Canucks try for 10th straight home win vs. Stars

Hockey Betting Lines

03/17/2009 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Vancouver Canucks will be shooting for a franchise record for consecutive home victories when the scorching club welcomes the Dallas Stars to GM Place this evening.

Vancouver has ripped off nine straight wins on home ice following Sunday's 4-2 decision over Colorado, matching the team's longest such streak since a nine- game run from November 6-December 9, 1992. Ironically, the Canucks had lost nine in a row at home prior to this current tear.

The Canucks have done plenty of winning on the road as well in recent weeks. Since ending the month of January on an eight-game losing streak, Vancouver has produced an outstanding 13-3-1 overall mark and now stands just two points in back of Chicago for fourth place in the Western Conference.

Vancouver jumped out to a 3-0 lead against the Avalanche on first-period goals from Kyle Wellwood, Alex Burrows and Taylor Pyatt, while Alexander Edler put the finishing touches on the team's latest win with a late power-play score.

Ryan Kesler racked up three assists to help the Canucks snap a string of eight straight losses to Colorado.

The Stars also appear to have hit their stride after a poor lengthy stretch. After losing eight times in a 10-game span from February 21-March 10, Dallas won both tests of a brief two-game homestand heading into tonight's clash.

Dallas began the brief residency with a 3-2 triumph over Carolina on Thursday, then came through with a much-needed overtime win over Minnesota two nights later. Nicklas Grossman scored the game-winning goal midway through the extra period in a 3-2 victory that kept the Stars among the top eight teams in the West.

Steve Ott had both regulation goals for Dallas and Loui Eriksson assisted on all three of the Stars' tallies. Mike Ribeiro had a pair of helpers on the night and now has 10 points (4 goals, 6 assists) during a seven-game scoring streak.

Dallas is currently holding down the West's eighth and final playoff spot with 74 points, one better than ninth-place Edmonton, as it enters a crucial road trip against three of the conference's top teams. Following tonight's showdown, the Stars visit Northwest Division leader Calgary before taking on Pacific front-runner San Jose on Saturday.

The Stars have gotten the better of the Canucks as of late, with Dallas winning four of the last five matchups in the series and taking both previous encounters between the teams this season. That includes a 3-2 shootout decision in Vancouver on January 4.

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Academy Award Betting Odds for Best Picture Offer Great Value

If there is any category that is not an obvious win for any one nominee in this year's Academy Awards, it would be for Best Picture.  Sure the Departed is a 5/7 favorite, but that's hardly anything when we look at Helen Mirren and her "out-of-reach" 1 to 40 odds (which means you would win a whopping $1 for every $40 bet).

For value, take a look at MySportsbook.com Oscars betting odds on my personal favorite, The Queen - a remarkable 12 to 1 long shot.  The film hasn't won any pre-awards for Best Picture (compared to The Departed and Little Miss Sunshine), but there is a tremendous following and it is a strong enough film to warrant a surprise win.

TV Guide advises Oscar watchers should be cautioned not to discount the  drama "Babel" with its strong social themes about overcoming communication gaps among people of different cultures.

"While 'Babel' lost several guild awards to 'Sunshine' and 'Departed,'  it still enjoys loyal support, and historically Oscar voters favor dramas with social messages over comedies like 'Sunshine' and violent crime movies like 'Departed'."

"It hasn't done well in the guilds, which means there isn't much industry support," said Tom O'Neil of awards site TheEnvelope.com, "But several critics are expecting it to win, and that gets my attention." Babel had 7 to 2 odds at press time.

Who is to say independently produced Little Miss Sunshine won't be this year's Crash.  Last year, Crash won for Best Motion Picture, shocking those who bet on gay cowboy flick, Brokeback Mountain, as the favorite to win. 

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your Sportsbook accepts Visa needs.

Pro Football Odds : NFC SOUTH BETTING ODDS

NFL Sports Betting

NFL betting action is back! At MySportsbook, all of the pro football odds are posted for the NFC North. Check out how we see the four teams in this cloudy division stacking up this year in the chase for the playoffs! Green Bay Packers (+125) - With QB Aaron Rodgers leading the offense and DC Dom Capers working his magic on defense, the Packers are a real force to be reckoned with.

Virtually nothing changed on this offense for Green Bay from last year to this year, save for the addition of rookie OT Brian Bulaga to the bunch. Expect more huge numbers from the Pack, and a relatively favorable schedule should get them over the hump and into the playoffs once again this season. My NFL Betting Predictions: 11-5, 1st place in NFC North Minnesota Vikings (+130) - There are still too many unknowns about the Vikes this year. There is a huge difference between QB Brett Favre and either Tarvaris Jackson or Sage Rosenfels under center. Plus, is Favre comes back, is he really going to be able to keep his pick total under double digits again? Depth at running back looked like it might have been an issue with RB Chester Taylor fleeing in free agency, but drafting RB Toby Gerhart should pick up the difference. This defense is still suitable, but with a first place schedule, making the playoffs is going to be very tough regardless of whether #4 comes back or not.

There is a huge difference between QB Brett Favre and either Tarvaris Jackson or Sage Rosenfels under center. Plus, is Favre comes back, is he really going to be able to keep his pick total under double digits again? Depth at running back looked like it might have been an issue with RB Chester Taylor fleeing in free agency, but drafting RB Toby Gerhart should pick up the difference. This defense is still suitable, but with a first place schedule, making the playoffs is going to be very tough regardless of whether #4 comes back or not. Play this weekly NFL Football Contestto see if you can win.

Chicago Bears (+350) - The Bears are probably a bit of an overhyped team once again this year.No, we don't think it is plausible for QB Jay Cutler to have as bad of a season as he did last year, and we do think the additions of RB Chester Taylor and DE Julius Peppers are going to help immensely, but there's still something in the water in the Windy City that we aren't so sure about. Maybe Chicago finds its way to .500... but then again, maybe it doesn't. If Favre comes back, Cutler might be the worst quarterback in this division this year.

Detroit Lions (+1500) - The Lions are probably once again going to be the whipping boys for the rest of the teams in the NFC North, but they aren't just going to roll over and die once again. There is some real talent amassing on this team offensively, as the combination of QB Matt Stafford, RB Jahvid Best, WR Calvin Johnson, and TE Brandon Pettigrew should put a bunch of points on the board if the offensive line can even remotely hold up. The questions really lie on defense, where it feels like DT Ndamukong Suh is going to be trying to stop opposing teams all by himself. This year should show some marked improvement in the Motor City.

The Patriots will make NFL betting fans a lot of money this season, get in early and enjoy the cash.

NFL Betting

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