Devils visit Islanders with first place in sight

Hockey Betting Lines

03/13/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The New Jersey Devils will try to move into a first-place tie in the Atlantic Division this evening when they take on the New York Islanders at Nassau Coliseum.

The Devils picked up their second victory in a row last night with a 3-1 home triumph over the Penguins while also moving within two points of the Penguins for first place in the division. They can pull even with the idle club with a victory tonight.

Ilya Kovalchuk came into last night's game with three goals and five assists in 10 games with the Devils since coming over in a trade with Atlanta, but he assisted on his team's first two goals before lighting the lamp himself for the 35th time this season.

Patrik Elias and Andy Greene also scored for the Devils, who will try to win three in a row tonight for the first time since Jan. 2-9. Martin Brodeur turned aside 34 shots in the victory, New Jersey's fifth straight versus Pittsburgh this year.

"There's no explanation for that except that you need a little luck and I think we've had some luck at different times," said Devils head coach Jacques Lemaire of his club allowing a mere three goals in five games against the Pens. "When you do, you build up some confidence and guys play their best game."

New Jersey, which has lost eight of nine and 11 of its last 13 on the road, improved to 40-23-3 on the season and matched Montreal's NHL record of 13 consecutive 40-win seasons accomplished from 1971-1983.

While the Devils continue to challenge for the Atlantic Division lead, the Islanders have fallen 11 points back of the Bruins for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. After opening its post-Olympic schedule with a big win over Chicago, New York has gone 0-3-1 in its last four games.

The Islanders dropped three straight in regulation before earning a point in Thursday's 2-1 shootout setback to the Blues. Martin Biron made 35 saves, but allowed both skaters he faced in the deciding frame to score. Frans Nielsen and Matt Moulson both had their attempts turned aside by St. Louis' Chris Mason.

"We're getting our chances late in the game and in overtime, with the power play," said Moulson, who scored his team-leading 24th goal of the season in regulation. "It's just a matter of bearing down and correcting those little things."

Moulson has three goals and six points over his last seven games and has scored twice in four meetings with the Devils this year. However, New Jersey has outscored New York 12-8 in winning three of the four matchups.

The Islanders, who have lost six of their last nine overall as the host, had won three straight at home versus the Devils, including a 4-0 victory on Jan. 18, before dropping a 4-2 test at Nassau Coliseum when the teams last met on Jan. 23.

Rick DiPietro made 20 saves in the shutout victory but is back on injured reserve due to swelling in his surgically repaired left knee. Biron is 0-2-0 with a 4.04 goals-against average in two starts versus New Jersey this year, while Dwayne Roloson has yet to face them in 2009-10. However, he is likely to start tonight and is 0-6-0 with a pair of ties and 2.97 GAA versus them lifetime.

Brodeur is 2-1-0 with a 2.63 GAA in three games this year versus the Islanders, and his 43 career wins versus the club is the most for the future Hall of Famer against any one club. However, the Devils might opt to rest the 37-year-old and instead give backup Yann Danis his first start since Feb. 2.

Danis went 10-17-3 with a 2.86 GAA in 31 games with the Islanders last year and is 1-0-0 with a 0.75 GAA in two games (1 start) against them this season.

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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.

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

To visit this sportsbook go to MySportsbook.com for all your NFL football betting needs.