NHL Playoff Preview Capsules

Hockey Betting Lines

04/28/2010 -

Capsules of NHL conference semifinal series:WESTERN CONFERENCENo. 1 SAN JOSE SHARKS (51-20-11) vs. No. 5 DETROIT RED WINGS (44-24-14).How they got here: San Jose beat No. 8 Colorado 4-2. Detroit beat No. 4 Phoenix 4-3.2009-10 series record: Detroit 3-0-1 (one win in shootout).Playoff History: Detroit 2-1. Last meeting: Detroit 4-2 in 2007 conference semifinals.

SAN JOSE: The Sharks shed some naysayers by avoiding another early flameout, rallying from 1-0 and 2-1 series deficits to Colorado. San Jose could take its biggest step toward a first trip to the Stanley Cup finals if it can knock off the two-time defending Western champions. ... Second-line forward Joe Pavelski carried the offense by scoring five goals and eight points in a first-round win. Along with linemates Ryan Clowe and Devin Setoguchi, the trio combined for nine goals and 22 points in the series. ... The Sharks will likely need Joe Thornton to step up against Detroit. Thornton scored three of his team's seven goals in the regular-season series with the Wings. ... The Sharks went 0 for 10 on the power play and allowed three man-advantage goals in 15 short-handed opportunities against the Wings. ... San Jose coach Todd McLellan was a Detroit assistant coach from 2005-08, winning the Stanley Cup in 2008.

DETROIT: The Red Wings shook off upstart Phoenix with a decisive 6-1 win in Game 7, recording 50 shots. Pavel Datsyuk and defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom both scored two goals, and Henrik Zetterberg added three assists in the rout. Zetterberg had six goals and 11 points in the series. Datsyuk had five goals, eight points. ... Detroit has decided edge in experience, having being in the playoffs 19 straight seasons and playing 70 postseason games since 2007. However, the Red Wings are in unfamiliar territory by starting their second consecutive series on the road and ceding home-ice advantage. ... Lidstrom, the Red Wings captain, is third on the NHL career list for postseason games played with 242. He could pass Patrick Roy for second if this series goes at least six games. Lidstrom is only European-born player to win Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP, and captain a team to Stanley Cup title. ... The team that scored first in each of the regular-season games lost.

OUTLOOK: Sharks ready to take bite out of Wings. San Jose in 7.

---No. 2 CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS (52-22-8) vs. No. 3 VANCOUVER CANUCKS (49-28-5)How they got here: Chicago beat No. 7 Nashville 4-2. Vancouver beat No. 6 Los Angeles 4-2.2009-10 series record: Series tied 2-2.Playoff History: Chicago 2-1. Last meeting: Chicago 4-2 in 2009 conference semifinals.

CHICAGO: Blackhawks looking to make consecutive appearances in conference finals for first time since 1989 and 1990. They have reached NHL final four only twice overall since then. ... In his first NHL playoff series, Antti Niemi went 4-2 with two shutouts, a 2.15 goals-against average, and .921 save percentage, to help the Blackhawks shake off deficits of 1-0 and 2-1 to Nashville. Niemi earned a shutout over the Canucks on Nov. 22, but then gave up three goals on 12 shots during a loss on Jan. 23. ... Patrick Kane netted hat trick against Canucks goalie Roberto Luongo in Game 6 win last year - a performance Luongo was still answering questions about at the Vancouver Olympics in February. Chicago won that game 7-5 to advance. ... Chicago killed 26 of 27 Nashville power plays in first round, and Kane netted short-handed goal that tied Game 5 in closing seconds.

