Gratton, Panthers pound Bruins

Hockey Betting Lines

02/25/2007 - Sunrise, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Chris Gratton scored twice and added an assist, to lead the Florida Panthers to a 7-2 pounding of the Boston Bruins at BankAtlantic Center.

Stephen Weiss had a goal and two assists for the Panthers, who ended a two- game slide. Ed Belfour turned aside 25 shots in the victory while Juraj Kolnik finished with three helpers.

Marc Savard and Brad Boyes each tallied a goal and an assist for the Bruins, who had their four-game winning streak snapped.

Tim Thomas started between the pipes for Boston and was pulled after the first period, allowing three goals on 19 shots. His replacement, Hannu Toivonen did no better and allowed four goals on 33 shots.

Florida took control early, scoring three goals in the opening 20 minutes.

The Panthers drew first blood and grabbed a 1-0 lead after Ville Peltonen tallied his 11th goal of the season 4:33 into the contest. From the top of the left circle, Peltonen unleashed a quick wrister that slipped past Thomas on his glove side.

Florida capitalized off a two-man advantage to up its lead to 2-0 at 7:19 of the first after Weiss slammed home a rebound in front off a Martin Gelinas shot.

With just 49 ticks left in the opening period, Nathan Horton extended the Panthers' lead to 3-0 after scoring his 22nd goal of the season. On the penalty kill, Weiss broke up a pass in the neutral zone and dashed into the Boston zone up the right wing. From down low, Weiss then slid a pass across to Horton, who one-timed the feed past a diving Thomas.

With 8:32 left in the middle session, Gratton made it a four-goal game with his 10th goal of the campaign.

Less than 1 1/2 minutes later, Olli Jokinen cranked a slap shot from the left circle that beat a screened Toivonen to make it 5-0.

Two goals by Savard and Boyes separated by 48 seconds in the second pulled the Bruins to within three goals at 5-2. Both goals came on the power play with Savard's coming off a two-man advantage.

Gelinas scored a power-play goal 5:35 into the final frame to make it 6-2 and Gratton gave Florida a five-goal cushion, netting his second goal of the contest at the 7:12 mark of the period.

Game Notes

Florida is 4-0 against the Bruins this year and has taken six straight in the series...The Panthers outshot the Bruins, 52-27...Savard extended his point streak to eight games while Boyes has recorded at least a point in four straight...The Bruins announced earlier on Saturday that they have agreed on a contract extension with left wing Marco Sturm. Boston also placed Glen Murray on injured reserve with a lower body injury and claimed goaltender Joey MacDonald off waivers from Detroit.

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2007 NFL Football Betting Preview


“You play to win the game!”

Those are the words of notoriously intense head coach Herman Edwards. Unfortunately, from a bettors’ perspective, most coaches don’t feel that way about the NFL preseason. August is a time to evaluate young players, finalize the depth chart and pray your star players stay healthy.

The trick to making money during the exhibition schedule is identifying coaches – like Edwards – who can’t stand losing even when there's nothing on the line.

The New York Jets betting won 15 of 21 preseason games and went 14-7 against the spread (ATS) during Edwards’s five-year tenure with the club. In his first season as the Kansas City Chiefs field boss, the team improved from 0-4 to 2-2.

Identifying win-a-holics like Edwards is a good start if you plan betting the preseason – even though most say you shouldn’t ... but what the hell do they know anyway?

Here’s a brief rundown of two teams that have a habit of winning during the second-stringers’ season, and another club that has a good chance of exceeding this year.

New York Giants betting lines

Playing in the media hub of North America can be stressful but the press can’t write anything negative about the way Tom Coughlin’s boys play in the preseason. The Giants won and covered all four games last summer, improving their record to 7-1 both straight up (SU) and against the spread over the last two years.

Coughlin has shown he’s not afraid to give his starters more time in the second preseason game than most of his colleagues, no doubt one of the reasons his team has been so dominant.

Dallas Cowboys betting lines

Bettors can count on America’s team early on. The Cowboys are 14-6 both SU and ATS since 2002 in warm-up contests. Former coach Bill Parcells, the coach of the team the last four years, has an intimidating, in-your-face presence – surely a reason Dallas has had so much early success.

The Big Tuna won’t be strolling the sidelines with looks of disgust, but new coach Wade Phillips will be anxious to make a good first impression for owner Jerry Jones.

Dallas plays the Indianapolis Colts and the Denver Broncos before things get serious. They then face the Houston Texans in their third contest (the game starters see most game time) and finish off with the Minnesota Vikings.

Expect a Dallas team able to walk away with another 3-1 preseason record.

Oakland Raiders betting lines

This team scored a league-worst 12 offensive touchdowns last season, so the rookies and veterans each have something to prove. There’s a bounty of first-unit jobs up for grabs and plenty of bodies competing for those slots.

First-time head coach Lane Kiffin will be eager to impress an owner who employs the philosophy, “Just win, baby!”

The 32-year-old Kiffin has to command respect from a locker room full of players older than him. All of these factors should lead to purpose in preseason. 

Don’t forget: before playing like a team that belonged in NFL Europe, Oakland went 4-1 (both SU and ATS) in exhibition games.

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your football wagering needs. Mysportsbook.com online sportsbook accepts Visa and Mastercard credit cards.

Marlins could start season without No. 2 starter Johnson

JUPITER, Fla. -- The Foorida Marlins are preparing for the likelihood that right-hander
Josh Johnson won't be ready when the season starts April 2.

Grapefruit League action starts Wednesday, but Johnson, penciled in as the No. 2 starter, hasn't even thrown off a mound at full speed since September. He's experienced some soreness in his right forearm.

MySportsbook.com have the Marlins listed with baseball betting lines at +800 to win the NL East this season .

''You guys know the math. If he's not on the hill then he becomes an opening day roster issue,'' manager Fredi Gonzalez said Saturday. ''We're borderline now.''

Johnson, who finished 12-7 with a 3.10 ERA in 2007, was supposed to throw on flat ground Saturday. That was canceled when he woke up with pain.

He played catch on Wednesday with no pain but felt discomfort in a throwing session on Thursday. He's expected to try again Sunday.

''Like we always said from the very beginning, we're going to take it easy on him,'' Gonzalez said. ''He didn't feel right, so we shut him down. We're going to take it back to step one and see where we're at.''

Among the candidates to take Johnson's spot in the rotation are left-hander Chris George and right-handers Yusmeiro Petit and Jose Garcia.

Right-hander Sergio Mitre, who missed most of last season with arm and shoulder problems, also is behind.

With Johnson's status doubtful, Gonzalez said right-hander Ricky Nolasco will stay in the rotation and no longer will be considered a candidate for closer.

Additional basbeall odds can be found at: www.MySportsbook.com

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