Flyers maintain two-goal lead after two periods in Game 4

Hockey Betting Lines

06/04/2010 - Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Goals from Mike Richards, Claude Giroux and Matt Carle in the first period and 23 saves from Michael Leighton have helped the Philadelphia Flyers hold a 3-1 lead over the Chicago Blackhawks after 40 minutes of play in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Finals.

Chicago took Games 1 and 2 in the Windy City, but the Flyers returned to the City of Brotherly Love for Wednesday's Game 3, which Philadelphia won in a 4-3 overtime contest that was capped on Giroux's goal 5:59 into the extra frame.

Philly got a power play 1:27 into the second when Dave Bolland was called for high-sticking, but it was ineffective as the team was unable to generate any solid opportunities.

Leighton made a nice stop on a Kris Versteeg redirect at the 6:54 mark of the second to keep it a two-goal game.

A few minutes later, Richards attempted a quick wraparound from the right side, but Antti Niemi was able to make the stop and cover up the rebound.

With around 8 1/2 minutes left in the second, Chicago nearly got one into the net as the puck was sitting on the doorstep with several bodies in front, but Leighton was able to cover the puck.

Leighton again came up big as a turnover in the Philly end resulted in Marian Hossa getting a shot on net, but Leighton turned it aside, and a slashing call against Patrick Sharp moments later gave the Flyers their fourth power play of the game with 7:07 to play in the second.

However, the two minutes passed without any significant opportunities, as the Chicago penalty killers were efficient in keeping the Flyers and the puck away from Niemi.

Leighton stopped all 13 shots he saw in the period, while Niemi made 10 saves in the frame and has a total of 15 through the first two periods.

The Flyers had the first power play opportunity of the game when Andrew Ladd was called for interference just 36 seconds in. The best chance for the Flyers came when Richards centered the puck with Ville Leino in front, but the disc was unable to find the back of the net.

A few minutes later, Niemi made a nice save on a Jeff Carter blast, and Leighton followed a bit later with a stick save on a point blank shot from Patrick Kane.

Shortly after the save on Kane, Tomas Kopecky was called for high sticking, and the Flyers struck just five seconds after the call. After losing the right circle faceoff, Richards stole the puck off of Niklas Hjalmarsson behind the net and threw a quick backhander from the left side that found its way past Niemi at the 4:35 mark. It was Richards' first goal of the series.

Chicago got a power play with 11:44 left in the first when Kimmo Timonen was called for hooking, but the Flyers' penalty killing unit kept the chances to a minimum, and Leighton made a pad save on a Brian Campbell blast near the end of the advantage.

With 5:12 to play in the frame, the Flyers made it a 2-0 game. James van Riemsdyk had the puck behind the net and sent it out front for Giroux, who threw a turnaround shot on net. The shot never made it to Niemi, but the puck kicked out front, and Carle buried it for his first goal of the playoffs.

Chicago made it a one-goal game with 1:28 to play in the frame as Duncan Keith kept in a clearing attempt at the right point and fed it over to the high slot for Sharp, whose blast hit a stick in front and got past Leighton.

Philadelphia, though, got the goal back just 51 seconds later to restore the two-goal edge. Scott Hartnell had the puck at the left boards and sent it high for Timonen, who took a stride down and dished the puck to the left side where a wide-open Giroux deposited it into the empty net.

Each team made lineup changes for the game, as Chicago dressed Ladd, who missed the first three games with an upper body injury, and defenseman Nick Boynton while scratching defenseman Jordan Hendry and right wing Adam Burish. Philadelphia inserted forward van Riemsdyk into the lineup and benched forward Daniel Carcillo, who had taken van Riemsdyk's spot for Games 2 and 3.

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NFL Football Betting : Odds on NFL Division to Win the Super Bowl

NFL Super Bowl Betting

The AFC South and the NFC East are the favorite divisions to have the next Super Bowl champ among them in the NFL betting odds. But more down to the point, these football odds are in favor of the Indianapolis Colts, by far the strongest team in the AFC South, and the Dallas Cowboys of the NFC East.

Most sports fans would agree that these two teams top the list to win it all before the season even begins. In the BetUS Sportsbook football futures, the Colts are +800 in the odds to win the Super Bowl, while the Cowboys are sitting at +1000 and the Super Bowl XLIV champions New Orleans Saints at +900. In the AFC South, the Colts won the division for five straight years after the 2002 realignment, before the Tennessee Titans won it in 2008. But the Colts came back strong in 2009 to win the division again en route to the Super Bowl. The Cowboys are the favorite to win the NFC East, as well as to advance far into the post season. The Cowboys won the division last season before their horrendous loss in the NFC Divisional playoff to Brett Favre and the Minnesota Vikings. But the ‘Boys will take that loss humbly and be ready for the playoffs this time around.

The NFC South is also very strong, at +600 in the NFL futures, considering that it is home to the defending Super Bowl champions. However, some predictions have the Atlanta Falcons with possibilities of claiming the divisional title this season in place of the Saints, as no team has won back-to-back division championships since the division realignment took place. Let’s not overlook the AFC North at +500. As TO goes to Cincinnati to join Chad OchoCinco and Adam “Pac-Man” Jones, this team looks to claim the division title again. And it is likely they will do so. The Bengals lost in the AFC Wild Card spot in a hard-fought battle against the New York Jets last season. Lest not forget the Pittsburgh Steelers, the XLII Super Bowl Champions… All these teams present interesting odds and matchups for the upcoming season, but the safest and surest bet seems to be with the Colts in the AFC South and the Cowboys in the NFC East. Play this weekly NFL Football Contestto see if you can win.

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