Sharks aim to maintain home mastery of Jackets

Hockey Betting Lines

03/06/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The San Jose Sharks have gotten off to a bit of a slow start since the Olympic break. A visit from the Columbus Blue Jackets could provide the spark they need.

San Jose continues a five-game residency tonight seeking an 11th straight victory at home over Columbus.

The Sharks began their post-Olympic schedule -- and current homestand at HP Pavilion -- on Tuesday versus the New Jersey Devils, who scored the game's first four goals. San Jose responded with a trio of third-period markers but couldn't complete the comeback in a 4-3 setback.

San Jose then hosted Montreal on Thursday and trailed by one goal entering the third period before Dany Heatley and Manny Malhotra scored in a 2:33 span to lift the Sharks to a 3-2 victory.

Patrick Marleau scored earlier for San Jose while short-handed to break a six- game goal drought, his career-high 39th tally of the season to surpass the 38 he netted in 2008-09. Evgeni Nabokov totaled 28 saves and stopped all 11 he saw in the final period as the Sharks snapped a brief two-game slide and won for the sixth time in their last nine home games.

The contest with the Canadiens was a chippy one and it took a scary turn in the third, when San Jose's Scott Nichol was drilled into the boards from behind after hitting the post on a breakaway attempt.

"It was a really dirty hit," San Jose's Dan Boyle said of the incident. "You can paralyze a guy like that. There's no place for that in hockey."

San Jose remains tied with Chicago for the most points in the Western Conference and are also three back of Washington for tops in the NHL.

Tonight the Sharks will try to avoid dropping their first home game to the Blue Jackets since January 8, 2004, as Columbus is 0-9-1 in 10 trips to San Jose since.

The Sharks have won seven of their last nine overall versus the Blue Jackets, but did drop a 3-0 decision in Columbus when the clubs last met on February 10.

Steve Mason made 40 saves and Rick Nash, Jakub Voracek and Antoine Vermette all scored in that win, which was Columbus' third straight under Claude Noel since he replaced former head coach Ken Hitchcock on February 3 on an interim basis.

Columbus is 0-1-2 since and dropped its first game after the Olympics on Tuesday versus Vancouver, a 4-3 setback in overtime despite goals from Vermette, Derek Dorsett and Andrew Murray, who broke a 41-game goal drought. Mason made 27 saves in defeat.

"The game was what I thought it would be," Noel said. "You're playing a good team. When you look at the game, our power play wasn't very good."

Columbus, which plays its next three games on the road and is 11 points back of a playoff spot, will have a different look tonight following Wednesday's trade deadline. The Blue Jackets made a host of trades, shipping out forwards Fredrik Modin (Los Angeles), Raffi Torres (Buffalo) and Alexandre Picard (Carolina) as well as defenseman Milan Jurcina (Washington) and Mathieu Roy (Florida).

The Blue Jackets totaled three draft picks in return as well as forwards Matt Rust (Florida) and Chad Kolarik (Phoenix) and defenseman Nathan Paetsch (Buffalo). Paetsch may play tonight for Columbus, while blueliner Mike Commodore should return from a lower-body injury that had sidelined him since January 30.

Center Derick Brassard, though, will miss his second game in a row thanks to a hand ailment.

Freeearcade Hockey Betting News

<< Kings vie to bounce back against Canadiens
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Coming off just their second regulation loss in 14 games, the Los Angeles Kings will try to post their first victory over the Montreal Canadiens in seven years tonight in a meeting at Staples Center. The Kings came out of

<< Blues hope to keep flying high in trip to Colorado
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The St. Louis Blues are in position to record their longest winning streak in over six years, but to reach that mark they'll have to find a way to halt their struggles versus the Colorado Avalanche this season. St. Louis g

<< Revamped Coyotes host Ducks in Pacific clash
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Phoenix Coyotes will try to record consecutive wins when they welcome the Anaheim Ducks for tonight's Pacific Division battle at Jobing.com Arena. The Coyotes were dealt their third straight loss when they emerged from

