Devils clinch Atlantic in shootout win over Senators
Hockey Betting Lines
04/09/2009 -
Ottawa, ON (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Brendan Shanahan scored the shootout winner, and
the New Jersey Devils wrapped up the Atlantic Division title in a 3-2 win
against the Ottawa Senators at Scotiabank Place.
The Devils needed just a point to win the division for the third time in four
seasons and did so even before Shanahan lit the lamp by way of Philadelphia's
loss to the Rangers earlier in the evening. However, the triumph did give New
Jersey its franchise-best 50th win of the season.
New Jersey is now firmly locked into the Eastern Conference's third seed as
Washington clinched the No. 2 slot with a win against Tampa Bay earlier
Thursday.
Brian Gionta and Brian Rolston scored in regulation while Martin Brodeur made
28 saves for the Devils, who have now won three of four following an untimely
six-game slide.
Dany Heatley scored to force overtime with exactly one minute remaining in
regulation and Jarkko Ruutu found the back of the net in the first period for
the Senators, who were riding a franchise-record nine-game winning streak at
home and three-game win streak overall. Alex Auld had 30 saves in defeat.
The Sens' recent stretch earned new head coach Cory Clouston a two-year
contract through the 2010-11 season on Wednesday. Clouston took over the for
the fired Craig Hartsburg on February 2 with the Senators mired in last place
in the Northeast Division at 17-24-7. While Ottawa will miss the playoffs for
the first time since the 1995-96 campaign, the team has responded to the
coaching change by producing a mark of 19-10-4 under Clouston.
Shanahan's wrister escaped the grasp of Auld and found twine in the top right
corner to begin the second round. Brodeur came back to stone Mike Fisher and
Jamie Langenbrunner had a chance to win it, but Auld kept the pads together on
a low shot.
Brodeur then sprawled to his right and deflected a Jason Spezza backhander up
high for the win.
Ruutu was camped to Brodeur's left and was in position to put back the rebound
off a Brian Lee slap shot from the right point for the early lead 4:13 into
the game.
Gionta and Rolston swung the momentum New Jersey's way with goals 46 seconds
apart in the second, but Heatley was able to capitalize on a mad scramble by
Ottawa near the end of regulation.
Fisher got behind the defense and even a flailing Brodeur, but chipped a
bouncing puck off the right post. The Senators retained possession, though,
and Heatley was able to rip one from the slot to tie the game.
Game Notes
The Devils got forward Patrik Elias back after missing the last four games
with a lower-body injury. Elias is second on the team in goals (31) and points
(78) this season...New Jersey played in its final road game of the regular
season and will close the campaign with Saturday's test against Carolina...The
Devils are 23-15-3 as the guest this year and had lost six in a row on the
road before winning in Buffalo this past Saturday...The Senators are 22-12-7
as the host this year and played their final home game of the season...Ottawa
will complete its 2008-09 schedule with Saturday's test in Toronto...New
Jersey completed the four-game season series sweep...The Devils have taken six
in a row and nine of 11 from Ottawa and have won three straight and four of
five in Canada's capital city.
<< Blazers forward Webster done for the season
Portland, OR (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Portland forward Martell Webster will miss
the remainder of the season after re-aggravating a left foot ailment.
Webster had surgery October 9, 2008 to repair a stress fracture, and after
being sideli
<< Arnott gives Nashville shootout win over Red Wings
Detroit, MI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Joel Ward scored the equalizer with 59.3
seconds left in regulation and Jason Arnott had the deciding goal in the
shootout, as Nashville stayed in the playoff race with a key 4-3 win over
Detroit
<< Despite OT loss to Bruins, Montreal clinches playoff spot
Boston, MA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Mark Recchi scored two goals, including the
game-winner in overtime, and dished out two assists, as the Boston Bruins
outlasted the Montreal Canadiens, 5-4, in a battle between Northeast Division
rivals
<< Panthers win, but are eliminated from playoff picture
Atlanta, GA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - David Booth scored the game-winner with under
five minutes left, but the Florida Panthers couldn't fight off elimination
despite a 3-2 victory over the Atlanta Thrashers.
