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.

Marketwarch Hockey Betting News

<< Habs and Bruins square off as playoff hopefuls
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Montreal Canadiens look to further their playoff chances and defeat Boston for the fifth time in six meetings this year tonight at the Bell Centre, while the Bruins hope to strengthen their hold on the Eastern Conference'

<< Raptors resume road trip in Oakland vs. Warriors
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Toronto Raptors haven't been playing like a team headed towards the postseason and will resume a four-game road trip Saturday night against the Golden State Warriors in Oakland. Toronto is currently eighth in the Easte

<< Mavs aim to push win streak to 14 vs. Knicks
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The red-hot Dallas Mavericks will try to stretch their season-high winning streak to 14 games tonight when they resume a four-game homestand against the woeful New York Knicks. Dallas kept its longest winning streak of the

<< Spurs shoot for 16th straight win over Clippers
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - There are quite a few rivalries in the NBA but don't count the San Antonio Spurs and Los Angeles Clippers among them. A rivalry generally contains a little give-and-take or back-and-forth. When the Spurs and Clippers get t

<< Nuggets press on without Karl in Memphis
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Denver Nuggets continue their push to the postseason without head coach George Karl tonight against a desperate Memphis Grizzlies team. The Nuggets played without Karl, who is undergoing radiation and chemotherapy to

Coyotes hit the road to take on Hurricanes >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Phoenix Coyotes will play their first road game in just over a month this evening when they kick off a four-game swing versus the Carolina Hurricanes at RBC Center. The Coyotes are among the league leaders with 25 home

Red Wings aim to get back in playoff picture against Sabres >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Finally healthy, the Red Wings' offense has looked like a dangerous unit that could give teams trouble in the playoffs. However, Detroit still needs to get there first. The Red Wings will try to leap into the eighth spot i

Blues hope to continue surge versus Blue Jackets >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A strong road trip has put the St. Louis Blues back in contention for a postseason berth. The surging club continues its critical swing with tonight's visit to the Columbus Blue Jackets, who'll be seeking a third consecutive

Home sweet home: Canucks return to GM Place to battle Senators >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The wait is finally over. After playing 14 straight times on the road over a span of six weeks, the Vancouver Canucks finally return to GM Place for tonight's interconference showdown with the slumping Ottawa Senators.

Terriers and Catamounts clash in America East title tilt >>
Burlington. VT (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A berth in the NCAA Tournament is on the line in Burlington today, as the second-seeded Vermont Catamounts battle the fourth-seeded Boston University Terriers in the 2010 America East Conference Championship Ga

Football Betting: Defensive Rookie of the Year Awards

Oddsmakers have released the odds for the 2009 AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award and Seattle Seahawks linebacker Aaron Curry has been made the opening favorite.

Bet on NFL Football

Seattle took Curry with the fourth overall pick in April's NFL draft and plan on inserting him into its starting lineup right away. The Hawks traded linebacker Julian Peterson in the offseason, so Curry is expected to have a significant role in Seattle's defense next year and that's one of the primary reasons he is the favorite to win the NFL ROY Award.

Oddsmakers from online sportsbook MySportsbook.com have made Curry a 5/1 favorite to win this year's NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award. Given that he was the best defensive prospect in this year's draft and how he'll have plenty of opportunities to make plays in '09, Curry offers a ton of value at 5/1.

Another thing working for Curry is the position he plays. A linebacker has won the defensive ROY award six straight times and eight of the last nine years. Jerod Mayo, Patrick Willis, DeMeco Ryans, Shawne Merriman, Jonathan Vilma, Terrell Suggs, Kendrell Bell and Brian Urlacher were the most recent linebackers to take home the award.

Following Curry at 5/1 are Tyson Jackson (Chiefs) at 7/1, James Laurinaitas (Rams) at 8/1, Brian Orakpo (Redskins) at 10/1, Rey Maualuga (Bengals) at 10/1 and Jerry Peria (Falcons) at 10/1.

All the players mentioned above are expected to start for their respective teams, but Jackson and Peria are going to have a tough time being recognized on a national level given they're both defensive linemen. D-linemen rarely put up the numbers that it takes to win an individual award like the ROY.

A couple of players with some value are Clay Matthews (Packers) at 12/1 and Larry English (Chargers) at 15/1. Matthews is expected to start at outside linebacker in Green Bay's new 3-4 defense and could rack up a ton of tackles. English, who was an impressive player at Northern Illinois, is expected to be a situational pass rusher for the Chargers and could rack up a ton of sacks.

For complete odds on the 2009 AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award, see below. And for complete odds for the 2009 AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Award, click the link provided.

2009 AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award

Robert Ayers (DEN) 12/1

Ron Brace (NE) 25/1

Everette Brown (CAR) 16/1

Darius Butler (NE) 40/1

Patrick Chung (NE) 30/1

Aaron Curry (SEA) 5/1

Brian Cushing (HOU) 12/1

Vontae Davis (MIA) 30/1

Louis Delmas (DET) 30/1

Larry English (SD) 15/1

Evander Hood (PIT) 25/1

Tyson Jackson (KC) 7/1

Malcolm Jenkins (NO) 25/1

Paul Kruger (BAL) 50/1

James Laurinaitas (STL) 8/1

Sen'Derrick Marks (TEN) 20/1

Clay Matthews (GB) 12/1

Aaron Maybin (BUF) 15/1

Rey Maualuga (CIN) 10/1

Roy Miller (TB) 20/1

Michael Mitchell (OAK) 45/1

Fili Moala (IND) 30/1

Brian Orakpo (WAS) 10/1

Jerry Peria (ATL) 10/1

B J Raji (GB) 7/1

Clint Sintim (NYG) 35/1

Alphonso Smith (DEN) 40/1

David Verkune (CLE) 20/1

Jason Williams (DAL) 30/1

Field (Any Other Player) 6/1

NFL football gambling

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