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03/18/2009 - Vancouver, BC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Mats Sundin and Ryan Kesler both registered a goal and an assist, as the Vancouver Canucks doubled up the Dallas Stars to set a franchise record with their 10th straight win on home ice.
Steve Bernier and Daniel Sedin also scored for the Canucks, who have not lost at GM Place since January 31. That setback, ironically, was the ninth in a row at home prior to this current hot stretch. Roberto Luongo made 24 saves to improve his record to 26-9-6 this season.
Steve Ott and Stephane Robidas found the net for Dallas, which has dropped three of its last five games. Marty Turco took the loss with a 21-save performance.
The clubs exchanged power-play goals in the first period. Sedin opened the scoring at 6:33, then Robidas answered for the visitors at 16:48.
Kesler gave Vancouver the lead for good at the 6:55 mark of the middle stanza. Pavol Demitra made a drop pass to Kesler just inside the blueline. Kesler powered his way to the net, pulled the puck to the backhand and lifted it past Turco.
Sundin added a power-play marker midway through the second period for a 3-1 Canucks lead.
Ott lit the lamp at 8:12 of the third period, but Bernier tickled the twine with 4:55 remaining to cement the win.
Game Notes
Kevin Bieksa notched two assists for Vancouver, which is 21-11-4 at home...Dallas fell to 14-16-4 as the guest...The Stars had won four of the last five matchups versus the Canucks.
<< Jazz dominate Wizards
Salt Lake City, UT (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Carlos Boozer had 13 points and 15
rebounds to lead the Utah Jazz in a 103-88 rout of the Washington Wizards.
Mehmet Okur and Ronnie Brewer scored 13 points each for the Jazz, who snapped
a three
<< Celtics fall to Salmons-led Bulls
Chicago, IL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - John Salmons tied a career high with 38
points, as the Bulls snapped a six-game losing streak against the Celtics with
a 127-121 victory over Boston at the United Center.
Brad Miller chipped in with 21
<< Without Duncan, Spurs continue dominance of Minnesota
San Antonio, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Tony Parker poured in a game-high 24 points
and dished out six assists, as the San Antonio Spurs hung on to beat the
Minnesota Timberwolves, 93-86, at the AT&T Center.
Kurt Thomas added 10 point
<< Red Wings rally past Flyers with two third period goals
Detroit, MI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Johan Franzen and Henrik Zetterberg scored just
1:32 apart in the third period as Detroit rallied from a two-goal deficit to
best Philadelphia, 3-2, at Joe Louis Arena.
Pavel Datsyuk and Franzen recorded a
Doan's late tally lifts Coyotes over Sharks >>
Glendale, AZ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Shane Doan scored an impressive power-play
goal with 27 seconds left in the game to lift the Phoenix Coyotes past the San
Jose Sharks, 4-3, at Jobing.com Arena.
With 33 ticks left, Jonathan Cheechoo of Sa
Warriors hold off Clippers, spoil Davis' return >>
Oakland, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Monta Ellis scored 29 points, doled out six
assists and grabbed five rebounds to lead Golden State past the Los Angeles
Clippers, 127-120, spoiling Baron Davis' return to ORACLE Arena.
Davis, who missed
Iguodala's last-second shot lifts Sixers over Lakers >>
Los Angeles, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Andre Iguodala knocked down a game-winning
three-pointer just before the final buzzer sounded, as the Philadelphia 76ers
nipped the Los Angeles Lakers, 94-93, at Staples Center.
Iguodala, who missed his
Nadal, Djokovic, Roddick advance at Indian Wells >>
Indian Wells, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Andy
Roddick were each straight-set winners in third-round play at the $4.5 million
BNP Paribas Open, the ATP World Tour's first Masters event of the year.
The top-ran
BILLS (+10) at Steelers SPORTSBOOK LINES
It's impossible to gauge how a team will react after something like the Steve Everett situation, and it probably doesn't matter. That being said, the Bills are going to lose several games this year where they keep things close but fall short in the end to superior teams. Ben Roethlisberger and company could have a field day against Buffalo's decimated defense, but I like the Bills to cover.
BENGALS (-7) at Browns SPORTSBOOK LINES
All you can ask out of your NFL team is that it has a plan. You may not always agree with it as a fan, but as long as it appears the organization is going in some sort of direction, you have to go with it. Which brings us to the Cleveland Browns. You flip a coin to determine whether Chuck Frye or Derek Anderson should start the preseason opener. You start Frye in Week 1, but pull him in the first half. And then you deal him to the Seahawks for a sixth-round pick? Hmm... the Bengals could get six turnovers again this week.
COLTS (-7) at Titans SPORTSBOOK LINES
Tennessee signed ex-Colts cornerback Nick Harper in the offseason so that should help slow down Peyton Manning. Just ask Jason David and the Saints. Oh wait... One of these weeks, I'm going to learn to not pick against Tennessee, which has won seven of its last eight games. But it's not happening against Indy.
