12/04/2008 - (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 of the entire NHL by posting an 11-1-1 record in November. Boston is now first in the Northeast Division with 36 points and two behind the New York Rangers for the top spot in the Eastern Conference.
Boston has won two straight and six of its last seven contests and is coming off Saturday's impressive victory over the defending Stanley Cup champions. The Bruins hosted the Detroit Red Wings and recorded a 4-1 decision at TD Banknorth Garden.
David Krejci finished with a goal and an assist to lead the Bruins and Chuck Kobasew, Blake Wheeler and Phil Kessel added a goal apiece. Boston never trailed in the contest, as the club scored the game's first three goals.
Kessel has a goal in three straight games and has tallied in six of the past seven. He has at least one point in the last nine contests to give him the longest current point streak in the NHL. Kobasew also has a six-game point streak intact and has notched four goals and three assists during his run.
No. 1 goaltender Tim Thomas was rested with an illness and Manny Fernandez stopped 29-of-30 shots in the victory.
Thomas has a 9-3-3 record to go with a 1.88 goals against average and .940 save percentage this year and is expected to be back between the pipes tonight. The 34-year-old veteran is 4-3-0 with a 2.86 goals against average and .905 save percentage in seven career games against the Lightning.
On the injury front, Boston defenseman Aaron Ward left Saturday's game in the first period with an undisclosed injury and did not return.
The Bruins are beginning a two-game tour of the Sunshine state tonight and will also visit the Florida Panthers on Saturday. Boston is 7-3-3 as the visiting team this year.
The Lightning will try to halt a five-game losing streak when they take the ice tonight. Tampa has lost 10 of its last 11 contests, but has collected points on four occasions with overtime losses during the cold stretch.
Tampa Bay was defeated in OT this past Tuesday in Philadelphia, as Mike Richards scored on a power-play blast 2:05 into the extra session to lead the Flyers to a 4-3 decision.
With Ryan Malone off for interference, Kimmo Timonen held the puck in the left circle and left a perfect no-look backhand pass for Richards, who blasted the game-winner high and inside the right post.
Mark Recchi, Vinny Prospal and Steve Downie -- all former Flyers -- each tallied a goal in the loss. Head coach Rick Tocchet was also making his return to Philadelphia, as he played with the Orange & Black for parts of 11 seasons.
Mike Smith allowed four goals on 32 shots in defeat.
The Lightning are just 3-4-5 as the host this year and will also host Buffalo on Saturday to complete a brief two-game homestand. Tampa has lost four of its last five games at the Forum.
The Bruins have won six of eight against the Lightning overall and five of the last six contests in Tampa.
<< 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
<< 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
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
Rampage add Perrault, Zimmerman to roster >>
San Antonio, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Phoenix Coyotes have loaned center Joel
Perrault to their American Hockey League affiliate, the San Antonio Rampage,
it was announced on Thursday. The Coyotes also reassigned defenseman Sean
Zimmerm
Eastern Conference Playoff Betting Trends
We all know by now that the “public” loves to put their money on the FAVORITES and the OVERS. Just by taking a quick glance at Sportsbook.com’s “Betting Trends” it appears as is this tendency will continue as far as the Eastern Conference games are concerned. For the inaugural games of the first round, 69% of the early money is on Toronto -4.5; 59% of bettors prefer Chicago -4.5; 84% are backing Detroit -9; and 56% think Cleveland -11.5 is the way to go. As far as TOTALS are concerned, the only UNDER the “public” is backing is the Cleveland/ Washington game in which 83% are pounding the UNDER (190). Remember, there is no better way to predict a possible line change than by monitoring MySportsbook.com’s “Betting Trends”. By determining who the “public” is backing, you can get the most ideal line for your bet. For example, if you are siding with the public you better place your bet before the line moves in the wrong direction. On the other side of the coin, if you prefer the team that the “public” is betting against; you might be able to get and extra ½ or even more by placing your bet a bit later. Under the “Betting Trends” section, Sportsbook.com also provides plenty of statistical data and trends in order for the bettor to make the most informed pick. Below are some extremely important trends for the first round opponents of the Eastern Conference match-ups, more can be found at MySportsbook.com
New Jersey Nets vs. Toronto Raptors
Toronto was the most reliable covering team this season with a 48-33-1 ATS record but covered the OVER only 41.5% of the time.
The last 20 times these teams have played, the TOTAL has gone UNDER 16 times.
Versus Eastern Conference teams, Toronto is 33-19 ATS including 17-9 at home.
New Jersey has covered four games in a row while Toronto has failed to cover their last four games.
When playing a team with a winning record during the second half of the season, New Jersey was just 5-13 ATS this season.
