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02/07/2012 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Philadelphia Flyers will try to rebound after a dismal weekend when they host the New York Islanders for tonight's Atlantic Division battle at the Wells Fargo Center.
The Flyers played divisional opponents on back-to-back days on Saturday and Sunday and lost both tests in regulation while giving up a total of 11 goals. New Jersey notched a 6-4 win Saturday in Philadelphia and the Flyers were then dealt a 5-2 loss by the first-place Rangers in New York City.
Philadelphia, which trails the Rangers by five points for first in the Atlantic, has lost three of four and five of its last eight contests. Although the Flyers are currently seeded fourth in the East, Pittsburgh and the Devils are just two and three points back, respectively.
Normally, the Flyers would feel pretty good about the Islanders making a trip to Philadelphia, but New York halted a 13-game losing streak in the City of Brotherly Love by recording a 4-1 win at the Wells Fargo Center on Jan. 19. Evgeni Nabokov frustrated the Flyers with 40 saves in the Isles' first win in Philly since April 7, 2007.
The Flyers have still taken 26 of 29 overall from the Isles.
Philadelphia expects to get Danny Briere back tonight after the forward sat out the last six games with a concussion. Briere, who has 13 goals and 30 points in 43 games this season, has been taking part in contract drills in practice and the Flyers confirmed that he will be in the lineup tonight on their official Twitter feed.
Flyers forward James van Riemsdyk is still sidelined indefinitely with a concussion.
Philadelphia lost for the fourth time in four meetings against the Rangers this season on Sunday, as Artem Anisimov had a goal and two assists to lead the Blueshirts.
Brayden Schenn and Wayne Simmonds both scored for the Flyers, while Ilya Bryzgalov allowed four goals on 37 shots in the loss. Bryzgalov started Sunday after coming into the previous day's game in relief when Sergei Bobrovsky allowed all six goals against the Devils.
"We had too many turnovers today and they all wound up in the back of the net," said Simmonds.
It's unclear if Bryzgalov or Bobrovsky will get the start tonight. Bobrovsky is 7-1 with a 2.01 goals-against average in nine career games against the Isles, while Bryzgalov is 0-1 with a 5.52 GAA in three tests versus New York.
The Flyers enter tonight having lost four of their last five as the host. Philly is 12-8-4 at home this year compared to an 18-8-2 mark on the road.
The Isles, who are 11 points out of a playoff spot in the East, had won two straight before getting dealt a 4-3 shootout loss by visiting Buffalo on Saturday. Brad Boyes netted the game-winning goal in the first round of the shootout for the Sabres, who trailed 3-1 after the first period at Nassau Coliseum.
Frans Nielsen finished with two goals and an assist and Josh Bailey also scored for the Islanders. Al Montoya stopped 34-of-37 shots.
Isles forward John Tavares has gone without a point in two February games after being named the NHL's First Star of the Month in January. The 21-year- old has 12 points (5 goals, 7 assists) in 15 career tests against the Flyers.
New York has won its last two road games, but is still just 10-11-3 as the visiting team this season.
<< Sliding Blackhawks aim to get back on track in Denver
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Chicago Blackhawks are trying to remain positive, but
that has been tough to do over their longest losing streak of the season. The
Colorado Avalanche are going through the same struggles, but at least the
'Hawks are stil
<< Lehtonen, Stars welcome Coyotes to Big D
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The last time that Kari Lehtonen faced the Coyotes, the
Stars netminder suffered an injury that temporarily derailed his solid season.
The Finn has finally begun to find his form once again and carries a personal
three-gam
<< Leafs try to stay hot in Winnipeg
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - It certainly seems as though the Toronto Maple Leafs made a
collective New Year's resolution of ending the franchise's longest playoff
drought ever.
The Leafs look to continue their climb up the Eastern Conference standing
<< Rinne, Preds host showdown with Canucks
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - There may not be a more confident goaltender in the league
right now than Nashville's Pekka Rinne. Vancouver should have plenty of
positive feelings heading into Tuesday night after the way it won its last
game.
The Preda
Defensive backs lead FCS contingent going to NFL Combine >>
Indianapolis, IN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Defensive backs from Football Championship
Subdivision schools will be on display at the 2012 NFL Scouting Combine.