TEXANS (+6.5) at Panthers SPORTSBOOK LINES
Houston's Mario Williams, the first pick in the '06 draft, has more touchdowns than Reggie Bush after one week. Somehow I don't see that lasting. Meanwhile, Carolina bottled up what was expected to be a pretty high-octane offense in St. Louis in Week 1. Could this be the Panthers' defense everyone expected last year? Maybe. This feels like a 20-16 Carolina win.
RAMS (-3) vs. 49ers SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Absolutely love this game. Everyone's favorite pick for this year's surprise team -- the 49ers -- laid an egg on Monday night (not that anyone was watching with the game ending in the middle of the night for those of us on the East Coast). St. Louis wasn't much better, delivering a lackluster effort against the Panthers that included two Steven Jackson fumbles and panic from his fantasy owners. Jackson rebounds this week, and the Rams get their first win.
PACKERS (+1.5) at Giants SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Do you really trust this guy to win an NFL game if Eli Manning can't go? I say no. I'd feel alot better about this Packers team if it had any semblance of a running game, but I still think Green Bay's defense is good enough to give it a 2-0 start.
JAGUARS (-10) vs. Falcons SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Does it scare me to pick Jacksonville to cover a double-digit spread after it scored just 10 points last week against the Titans? Absolutely. But can I bring myself to pick Atlanta under any circumstances? No. Check out this poll on ajc.com. It asks what Atlanta's most urgent deficiency is: offense, defense, specials teams or all of the above. "All of the above" has 57 percent of the votes. Ouch.
SAINTS (-3) at Buccaneers SPORTSBOOKS LINES
I'm picking way too many road teams this week. Oh well. New Orleans has had some time to reflect on its lackluster showing in the opener, and the Buccanneers just aren't a very good football team. Anyone else surprised Tampa Bay hasn't made a move to sign Byron Leftwich? I thought that's what they do.
VIKINGS (+3) at Lions SPORTS BETTING LINES
Run the ball and stop the run. Minnesota can do both, and that will keep them in a lot of games this season. Even though it was only one week, Adrian Peterson looks like he was a steal at No. 7 in last year's draft. Not only will he produce, but Peterson delivers excitement to what otherwise would be one of the league's most boring teams.
DOLPHINS (+3.5) vs. Cowboys SPORTS BETTING LINES
Lost in the Tony Romo lovefest is just how bad the Cowboys' defense was last week. I know they're banged up, but Dallas' 'D' allowed 438 yards to the Giants' offense, and backup running back Derrick Ward averaged 6.8 yards per carry. Meanwhile, Cam Cameron's decision to split carries between Ronnie Brown and Jesse Chatman sounds about as can't-miss as Larry David's plan to show up to Marty Funkhouser's party a night late. Still, gotta go with Miami to cover at home.
SEAHAWKS (-2.5) at Cardinals SPORTS BETTING LINES
I'm probably missing something, but this game seems too easy. Arizona blew Monday night's game against the 49ers in typical Cardinals fashion, and the Seahawks beat Tampa Bay by two touchdowns. Love Seattle in this one.
BRONCOS (-9.5) vs. Raiders SPORTS BETTING LINES
Special teams was a major story line in Week 1. Take a look at the Broncos. They had to rush on to the field to get a Jason Elam field goal as time expired against the Bills. Denver drove into Buffalo territory on eight of 10 drives but came away with just a pair of field goals and a touchdown. Look for more scoring from the Broncos this week against an Oakland defense that gave up 36 points to Detroit in Week 1.
BEARS (-12) vs. Chiefs SPORTS BETTING LINES
Everyone talks about Rex Grossman when dissecting the Bears' offense, but Chicago's quarterback got no help in last week's loss to the Chargers. Meanwhile, Kansas City confirmed what we all thought while watching Hard Knocks: The Chiefs are going to stink this year. It could be a rough first month for Larry Johnson fantasy owners. Kansas City's RB was limited to 43 yards on 10 carries in Week 1, and the Chiefs face the Bears, Vikings and Chargers the next three weeks, all formidable run defenses.
RAVENS (-10) vs. Jets SPORTS BETTING LINES
A big dose of Willis McGahee and a usual sound defensive effort will give the Ravens their first win. According to Football Outsiders, no team in the NFL rushed only three defenders on pass plays last year more than the Jets. And according to my special Jets correspondent Ben Stauber, New York did the same in Week 1. Whoever starts at quarterback for the Ravens should have all day to throw.
PATRIOTS (-3) vs. Chargers
Friends and I were discussing how Bill Belichick goes about paying his $500,000 fine for cheating. Does he just write one check to the NFL? Do you need some sort of clearance to make such a monstrous financial transaction? I guess I shouldn't complain about the security deposit I have to put down on my new apartment. Anyway, two of the league's best teams square off in what should be a good one Sunday night. The Patriots always respond well just when you think they're in trouble. And their offensive attack was the story in Week 1.
Note: Monday night game will be picked Monday. Lines used are from football betting.
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