three-game road trip tonight against Pacific Division residents. They are 4-5-2 as the visiting team this year and will also face Los Angeles and Anaheim on the trek.
<< 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
<< Red Wings try to solve Canucks
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - No matter who has been in goal for the Canucks, they have
already handed the Red Wings a pair of defeats this year. Vancouver and
Detroit wrap their season series tonight in Motown at Joe Louis Arena.
The Red Wings have lo
<< Goaltender controversy brewing as Panthers host Sabres
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Florida's solid play as of late is creating a goaltending
controversy in Sunrise. Craig Anderson, and not Tomas Vokoun, will be in net
tonight when the Panthers host the Buffalo Sabres at BankAtlantic Center.
The Panthers
<< Hurricanes begin second Maurice era with home test versus Pens
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Carolina Hurricanes will begin a second era with Paul
Maurice as their head coach when they host the Pittsburgh Penguins tonight at
RBC Center.
The Hurricanes announced the coaching change on Wednesday, replacing Peter
Flyers, Devils renew rivalry in City of Brotherly Love >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - An intense rivalry between Atlantic Division combatants is
on tap tonight in Philadelphia, as the Flyers welcome the New Jersey Devils to
the Wachovia Center.
The Flyers have won seven of their last nine games, while New J
Caps aim to get on track versus Islanders >>
(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, h
Mighty Bruins visit struggling Lightning >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Fresh off an amazing month, the powerful Boston Bruins will
play their first game of December when they visit the struggling Tampa Bay
Lightning for tonight's test at St. Pete Times Forum.
The Bruins caught the attention o
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
MySportsbook.com: NBA Championship Odds
With the playoffs about two months away, the top two teams in the Western Conference are the clear cut leaders to win the NBA Championship. The Dallas Mavericks have the best record in the NBA (44-9) and have been absolutely scorching since the second week of the season. What makes the Mavs’ record more impressive is the fact that they dropped their first four games of the season. Currently they have won 17 out of their last 18 and are MySportsbook.com’s favorite (2-1) to win it all. Right behind the Mavs are the Pacific leading Phoenix Suns (39-13). Last season, the Suns lost in the Conference Finals to non-other then the Mavericks four games to two. Of course the Suns were without center Amare Stoudemire who has is averaging 19.9 PPG and 9.5 RPG since coming back from his knee injury. Unlike the Mavs, the Suns have struggled a bit lately having lost their last three and four out of their last seven. Of course the main reason for their three straight loses is due to the absence of two time MVP Steve Nash, who is out with a shoulder injury. Heads-up, the Mavs have beaten the Suns in both of their meetings this season.
In the Eastern Conference, the Pistons (32-19) are the favorites to win it all at 6-1. The addition of Chris Webber seems to have been a good move for the Pistons. Since coming over from the 76ers, Webber has averaged 13.1 PPG and 7.3 RPG and the Pistons are 11-4. Even though the defending champion Heat are currently on the playoff making cusp, they are the Eastern Conference team that is getting the most action to win it all (9-1). The fact that Shaquille O’Neal is back in the starting lineup after missing 39 games probably has something to do with this. No doubt, Shaq makes a difference when in the lineup as their winning six out of their last seven would indicate.
Just because it is the All-Star break doesn’t mean that you can’t bet on NBA hoops this weekend. Be sure to log onto MySportsbook.com to bet on who you think will cut down the nets this July. Also, be sure to check out all of the lines and props for All-Star weekend. With the highest credit card acceptance rate in the industry, there are plenty of ways to cash in on the NBA this weekend.
MySportsbook.com’s NBA Championship odds:
Atlanta Hawks 1000-1
Boston Celtics 5000-1
Charlotte Bobcats 5000-1
Chicago Bulls 20-1
Cleveland Cavaliers 20-1
Dallas Mavericks 2-1
Denver Nuggets 25-1
Detroit Pistons 6-1
Golden State Warriors 250-1
Houston Rockets 12-1
Indiana Pacers 60-1
Los Angeles Clippers 45-1
Memphis Grizzlies 5000-1
Miami Heat 9-1
Milwaukee Bucks 1000-1
Minnesota T-Wolves 200-1
New Jersey Nets 50-1
New Orleans Hornets 150-1
New York Knicks 150-1
Orlando Magic 75-1
Philadelphia 76ers 1000-1
Phoenix Suns 5-2
Portland TrailBlazers 1000-1
Sacramento Kings 250-1
San Antonio Spurs 9-1
Seattle Sonics 5000-1
Toronto Raptors 35-1
Utah Jazz 20-1
Washington Wizards 25-1
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