VANCOUVER: The Canucks also trailed 1-0 and 2-1 in the first round before winning three straight, including two victories at Los Angeles. ... Mikael Samulesson joined twins Henrik and Daniel Sedin on a line in Game 4 and netted an NHL-best seven goals in the first round. Combined, the line produced three goals and four assists in the Canucks' 7-2 win over the Kings in Game 5. ... Luongo had a 43-save win against Chicago, but also allowed five goals to the Blackhawks in the first period of loss on Feb. 5. Luongo gave up five consecutive goals in Game 2 of last year's series and seven goals in Game 6. ... Bad blood exists between the clubs. The latest incident in the developing rivalry had Canucks defenseman Willie Mitchell leveling Jonathan Toews with open-ice hit that forced the Blackhawks captain to miss six games. ... The Canucks were second in the NHL with 3.27 goals scored per game in the regular season. The Blackhawks were fourth at 3.20. ... Vancouver gave up nine goals on 16 short-handed opportunities during the first four games against Los Angeles in the first round, then killed nine of 10 in the final two contests.

OUTLOOK: Chicago takes care of Canucks again to return to conference finals. Blackhawks in 6.

---

End CapsulesCopyright © 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.

Wwwvegasinsider Hockey Betting News

<< Magic's Howard fined by NBA for comments on blog
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) -Magic center Dwight Howard has been fined $35,000 by the NBA for criticizing officials on his blog.The league made the announcement Wednesday.Howard was in chronic foul trouble and constantly complaining about officiating in the

<< Pirates edge Brewers in 14 innings
Milwaukee, WI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Garrett Jones doubled in the go-ahead run in the top of the 14th inning and the Pittsburgh Pirates held on for a 6-5 win over the Milwaukee Brewers, in the rubber match of a three-game set at Miller Park.

<< Rams get S Payne from Bears
Lake Forest, IL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The St. Louis Rams obtained safety Kevin Payne from the Chicago Bears on Wednesday, in exchange for an undisclosed 2011 draft pick. Payne spent the last three seasons with Chicago after being selected

<< Mariners squeak by for series win over Royals
Kansas City, MO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Rob Johnson's sacrifice fly in the eighth inning provided the go-ahead run, and the Seattle Mariners held on for a 6-5 win over the Kansas City Royals in the rubber match of a three-game series. Ichiro

<< Report: Giants punter Feagles to retire
New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Giants punter Jeff Feagles will announce his retirement on Friday, according to the New York Post. The 22-year veteran holds the NFL record for punts with 1,713. Feagles had signed a contract with the

Sharks prepare for Red Wings in second round >>
SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) -When the San Jose Sharks hired former Detroit assistant Todd McLellan as their head coach two years ago, they were looking to recreate some of the postseason success the Red Wings had enjoyed.Now they get to find out if the im

Team with losing record could make bowl appearance >>
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) -A bowl game is supposed to be a reward for a good season. Now, with the glut of postseason contests, a team with a losing record might get an invitation.``I think it stinks,'' former Nebraska player Aaron Taylor said Wednesday

Browns get Smith, waive Richardson >>
Berea, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Cleveland Browns claimed defensive back DeAngelo Smith off waivers from the Detroit Lions. The team also waived defensive back Matterral Richardson. Smith was selected by Dallas in the fifth rou

Phillies avoid sweep with wild, 11-inning win over Giants >>
San Francisco, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Wilson Valdez doubled in Raul Ibanez in the 11th inning, then scored on a dropped fly ball, as the Philadelphia Phillies held on for a 7-6 win over the San Francisco Giants in a wild game from AT

Report: Broncos OL Clady tears patellar tendon >>
Denver, CO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Broncos Pro Bowl offensive tackle Ryan Clady has undergone surgery to repair a torn left patellar tendon, according to the Denver Post on Wednesday. He is expected to be sidelined for three months, accor

Matt Kenseth And Kevin Harvick Favorites To Take NASCAR Nextel Cup Championship

(September 15)—The NASCAR season has hit the homestretch with the opening event on this year’s Chase for the Cup taking place this weekend at the Sylvania 300 at New Hampshire International Speedway. With 10 races remaining to determine the Cup Series champion, leading online sportsbook MySportsbook.com today announced odds on all 10 Chase qualifying drivers capturing the NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship.

