Senators shoot past Oilers

Hockey Betting Lines

02/21/2007 - Ottawa, ON (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Dean McAmmond was credited with the game-winning goal in the shootout and the Ottawa Senators escaped a late rally to defeat the Edmonton Oilers, 4-3, at Scotiabank Place.

Dany Heatley, Mike Fisher and Daniel Alfredsson scored in regulation for Ottawa, which relinquished a 3-1 lead with under five minutes remaining in regulation but used the extra periods to win their fifth straight game overall. Martin Gerber made 27 saves for the Senators, who will now face Buffalo in a home-and-home series that begins on Thursday in New York.

Petr Sykora scored twice and Tom Gilbert's first career goal tied the contest with 19.8 seconds to play for slumping Edmonton, which remained winless (0-2-2) on its current seven-game road trip that will continue in Columbus on Thursday. Jussi Markkanen allowed three goals on 34 shots in the loss.

After the Oilers tied the game in the waning seconds of the third period, a furious overtime saw quality scoring chances for both teams but the goaltenders stopped all nine shots taken.

Both McAmmond and Mike Comrie then scored in the shootout as Gerber stopped all of Edmonton's attempts to seal the win.

When Ottawa defenseman Chris Phillips was whistled for hooking only 25 seconds into the final period, the Oilers went to work with the man advantage and cut their deficit to 2-1 at the 1:34 mark. After several shots missed the net, the puck made its way back to the right point, where Sykora corralled the puck, drifted into the high slot and unleased a slap shot that lit the lamp with the help of a screen by Ryan Smyth.

Alfredsson's 20th goal with 7:43 remaining in regulation restored Ottawa's two-goal edge. On a 3-on-2 rush, Mike Fisher skated down the slot and passed into the left circle for Peter Schaefer, who stopped and spotted a cutting Alfredsson, who followed his initial shot and backhanded home the rebound.

The Sens appeared in control and on their way to victory, but a mistake by Chris Kelly gave the Oilers hope. Kelly committed the cardinal sin in hockey -- a cross-ice pass from deep in his own zone -- and the disc was deflected by Raffi Torres and sat in the low slot. Sykora was all alone and beat Gerber with a wrist shot to bring Edmonton within 3-2 with 4:12 remaining in regulation.

Inside the final minute, the Oilers pulled Markkanen for the extra skater and it paid off when Gilbert scored his first career goal during a flurry at the top of the crease.

Ottawa dominated the first period and created many scoring chances that Markkanen turned aside. Within the first three minutes of the game, with the Senators buzzing in their offensive zone, referee Chris Lee waived off what appeared to be Ottawa's first goal. During a scramble in front of the net, the puck crossed the goal off an errant stick but Antoine Vermette was in the crease and the tally was nullified.

Two minutes later, Kelly was all alone in the slot, but his wrist shot was gloved by Markkanen. Another key stop was made with 6:50 remaining in the first when Vermette's shot from near the left post was denied.

Heatley finally put the Sens on the scoreboard at the 14:44 mark. An attempted dump-in by Ottawa from the blue line deflected of the skate of Ales Hemsky and the disc caromed high into the air before it landed on the left side near the top of the circle. Heatley gained control and lit the lamp with a sharp- angle wrister from beneath the left circle for his 33rd goal of the season.

The second period saw Edmonton win more battles along the boards and the visitors outshot the Senators 9-8 in the stanza, but the hosts tallied the only goal when Fisher scored his 13th with 7:40 remaining from Alfredsson and Phillips.

The Oilers nearly cut their deficit in half with 1:45 to play before the second intermission, but Smyth's one-timer from the top of the right circle missed the net by inches.

Game Notes

Ottawa starting goaltender Ray Emery served the final of his three-game suspension and is expected to return to the lineup on Thursday. He was punished for a slash on Montreal's Maxim Lapierre on February 10...Senators coach Bryan Murray notched his 600th career win and joined a select group of only four other coaches who have reached that plateau: Scotty Bowman, Al Arbour, Dick Irvin and Pat Quinn...The Oilers ended 1-for-3 on the power play and held Ottawa scoreless on its two chances with the extra skater.

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MySportsbook.com: NFL draft - The NFC South


In part two of MySportsbook.com’s draft preview, we’ll take a look at a division that was extremely disappointing last season: the NFC South.  Many “experts” predicted the Panthers to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl, of course they could not even make the playoffs in an extremely weak NFC.  The Saints definitely made up for the disappointing seasons of their NFC South brethren by exploding out of no where en route to the NFC Championship game.  For the avid NFL gambler, it is imperative to pay attention to the NFL draft.  Although free agency gets a ton of publicity, the successful franchises build their teams around the draft.

1. New Orleans Saints
Who would have thought this time last year that the Saints would be the favorites to win the NFC South for the 2007 campaign?  New Orleans is loaded with firepower on the offensive side of the ball but with the exodus of Joe Horn they will most likely look to draft a WR on Day 1.  Despite having the NFL’s 3rd ranked pass defense last season, the Saints will most likely upgrade their CB’s with one of their first two picks. Other possibilities for the Saints will be TE and DT.  Because of where they will be selecting (27th), the Saints could go the “best available player” route which could net a LB.

