Favor Leaves Thomas For Jets

Hockey Betting Lines

Chris Campoli, P.K. Subban and Lars Eller all scored for Montreal, while Carey Price allowed all five goals on 35 shots. The Canadiens led the game, 3-2, around the midway point of the second period, but New Jersey scored three unanswered goals to skate away with the win.

 

Montreal forwards Brian Gionta (lower body) and Scott Gomez (groin) and defenseman Andrei Markov (knee) are currently on injured reserve and winger Travis Moen has sat out the last two tilts with a foot problem. Moen, who is tied for fourth on the team with eight goals, is doubtful for this evening's tilt.

 

Philadelphia had spoiled the Bruins' opening-night raising of their Stanley Cup banner, defeating Boston 2-1 on Oct. 6. Boston returned the favor by snapping Philadelphia's winning streak at seven games behind a four-goal first period and Tim Thomas' fourth shutout of the season.

 

The Bruins are playing the first of two straight on home ice tonight and will also welcome Florida on Friday. Boston is 11-6-1 as the host this year.

 

(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Some rest was much needed for the weary Stars, who are back in the Lone Star State after a five-game road trip that took the Dallas-based club to both coasts. Though not nearly racking up as much mileage, the Anaheim Ducks probably can't wait to end their current trek.

 

The Stars play the first of three in a row at home tonight looking to extend the Ducks' winless streak on the road to 12 straight games.

 

Richard Bachman started his fourth straight game and had allowed just three goals over the previous three -- the first of his NHL career -- before getting tagged for six goals on 31 shots versus New Jersey.

 

"We think there was some learning lessons from tonight," said Dallas head coach Glen Gulutzan. "But it's learning from games like this that you grow as a team."

 

The Ducks, who are last in the division with 23 points, are looking for their first road win since Oct. 27. They are 0-8-3 in 11 games as the guest since and play the third of a five-game swing this evening.

 

Anaheim kicked off the road trip with a 4-1 defeat in Chicago and was then dealt a 5-3 loss on Saturday in Teemu Selanne's return to Winnipeg. Selanne began his career with the original Jets before getting dealt to the Ducks. He logged two assists and leads Anaheim with 23 helpers and 33 points while recording two goals and 11 points over an eight-game point streak.

 

"We're not very happy with how we started the game," said Selanne. "You're supposed to enjoy the moment, but then we got back in the game. Bad second- period start again and we just do too many mistakes every night."

 

New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Boston Bruins forward Milan Lucic has been suspended for one game for his hit on Philadelphia forward Zac Rinaldo on Saturday. The incident occurred late in the second period of the Bruins' 6-0 win over the Flyers, when Lucic drove Rinaldo into the boards from behind. Lucic was assessed a five-minute major for checking from behind and a game misconduct on the play.

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Pacific-10 Conference odds

Teams that should be in: Stanford

Oregon and USC get their tickets punched after taking care of business this weekend. Yes, the Trojans' computer numbers aren't great, but there's no way the third-place team in this league is getting nixed. Grudgingly, I added Arizona after consultation with our Bracketologist. I don't know that Arizona will lose its last three (including a Pac-10 quarterfinal game), and even if the Cats do, I still can't see how they'd be left out, given the overall profile. That said, it bears watching, as three more L's would leave them at 18-12 (9-9) and on a 6-11 skid entering the Dance. It would be nice to see the Wildcats get at least one W in the Bay Area next week, as Cincinnati (albeit without Armein Kirkland and with a worse profile) was axed after a similar slide last season. I just couldn't rationalize having some of the other teams as locks and not having Arizona in that category -- there just aren't enough good teams behind the Cats to threaten their spot, it seems. Stanford has its fate in its own hands with the Arizona schools coming to the Farm to close out the regular season next weekend.

Should be in:

Stanford [17-10 (9-7), RPI: 40, SOS: 21] No shame in not getting a win in L.A., but that makes the home game against Arizona State a must-win ahead of what could be an intriguing meeting with Arizona should the Cats lose at Cal. Getting to 11 Pac-10 wins would make Selection Sunday much more comfortable, but 10's probably more than enough this season. The Cardinal have nonconference wins over Texas Tech and at Virginia to lean on, although they also lost badly to Air Force and Santa Clara at home.

Southeastern Conference odds
Work left to do: Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, Mississippi State

It looks more and more possible that no one from the SEC West will make the NCAAs. How weird is that? Tennessee and Vandy move into the locks category after more good work this weekend. Kentucky stays there, although it would be smart for the Cats to handle Georgia at home Wednesday ahead of a trip to the Swamp. Could a disaster scenario (two more L's and a first-round SEC tourney exit) somehow dislodge the Cats despite their incredible computer numbers? Still unlikely, but not worth chancing it.

Work left to do:

Alabama [19-9 (6-8), RPI: 43, SOS: 47] The tough L at Tennessee was understandable, and even created some hope. Unfortunately, that hope was dashed by a home loss to Auburn, which leaves the Tide in some real trouble. There's still no signature win on the profile (no, Kentucky doesn't count), and the computer profile is weakening rapidly. The Tide conceivably could beat Ole Miss and win at Miss. State to get to 8-8 and clinch at least a share of the West crown, but that's probably not enough right now. The Tide will need to do some work in the SEC tourney.

Georgia [16-10 (8-6), RPI: 52, SOS: 23] This is the team with the best chance to make it from this section right now. The Bulldogs rebounded from a terrible performance at Ole Miss to beat down Miss. State. Now they are at Kentucky (king of the RPI 51-100 win) and home to Tennessee. That would be worth a lot of computer points to get both (which is doable), as both teams are in the top 11 in RPI. Finishing at least 9-7 is an absolute must, and I would feel much better about the Dawgs' chances if they got both to get to 10 SEC wins. They also beat Gonzaga, but lost to ACC bubblers Georgia Tech and Clemson.

Mississippi [18-10 (7-7), RPI: 63, SOS: 79] Like everyone else in this division, Ole Miss gacked up a chance to stake a claim, losing by double figures at South Carolina. Even 9-7 likely is not nearly enough with a nonconference profile devoid of anything notable.

Mississippi State [16-11 (7-7), RPI: 66, SOS: 37] With a chance to get in the mix, these Bulldogs were leashed by their Georgia counterparts. Could they get to 9-7? I guess -- although winning at Arkansas, then beating Alabama is no lock -- but would that mean all that much for a team with this overall profile? Probably not. There's nothing of note (on the good side) in the nonconference profile.

For more College Basketball betting lines go to MySportsbook.com

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