Caps cruise without Ovechkin, beat Panthers

Hockey Betting Lines

03/16/2010 - Sunrise, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Brooks Laich had two goals and an assist as Washington took a 7-3 win over Florida as Capitals superstar Alex Ovechkin served the first of a two-game suspension.

The NHL's best offense didn't seem to miss the NHL's top point-getter as Ovechkin began his two-game suspension for shoving Chicago defenseman Brian Campbell into the boards from behind in Sunday's 4-3 overtime win. Campbell is out for 7-to-8 weeks with a fracture to his clavicle and ribs as Ovechkin, who was assessed a major penalty and game misconduct for the hit, was suspended for the second time this season.

Brendan Morrison had a goal and two assists while Nicklas Backstrom and Alexander Semin each added a goal and an assist for the Capitals, who have won two of their last three.

Jose Theodore stopped 34 shots in the win for Washington, which holds a commanding 16-point lead over Pittsburgh for first place in the Eastern Conference.

Kamil Kreps had a goal and an assist while Steven Reinprecht and Michal Repik each lit the lamp for the Panthers, who have dropped two of their last three.

Tomas Vokoun started the game in net, but was pulled after giving up five goals on 21 shots. Scott Clemmensen finished the game in net and was charged with two goals on 18 shots.

Florida's playoff hopes are fading as the team has 66 points and is eight back of Boston for the eighth playoff spot, with three teams in front of the Panthers.

Washington got on the board just 5:46 in on Semin's tip-in of a Laich shot and made it a two-goal game with 4:28 to play in the first on Jason Chimera's redirect off a Morrison shot.

Florida got on the board with 1:41 left in the first period as Reinprecht blasted a slap shot from the left circle past the glove of Theodore.

The Capitals got the goal back just 49 seconds into the second frame as Morrison picked up his own broken pass and backhanded it in from in front.

Washington took a 4-1 lead with 9 1/2 minutes to play in the second as Morrison picked up a Florida turnover in the Panthers end and passed it over to Eric Fehr, who slid a low wrister home from the slot.

At the 14:06 mark of the middle stanza the Caps made it a 5-1 game on Laich's 23rd goal of the year, this one on the power play, when he banged in his own rebound.

The Panthers got one back just 22 seconds later as Kreps' backhander from the left side off of a rebound went in, but Backstrom got the goal back 90 seconds later as he knocked in his own rebound.

Laich made it a 7-2 game with 7:35 to play in the game while Repik's third goal of the season with 1:33 remaining accounted for the final score.

Game Notes

Washington continues its four-game road trip in Carolina on Thursday...Florida hosts Phoenix on Thursday...Washington swept the season series with Florida, outscoring the Panthers, 33-15...Washington went 2-for-4 on the power play while Florida was 0-for-3.

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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.