Blues face critical test from visiting Sharks

Hockey Betting Lines

03/12/2009 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Victories against the San Jose Sharks have been hard to come by lately for the St. Louis Blues. However, a win over San Jose tonight would give a big boost to St. Louis' playoff chances. The Blues continue their crucial homestand this evening against the Sharks at Scottrade Center.

St. Louis is currently 11th in the Western Conference with 68 points, but is only three points behind Nashville and Edmonton, which are tied for the last two playoff spots in the West. Both Dallas and Minnesota are ahead of the Blues with 70 points each.

St. Louis did its part by defeating the Stars, 5-2, on Tuesday and will end its current four-game homestand on Sunday with a visit from the Wild. First, though, the Blues must take on San Jose tonight and then Detroit on Saturday.

The Sharks and Red Wings are currently tied for the most points in the NHL with 96 each, although San Jose has played two fewer games than the Red Wings. Eastern Conference-leading Boston has 95 points and all three teams play tonight.

David Perron scored twice in Tuesday's win over the Stars, while Keith Tkachuk notched his 20th goal of the season. It marks the 15th time that the 520- career goal scorer has reached that mark. David Backes also lit the lamp for St. Louis, giving him four goals and two assists over his last three games.

Chris Mason made 20 saves in the win, which improved St. Louis to 17-12-5 at home this year. Mason will try to get over the hump tonight versus the Sharks, as he is 0-6-1 with a 3.42 goals against average lifetime against the club.

He allowed five goals in his lone start against San Jose this year, a 5-4 loss in California on December 13. That setback was St. Louis' seventh in a row to the Sharks before it posted a 3-2 shootout win at home on December 27.

The Blues have still lost 11 of their last 13 to the Sharks, and their late December win also snapped a seven-game series home losing streak. St. Louis has not notched back-to-back wins over San Jose since November 13 and December 18, 2003.

The Sharks wrap a three-game road trip tonight. They lost the opener of the swing in Vancouver last Saturday before Tuesday's 5-4 overtime win in Minnesota. Christian Ehrhoff scored 3:34 into overtime to give his club two points despite blowing a three-goal lead.

Joe Thornton lit the lamp twice, while newcomer Travis Moen registered a short-handed goal and an assist for the Sharks, who snapped a season-high four-game losing streak.

San Jose goaltender Brian Boucher made his sixth straight start in place of Evgeni Nabokov, who did not travel with the team due to a lower-body injury. Boucher made 25 saves in his first victory since February 26.

Defenseman Rob Blake is also out for San Jose tonight after suffering a foot injury versus the Canucks. He has nine goals and 30 assists this season.

San Jose's win was just its fourth in its last 11 road games and the club is 17-9-6 as the guest this season.

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Dallas Cowboys Super Bowl Odds

Will he or won't he?  Now that the Dallas Cowboys have a new head coach in Wade Phillips, the big question will be: Does Terrell Owens stay with the team.

Jerry Jones continues to suggest that Terrell Owens will remain with the team.

"I've said that he's back, he's here, he's under contract," Jones said. "In the interviews I've just been through (to hire a new coach), it was very clear to me how highly he's thought of and how much of an impact he had on our offensive success."

Just to be sure though, Terrell Owens cleared out his locker and removed his name plate.

Terrell Owens was among the Cowboys most productive players this past season, catching 85 passes for 1,180 yards and a league-best 13 touchdowns.

But T.O. is due a $3 million roster bonus in June, then a $5 million salary this season. Cutting him before then would save a lot of money and headaches.

Aside from the questions surrounding Terrell Owens, the oddsmakers at MySportsbook.com have concerns over starting quarterback Tony Romo's state of mind and whether he will remain a starting quarterback.  It is also not known how players will adjust to new head coach, Wade Phillips.

Here are the football odds as seen at MySportsbook.com and subject to change after February 10, 2007 if not locked in prior to that date.
Arizona Cardinals 60-1


Atlanta Falcons 50-1


Baltimore Ravens 15-1


Buffalo Bills 50-1


Carolina Panthers 18-1


Chicago Bears 10-1


Cincinnati Bengals 15-1


Cleveland Browns 100-1


Dallas Cowboys 15-1


Denver Broncos 15-1


Detroit Lions 100-1


Green Bay Packers 50-1


Houston Texans 100-1


Indianapolis Colts 6-1


Jacksonville Jaguars 30-1


Kansas City Chiefs 30-1


Miami Dolphins 40-1


Minnesota Vikings 75-1


New England Patriots 10-1


New Orleans Saints 18-1


New York Giants 20-1


New York Jets 30-1


Oakland Raiders 100-1


Philadelphia Eagles 18-1


Pittsburgh Steelers 10-1


Saint Louis Rams 60-1


San Diego Chargers 6-1


San Francisco 49ers 75-1


Seattle Seahawks 20-1


Tampa Bay Buccanneers 75-1


Tennessee Titans 40-1


Washington Redskins 50-1

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your Sportsbook credit cards needs.

It's less than a month until the NHL hockey betting season opens at MySportsbook.com and preparations are underway for another battle in the race to hoist Lord Stanley's mug in 2007.

As cup crazy fans prepare to place their bets, one online sportsbook ,MySportsbook.com, is offering hockey betting lines on the 2007/2007 Stanley Cup , who will bring it home this upcoming season.

Despite a poor showing in last season's playoffs and the loss of Steve Yzerman to retirement, the Detroit Red Wings are early favourites at this online sportsbook with wagering odds of 6-1. The Wings will look to offensive powerhouse Pavel Datsyuk and newly appointed captain Nicklas Lidstrom to lead one of the league's most prominent franchises.

Always a threat are the Ottawa Senators, with newly acquired goaltender Martin Gerber from the Stanley Cup champion ,Carolina Hurricanes. The Sens are second best in the rankings at a 7-1 bet, and odds makers at this sportsbook are optimistic that the Ottawa squad will fare better than last season's Eastern Conference semi-final upset to the Buffalo Sabres.

Also worth noting are the defending Stanley Cup champs Carolina Hurricanes, a 10-1 bet to repeat. Behind the Canes are the New Jersey Devils, Calgary Flames, Buffalo Sabres, Philadelphia Flyers, and Anaheim Mighty Ducks all sit at 12-1. In the basement are the Washington Capitals, Chicago Blackhawks, and St. Louis Blues who all have 100-1 odds to win.

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your hockey betting needs.