After scoring 105 points or more, Toronto has covered the OVER only 28% of the time this season.
Miami Heat @ Chicago Bulls
Miami has failed to cover their last 7 games whereas Chicago has covered 6 out of their last 8 games.
Miami has covered the UNDER in four of their last five games whereas Chicago has covered the UNDER in five out of their last six.
When playing on Saturdays, Miami covered 80% of their games this season.
Away from home, Chicago is just 16-25 ATS this season.
At home, Miami covered the UNDER about 66% of the time whereas Chicago covered the UNDER about 61% of the time.
The last 13 times these teams have played each other, Chicago has covered 9 times.
In Miami’s last 11 road games, the UNDER covered 9 times.
Orlando Magic @ Detroit Pistons
Detroit has covered 5 out of their last 6 games.
Away from home, Detroit is 28-13 ATS but just 14-26-1 ATS at home.
At home, Orlando covered the UNDER 64% of the time while Detroit covered the UNDER in 63% of their away games.
The last five times these teams have played in Detroit, the OVER covered each time.
Versus Eastern Conference teams, Detroit is 8-17-1 ATS at home but 17-9 ATS away.
Detroit covered the spread 5 out of the last 6 times they played Orlando.
After a Division game, Orlando covered the UNDER 87% of the time this season.
Washington Wizards @ Cleveland Cavaliers
In a home game where the TOTAL is between 190 and 194.5 points, Cleveland is 9-1 ATS this season.
Washington has covered the UNDER in their last 6 games and in 8 of their last 9 games.
The last 6 times these teams have played each other, the UNDER covered each time.
When playing on 3 or more days of rest, Washington is just 18-37 ATS since 1996.
Since 1996, Washington is 28-16 ATS versus Cleveland including 11-5 over the last 3 seasons.
In their last 7 road games, Washington is 6-1 ATS.
Versus Eastern Conference teams at home, Washington is just 6-18-2 ATS.
For even more betting trends for not just the NBA but for all of the major sports, log on to Sportsbook.com and click on “Trends”. With only two months left in the NBA betting season it is important to be as well informed as possible in order to maximize your profit. Also for all of you poker players, check out MySportsbook.com’s “WSOP Low Bid Auction”. You could be on your way to Vegas to play against the world’s best poker players for under a buck.
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Mayweather picked to beat De La Hoya
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA -- Golden Boy Oscar De La Hoya and his rival Floyd Mayweather Jr. arrived at the MGM Grand here Wednesday amid the pomp and pandemonium befitting two of the biggest stars in the sport who are about to duke it out for the WBC super welterweight crown this Saturday (Sunday in Manila).
As of Wednesday, MySportsbook.com closed its book with Mayweather a favorite to defeat De La Hoya at -170 (a $100 bet wins $70), while De La Hoya is a +140 underdog (a $100 bet wins $140).
Mayweather arrived at about 11:30 a.m. on a big truck with his face and a big "World's Best Pound-for-Pound" sign scribbled across the vehicle. He was accompanied by his entourage made up of rappers and his training team.
A crowd of close to 3,000 eager fans packed the MGM Grand lobby, with their cameras in tow, all trying to vie for position to get a good angle at Mayweather, who is acknowledged as the world's best fighter pound-for-pound.
Eric Gomez, Golden Boy Promotions vice-president, described the fan turnout as "amazing" and swore he had never seen anything quite like this event.
"The crowd was fantastic. Everybody was just too eager to see the two fighters," said ALA manager Michael Aldeguer, who was among those who waited at the lobby together with his ward Rey "Boom Boom" Bautista and AJ Banal.
De La Hoya made his own grand entrance at the hotel lobby at around 12:30 p.m. accompanied by GBP chief executive officer Richard Schaefer and trainer Freddie Roach.
The same group of fans who trooped to see Mayweather also lingered around to get a close look at De La Hoya, who has been secretly working out at a Las Vegas gym for days after arriving from his main training camp in Puerto Rico.
The golden boy then took part in a closed-door afternoon workout with Bautista and Banal. The two, along with Aldeguer and wife Christine, as well as an HBO crew were the only ones allowed inside the gym.
De La Hoya and Mayweather take part in today's final press conference before the official weigh-in this Friday.
Ring Magazine, the acknowledged bible of boxing, reported in its June 2007 issue that 12 out of 20 boxing experts it interviewed have favored Mayweather to defeat De la Hoya, with only 8 favoring the latter.
But Filipino ring icon Manny Pacquiao said in a recent interview with The Freeman's Emmanuel Villaruel that De La Hoya will win by unanimous decision over Mayweather.
To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your bet on boxing needs.
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