Half of the 22 FCS players who have been invited to the Feb. 22-28 showcase
at Lucas Oil
Spurs waive Malcolm Thomas >>
San Antonio, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The San Antonio Spurs have waived forward
Malcolm Thomas.
A rookie from San Diego State, Thomas has appeared in just three games this
season. He has totaled one point, one assist and three rebounds.
An A for Eli...and Indy too >>
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Before Peyton Manning's future become
dissected and over-analyzed to tiresome Favrethian degrees over the next month,
it's time to give his little brother some very big credit.
If there were any lingering
Briere returning to Flyers lineup Tuesday >>
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren
revealed that forward Danny Briere will be in the lineup when Philadelphia
hosts the New York Islanders on Tuesday.
"I feel ready. I feel like it's time,"
Underdog bettors love the Super Bowl and, history suggests, the underdogs love them back. And the big dogs bite harder.
Even so, there is a warning in store for Super Bowl gamblers who must love dogs: The Arizona Cardinals Super Bowl betting lines might not be enough of a Cinderella to make it worth your while.
Although the Cardinals were widely panned as one of the worst division winners and least playoff-worthy teams in recent memory, their trip to Super Bowl XLIII Jan. 31 in Tampa against the Pittsburgh Steelers Super Bowl betting lines comes with a little more respect from the oddsmakers than you might imagine. They are a 7-point underdog at most sports books.
If you count yourself among those who covet the big dog in the big game, this isn’t exactly great news. You should have been hoping for more points. This is because the facts show that the bigger the dog, the better the bet in the Super Bowl.
Case in point: Over the past 13 seasons, double-figure underdogs in the Super Bowl are 4-0-1 ATS and have won the past three outright. In fact, the last double-digit chalk to do the deed for bettors was the 1995 San Francisco 49ers, who managed to beat the astounding 19-point spot afforded backers of the San Diego Chargers in the 49-26 romp in Super Bowl XXIX.
By contrast, 7-point favorites are 2-1-1 ATS in the same span, the last such contest resulting a cover grinded out by the Colts in their 29-17 win over the Bears two seasons ago in Super Bowl XLI.
In 2004, the Patriots failed to cover the number in their 32-29 triumph over the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl props while the Rams and Titans gave everyone a refund in 2000 after the Rams posted a 23-16 win as a seven-point favorite.
So while Arizona’s run has included impressive upsets as a 10-point road underdog to the Carolina Panthers and Sunday’s 32-25 win in the NFC championship game to the 4-point favored Philadelphia Eagles, their long-shot story lacks a bit of the David vs. Goliath storyline of past Super Bowl underdogs.
While the seven-point spread represents a significant gap in the perception of strength between the two teams, it is far from monumental. For example, last season the Giants were the wild-card afterthought turned road-warrior buzzsaw, with stunning wins over the Buccaneers, Cowboys and Packers to earn their place in the Super Bowl.
There, they played spoiler to New England’s bid to become the first 19-0 team in NFL history and cemented their place in sports betting lore with a 17-14 win as a 12.5-point underdog.
In other words, the Cardinals appear to have their work cut out for them as a mid-range underdog. But in homage to the spread beaters who have come before them, here is a brief look back at recent colossal upsets in the Super Bowl:
SB XLII -- 2008 -- New York Giants 17, New England Patriots 14 (Giants +12.5) – Eli Manning’s 13-yard touchdown pass to Plaxico Burress in the final minute clinched the historic upset for the Giants, who used a masterful defensive plan to slow down Tom Brady and the previously undefeated New England Patriots.
XXXVI -- 2002 -- Patriots 20, Rams 17 (Patriots +14) – This was the coming out party for the aforementioned Brady, who went from obscure sixth-round draft pick to Super Bowl hero in one fell swoop. He led the game-winning drive in the final minute – eschewing analyst John Madden’s advice to take a knee and play for overtime – leading to Adam Vinatieri’s memorable 48-yard field goal that split the uprights as time expired.
XXXII 1998 Broncos 31, Packers 24 (Denver +12) – The first of John Elway’s two consecutive Super Bowl titles to put an end to his Hall of Fame career was an upset for the ages. The Broncos used the determination of Elway and a 157-yard, three-touchdown performance from Terrell Davis to turn back Brett Favre and the heavily favored Packers.
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