Florida began the night two poin
<< Capitals double-up Lightning
Tampa, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Brooks Laich scored twice and Mike Green
registered a goal and two assists as the Washington Capitals held on to edge
the Tampa Bay Lightning, 4-2, at St. Pete Times Forum.
David Steckel also tallied
Lakers' Bynum returns to action >>
Los Angeles, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Andrew Bynum is back, and not a second
too soon for the Lakers as the playoffs near.
Bynum stepped foot onto the floor in game action during the first quarter of
Los Angeles' game against Denver on
Bulls draw closer to playoffs with thumping of Philadelphia >>
Chicago, IL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Tyrus Thomas and Ben Gordon each scored 24
points as Chicago inched closer to a playoff berth with a 113-99 victory over
slumping Philadelphia.
Derrick Rose added 16 points and eight assists, Brad Mille
Miami-Ohio and Boston University advance to Frozen Four final >>
Washington, DC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Tommy Wingels registered two goals and an
assist as Miami-Ohio defeated Bemidji State, 4-1, in the semifinals of the
Frozen Four at Verizon Center.
Alden Hirschfeld and Bill Loupee also tallied fo
Granollers falls to Haas in Houston >>
Houston, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Sixth-seeded Spaniard Marcel Granollers fell
to German Tommy Haas in second-round play Thursday at the $500,000 U.S. Men's
Clay Court Championships.
In a matchup of former titlists here, Granollers won t
Stars slip past Avalanche in SO >>
Denver, CO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Mike Ribeiro scored the decisive goal in a wild
shootout, as the Dallas Stars topped the Colorado Avalanche, 3-2, at the Pepsi
Center.
In the shootout, Colorado's Wojtek Wolski went first and fooled Dal
NFL Football Betting : Odds on NFL Division to Win the Super Bowl
NFL Super Bowl Betting
The AFC South and the NFC East are the favorite divisions to have the next Super Bowl champ among them in the NFL betting odds. But more down to the point, these football odds are in favor of the Indianapolis Colts, by far the strongest team in the AFC South, and the Dallas Cowboys of the NFC East.
Most sports fans would agree that these two teams top the list to win it all before the season even begins. In the BetUS Sportsbook football futures, the Colts are +800 in the odds to win the Super Bowl, while the Cowboys are sitting at +1000 and the Super Bowl XLIV champions New Orleans Saints at +900. In the AFC South, the Colts won the division for five straight years after the 2002 realignment, before the Tennessee Titans won it in 2008. But the Colts came back strong in 2009 to win the division again en route to the Super Bowl. The Cowboys are the favorite to win the NFC East, as well as to advance far into the post season. The Cowboys won the division last season before their horrendous loss in the NFC Divisional playoff to Brett Favre and the Minnesota Vikings. But the ‘Boys will take that loss humbly and be ready for the playoffs this time around.
The NFC South is also very strong, at +600 in the NFL futures, considering that it is home to the defending Super Bowl champions. However, some predictions have the Atlanta Falcons with possibilities of claiming the divisional title this season in place of the Saints, as no team has won back-to-back division championships since the division realignment took place. Let’s not overlook the AFC North at +500. As TO goes to Cincinnati to join Chad OchoCinco and Adam “Pac-Man” Jones, this team looks to claim the division title again. And it is likely they will do so. The Bengals lost in the AFC Wild Card spot in a hard-fought battle against the New York Jets last season. Lest not forget the Pittsburgh Steelers, the XLII Super Bowl Champions… All these teams present interesting odds and matchups for the upcoming season, but the safest and surest bet seems to be with the Colts in the AFC South and the Cowboys in the NFC East. Play this weekly NFL Football Contestto see if you can win.
To visit this sportsbook go to MySportsbook.com for all your NFL football betting needs.
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