One of the largest sportsbook sites on the Internet, MySportsbook.com currently lists the top two drivers in the point standings as the early favorites to win the Nextel Cup. Entering the Chase for the Cup with a slim five-point lead in the point standings, 2003 NASCAR champ Matt Kenseth has been made a slight favorite to win his second Cup at 7/2 betting odds. 2001 Cup Rookie of the Year Kevin Harvick has betting odds listed at 5/2 and four-time NASCAR champion Jeff Gordon is listed at 6/1 to capture the Nextel Cup this year.

Hoping to follow in the footsteps of his legendary father who won six NASCAR titles, Dale Earnhardt Jr. stands at 8/1 to breakthrough with his first Cup victory. Staying with the family theme, MySportsbook.com lists 2005 Rookie of the Year Kyle Busch at 14/1 to succeed big brother Kurt’s 2004 NASCAR title. While Kasey Kahne was the final driver to qualify for the Chase with a third place finish last week, the oddsmakers give him a fighting chance at 10/1 mainly due to several mile-and-a-half tracks remaining on the schedule. Despite going winless on the NASCAR circuit this season, Jeff Burton enters the Chase at 5/1 to capture the Cup title. Meanwhile, rookie Denny Hamlin is 4/1 to win the championship, while veteran driver Mark Martin enters the Chase for the Cup as a 15/1 long shot to win his first NASCAR title in his 24th and final season.

MySportsbook.com will offer comprehensive Nascar betting lines on every race remaining on the Nextel Cup series including driver match-ups, props and odds to win each race. For a complete list of NASCAR odds, please visit www.MySportsbook.com.

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your Sportsbook accepts US credit cards needs.

FOOTBALL TRASH TALK

NFL Football Trash Talk

Trash talk has a place in every competitive endeavor (except baseball; those stirrup-wearers are too busy chewing on their sunflower seeds and their supplements to worry about what their opponents are doing).

Fantasy sports is no exception. Any intelligent discussion of the subject would probably start with a thesis statement or a definition of terms. Thankfully, this wont be an intelligent discussion.

Let me just say that I am happy to take a place in this space alongside my talented colleagues, even our commissioner. (You should see how she bleats like a demented paper boy about league fees on our fantasy site).

Trash talking, I would argue, is primarily about amusing your friends, their sheeplike demeanors and sloping foreheads notwithstanding. The best place I have found for football trash talking is at www.SportsAlarm.com.

Beyond the entertainment factor, though, I would recognize that the sophomoric ritual has one advantage, when properly applied. It magnifies your fantasy triumphs and mitigates your fantasy failures by transforming the eventual point total into an afterthought. Winning makes it seem like your opponent really is a truss-owning, lapel-pin-wearing nitwit. And in defeat, trash talk can be the air bag to break the fall from your hyperbolic heights. The plug-necked yahoos on your team, you can say, will be sacking groceries by the end of the season.

The best trash talk, in my view, is layered and nuanced. And it doesnt focus only on your opponents team. It picks apart your opponent. The idea is to create a shock-and-awe-scale blizzard of nonsense, and the goal is to make your opponent drop his hands from his keyboard in exasperation.

What team does your opponent root for? Accuse a Giants fan of having a Joe Namath pillowcase. Wheres your opponent from? Give a look of concern no matter his reply, then say, I'll try to type slower for you next time. Is your opponent into politics? Label everyone a tax-and-spend corporate shill.

Cap all that with a liberal application of irrelevance. For instance, dont just conclude by saying your opponent is a twerp who drafts like my grandmother. Say that your opponent is a sweater-wearing, eyebrow-plucking twerp who drafts his team about as well as Zsa Zsa Gabor gave acceptance speeches at the Oscars. By the time your foe makes sense of that, his starting running back will have had puppies.

But what about you? Hmm? Recall a memorable slam? Have a tried-and-true technique? Know someone who seems impervious to insult? Take a moment and tells us about it. Put together some (fit-for-publication) thoughts. You wont be too busy returning phone messages from your friends, Im sure, to reply.

In addition to the trash talking, the Sports Alarm has a huge gallery of high resolution pictures of beautiful women and models in bikinis. The most popular models are: Lindsay Lohan, Carrie Underwood, Alessandra Ambrosio, and Paris Hilton.