Key additions: Eric Johnson TE, Troy Evans LB, David Patten WR
Key loses: Joe Horn WR,
Team needs: CB, WR, TE, LB, DT
Possible draftees: Aaron Ross CB Texas, Darrelle Revis CB Pitt, Ted Ginn Jr. WR OSU, Paul Posluszny LB PSU, Chris Houston CB Arkansas, Greg Olsen TE Miami

2. Carolina Panthers
Carolina was one of the biggest disappointments in the NFL last season.  With the signing of David Carr, expect the very first quarterback controversy to come out of Carolina if Jake Delhomme doesn’t rebound quickly from an average 2007 season. With veteran safety Mike Minter getting up there in age, they will look to draft a safety on Day 1 but probably not in the first round.  LB is another need with the loss of Chris Draft to go along with Dan Morgan’s concussion problems.  If TE Greg Olsen is still on the board, he might be too good to pass up despite their needs on the defensive side of the ball.

Key additions: David Carr QB
Key loses: Chris Draft LB
Team needs: LB, TE, S, OT
Possible draftees: Greg Olsen TE Miami, Patrick Willis LB Ole Miss, Paul Posluszny LB PSU, Levi Brown OT PSU

3. Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons were another NFC South team to have a disappointing 2007 season.  The Falcons have been plenty busy during the off season with plenty of players coming and going including a new head coach.  The Falcons were able to improve their draft position with the trade of coveted backup QB Matt Schaub.  High on the list of Day 1 needs will be a defensive end to replace Patrick Kerney and a hard hitting safety since Lawyer Milloy is nearing the end of his career.  With an additional 2nd round pick, the Falcons could attempt to trade up to acquire local product WR Calvin Johnson. 

Key additions: Joey Harrington QB, Toniu Fonoti OG, Joe Horn WR
Key loses: Justin Griffen RB, Patrick Kerney DE, Matt Lehr OG, Ashley Lelie WR, Matt Schaub QB
Team needs: DE, S, OT, WR, DT
Possible draftees: LaRon Landry S LSU, Amobi Okoye DT Louisville, Levi Brown OT PSU, Jamaal Anderson DE Arkansas, Alan Branch DT Michigan

4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Age really caught up to the Bucs last season.  The Bucs still have plenty of household names on defense in Ronde Barber, Simeon Rice and Derrick Brooks but the one thing those three have in common is unfortunately age.  It is imperative for the Bucs to get much younger, especially on the defensive side of the ball. Despite having bigger needs on the defensive side of the ball, WR Calvin Johnson is the most likely pick if he is still available when the Bucs pick at the four spot.  This would suit Bucs’ faithful just fine as Johnson is widely considered the top talent in the draft and it is a position of need for the Bucs.

Key additions: Jeff Garcia QB, Kevin Carter DE, Torrie Cox CB, Cato June LB
Key loses: Dewayne White DE, Sean Mahan OG
Team needs: WR, LB, DE, CB (Youth on defense!)
Possible draftees: Calvin Johnson WR Georgia Tech, Gains Adams DE Clemson, Jamaal Anderson DE Arkansas

It is never too early to start betting on the NFL. Log on to MySportsbook.com to checkout all of the NFL futures for the upcoming season.  On the clock: the NFC North

Odds to win the NFC South:
New Orleans Saints 8-5
Carolina Panthers 2-1
Atlanta Falcons 12-5
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 9-2    

Odds to win the NFC:
New Orleans Saints 13-2
Carolina Panthers 7-1
Atlanta Falcons 20-1
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 25-1

Odds to win the Super Bowl:
New Orleans Saints 18-1
Carolina Panthers 20-1
Atlanta Falcons 50-1
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 75-1

To visit this sportsbook get to MySportsbook.com for all your online sportsbook needs. Mysportsbook.com online sportsbook accepts Visa and Mastercard credit cards.

MySportsbook.com and Kentucky Derby Offer Bonuses
The 2008 Kentucky Derby has announced a $1-million bonus for this weekend’s 134th ‘Run for the Roses’ and MySportsbook.com is doing the same.

Well, not quite $1 million, but MySportsbook.com is offering a 75% rebate for Kentucky Derby lines. Check out the exclusive horse racing bonus for all the details.

According to MySportsbook.com, the favorites for Saturday’s Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky are: Curlin (+250); Street Sense (+500); Scat Daddy (+700); Circular Quay (+750); and Nobiz Like Shobiz (+800).

Derby organizers announced this week that there will be a $1-million bonus at the 2007 Kentucky Derby odds if the first-place horse wins by more than 6 1/2 lengths – the margin of Barbaro's victory last year. The bonus would be divided Saturday among the winning trainer, jockey, owner and a charity, with each receiving 25 percent. The designated charity is the Barbaro Memorial Fund.

''It's certainly creative, it's certainly fun and it has something for the horsemen, which we always want to embrace,'' Churchill Downs president and chief executive Robert Evans said at a news conference. ''What's really cool is it will force us to remember Barbaro.''
    
Meanwhile, the Derby favorite – Curlin – is going against the odds this year. It's been 125 years since Apollo won after skipping his 2-year-old season, and not since Regret in 1915 has such a lightly seasoned horse worn the blanket of red roses.

Arkansas Derby winner Curlin – unbeaten in three career races – tries to overcome both those obstacles in Saturday's 133rd Derby.

''We're not running against history,'' trainer Steve Asmussen said Monday. ''We're running against who they load up.''

Six other horses have run in the Derby without benefit of 2-year-old races and with three or fewer starts. The best any of them managed was a sixth-place finish by Showing Up last year.
   
Asmussen dismissed suggestions that Curlin's lack of racing experience could keep him from the winner's circle.

”He exudes confidence and he's got a great presence about him,'' the trainer said. ''I feel great about the position we're in. He's not worried about anything, why should you be?''
   
The Kentucky Derby is at 4:04 p.m., ET Saturday.

For complete odds on the Kentucky Derby, visit MySportsbook.com. Mysportsbook.com online sportsbook accepts Visa and Mastercard credit cards.