Devils and Pens battle in the Steel City

Hockey Betting Lines

02/27/2007 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The New Jersey Devils will get another opportunity to show the Pittsburgh Penguins who is boss in the Atlantic Division when the two clubs meet tonight at the Mellon Arena.

The Penguins endured a stretch where they won 12 of 13 to rocket up the Eastern Conference standings, but have lost of their last three games after winning six straight.

The Pens made a move to help them in the postseason push this morning, when they acquired veteran defenseman Gary Roberts from Florida just hours before the NHL's trade deadline. Pittsburgh gave up young defenseman Noah Welch in exchange for the 40-year-old Roberts, who has 29 points (13 goals, 16 assists) in 50 games this season.

Tonight's game will be the sixth of eight meetings between the two teams this year. The Penguins won the most recent battle on February 16, but the Devils own the series edge so far this year at 3-2. New Jersey has also won six of its last eight games against the Penguins and 15 of the last 21.

The two clubs also bring in respective home and road streaks. The Devils have won in a row as the visitor, while the Penguins have won their last eight games on home ice.

The Devils still hold a nine-point edge over Pittsburgh for the top spot in the division.

New Jersey won for the fourth time in five games on Sunday as Jamie Langenbrunner scored the go-ahead goal midway through the third period and the Devils hung on to defeat the Washington Capitals 3-2.

Langenbrunner also added an assist in the contest as the Devils won the back end of the home-and-home set versus the Caps. Travis Zajac and Zach Parise each had a goal and an assist.

Scott Clemmensen, making his first start since December 14, stopped 23-of-25 shots to earn the win.

Right Wing Brian Gionta has missed six straight games because of a groin injury and is questionable for tonight's game.

The Devils are 17-11-2 on the road this season and play the first of two home games on Friday against Toronto.

Pittsburgh, meanwhile, was bested by Tampa Bay, 5-1, on Sunday

Sergei Gonchar tallied the lone score and Jocelyn Thibault gave up three goals on 15 shots before getting pulled early in the second period for Pittsburgh, which is 18-8-4 at home this season.

Both second-year star Sidney Crosby and rookie Evgeni Malkin are riding seven- game point streaks. Crosby has been setting up goals with 10 assists along with one tally over his streak while Malkin has posted three goals and seven assists over his burst.

The Penguins play their next two games on the road, beginning in New York on Thursday.

Wwwvegasinsider Hockey Betting News

<< Cavs, Hornets square off in Cleveland
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Cleveland Cavaliers try and stop a two-game losing streak this evening when they host the New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets at Quicken Loans Arena. The Cavs have dropped two in a row after a two-game win

<< Streaking Canadiens begin road swing against Rangers
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Having re-discovered their winning ways, the Montreal Canadiens begin an important road trip tonight at Madison Square Garden against a New York Rangers team in desperate need of a victory. The Canadiens have rebounded str

<< First-place Canucks wrap up road swing in St. Louis
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Vancouver Canucks hope to complete a four-game road trip on a positive note tonight, when they visit the St. Louis Blues at Scottrade Center. So far the Canucks have earned a point in each stop on the tre

<< 'Canes aim to keep playoff hopes alive against Sens
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Carolina Hurricanes appear to be back on track towards securing a playoff berth. Tonight the defending Stanley Cup champions aim for a third consecutive victory when they host the Ottawa Senators at the RBC Center. Ca

<< Capitals welcome Panthers to Verizon Center
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Florida Panthers will attempt to continue their recent success against the Washington Capitals when the two Southeast Division members get together tonight at the Verizon Center. Florida has won 11 of the last 14 match

Sabres, Leafs clash in Toronto >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Buffalo Sabres will look to rebound from an emotional weekend when they battle the Toronto Maple Leafs this evening at the Air Canada Centre. Buffalo wrapped up a high energy home-and-home series on Saturday with Otta

Penguins acquire veteran F Roberts >>
Pittsburgh, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Pittsburgh Penguins acquired veteran forward Gary Roberts from the Florida Panthers in exchange for defenseman Noah Welch on Tuesday. Roberts is in his 19th NHL season and has registered 29 points

Isles welcome lowly Flyers to the Coliseum >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The New York Islanders play the sixth contest of their current seven-game homestand this evening, when they welcome the last-place Philadelphia Flyers to Nassau Coliseum. The stand has been a successful one for the Islande

Lightning and Stars collide in Tampa >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The first-place Tampa Bay Lightning conclude a three-game homestand this evening, when they welcome the Dallas Stars to the St. Pete Times Forum. The Lightning come into the game as winners in 10 of their past 13 games to

Pacers welcome Suns to Indy >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Phoenix Suns shoot for their fifth straight win when they visit the Indiana Pacers tonight at Conseco Fieldhouse. The Pacific Division-leading Suns are 2-0 so far on a four-game road trip, and notched a 115-106 win

El Duque expected to throw Tuesday

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- New York Mets pitcher Orlando Hernandez, sidelined at spring training because of arthritis in his neck, is expected to resume throwing on Tuesday.

Hernandez received a cortisone shot Thursday after leaving camp and returning to New York to have his neck examined. The 41-year-old right-hander is penciled in as the team's No. 2 starter behind Tom Glavine.

El Duque's health is a major issue for the Mets, who won the NL East in 2007 and came within one victory of the World Series. Their aging and unsettled rotation is a big question mark this year.

MySportsbook.com has the Mets as -110 favorites to repeat as NL East champions odds. 

Hernandez went 11-11 with a 4.66 ERA last season, including 9-7 with a 4.09 ERA in 20 starts after the Mets acquired him from Arizona in late May. But he missed the playoffs because of a torn calf muscle.

New York already is without Pedro Martinez, out until at least midseason following rotator cuff surgery. Among those competing for starting jobs are prospects Mike Pelfrey, Philip Humber and Jason Vargas, plus veterans Chan Ho Park, Jorge Sosa and Aaron Sele.

Notes: Mets manager Willie Randolph is excited about two new utility players he could have on his bench: Damion Easley and David Newhan. ''Their value is really all over the place,'' Randolph said. Easley can play anywhere in the infield and could be used as an emergency outfielder, though Randolph said he would prefer to keep the veteran in the infield. Newhan, meanwhile, can play second base, third or any outfield position for the Mets. ''I love versatility,'' Randolph said. ''I love guys that can give me options when I need them to step in.''

Additional baseball lines and World Series odds can be found at: www.MySportsbook.com

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com - this sportsbook accepts credit cards.

Marlins could start season without No. 2 starter Johnson

JUPITER, Fla. -- The Foorida Marlins are preparing for the likelihood that right-hander
Josh Johnson won't be ready when the season starts April 2.

Grapefruit League action starts Wednesday, but Johnson, penciled in as the No. 2 starter, hasn't even thrown off a mound at full speed since September. He's experienced some soreness in his right forearm.

MySportsbook.com have the Marlins listed with baseball betting lines at +800 to win the NL East this season .

''You guys know the math. If he's not on the hill then he becomes an opening day roster issue,'' manager Fredi Gonzalez said Saturday. ''We're borderline now.''

Johnson, who finished 12-7 with a 3.10 ERA in 2007, was supposed to throw on flat ground Saturday. That was canceled when he woke up with pain.

He played catch on Wednesday with no pain but felt discomfort in a throwing session on Thursday. He's expected to try again Sunday.

''Like we always said from the very beginning, we're going to take it easy on him,'' Gonzalez said. ''He didn't feel right, so we shut him down. We're going to take it back to step one and see where we're at.''

Among the candidates to take Johnson's spot in the rotation are left-hander Chris George and right-handers Yusmeiro Petit and Jose Garcia.

Right-hander Sergio Mitre, who missed most of last season with arm and shoulder problems, also is behind.

With Johnson's status doubtful, Gonzalez said right-hander Ricky Nolasco will stay in the rotation and no longer will be considered a candidate for closer.

Additional basbeall odds can be found at: www.MySportsbook.com

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com - this sportsbook accepts credit cards.