<< Thrashers' playoff push resumes in Tampa
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Atlanta Thrashers will shoot for a third straight victory when they visit the struggling Tampa Bay Lightning tonight at St. Pete Times Forum. The Thrashers have won two straight since the NHL came back from the Olympic

<< Rangers brace for test from high-powered Caps
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - After struggling to keep the opposition off the scoreboard their most recent time out, the New York Rangers now have to face the NHL's most potent offense in tonight's showdown with the powerful Washington Capitals from the V

Suddenly-slumping Senators to host rival Leafs >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Ottawa Senators will try to get back in the win column tonight, when they host the Toronto Maple Leafs in a battle between Northeast Division foes at Scotiabank Place. The Senators have 76 points and are one back of Bu

Hornaday Jr. claims Atlanta pole >>
Hampton, GA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Ron Hornaday Jr. will start on the pole for Saturday's E-Z GO 200 Camping World Truck Series race after topping the qualifying charts at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Hornaday, the defending series champion, secured

Bob Bryan, Isner get U.S. on the board against host Serbs >>
Belgrade, Serbia (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A doubles team of Bob Bryan and John Isner got the United States a much-needed point on Saturday, as the last-minute pairing bested a Serbian duo of Janko Tipsarevic and Nenad Zimonjic in their best-of

Croatia moves into Davis Cup quarters >>
Varazdin, Croatia (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Croatia holds an insurmountable 3-0 lead over visiting Ecuador in their best-of-five first-round Davis Cup matchup and has advanced to the quarterfinals in July. The Croats officially eliminated Ecuador

France handles Germany to reach Davis Cup quarters >>
Toulon, France (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - France posted a doubles victory on Saturday to best Germany and reach July's Davis Cup quarterfinals. The French have an unassailable 3-0 lead in the best-of-five first-round matchup after

SPORTS BETTING

NFL Football Betting Online

In terms of sports wagering, the NFL is "the most popular game in town." The explanation behind that is easy.

It is called the "pointspread."

Many years ago, NFL games, as well as the more popular college games, used straight odds as a vehicle for betting. For example, if the Bears were playing the Giants, and it shaped up as a competitive contest, the Bears might be, say, a 7/5 favorite. If they were playing an also-ran, it might be 10/1. Well, there is a point where a line becomes prohibitive, as far as betting the favorite. And who would waste money betting an underdog that has virtually no chance? Such a setup did not contribute to promoting betting action.

But in modern sports betting, a "pointspread" is used.

A NFL pointspreads are exactly that, a pre-established point difference between the two sides that will, for all intents and purposes, create a handicap that evens things out, and in doing so, produces comparable wagering activity on both sides of that proposition. So in lieu of a odds figure in which to bet the team to win outright, the Bears might be a three-point favorite over the New York Giants, and a 17-point favorite over the also-ran. Now that the team that is the underdog can "get" points, there can be equal action on both sides.

In sportsbooks, this is usually done with efficiency by charging the losing bettors 10% extra - in effect, bettors are laying 11/10 on those games. So they are actually betting $110 to win $100. If they lose, they pay the "vig." If they win, they simply collect.

The establishment of the pointspread as the corner stone around which team sports like football can be wagered upon was truly what brought gridiron betting into the stratosphere for online football betting .

Don't believe it? Just take a look at what happens around the Super Bowl.

Stay with us here as we take you through the best in NFL action on a consistent basis, with advice columns as well as handicapping selections. If you're looking for college football betting, that's in our NCAA section, which you can reach by clicking here. And if you're looking for a different kind of football, such as the Canadian Football League, which we'll deal with occasionally, or the Arena Football League, which we really like, you can find it in our Miscellaneous section by clicking

Note: Monday night game will be picked Monday. Lines used are from football betting odds .
To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your football betting needs. Mysportsbook.com online sportsbook betting credit cards

Barry Bonds Watch: Giants Slugger Says He'll Be Back

With only 21 home runs standing between him and Hank Aaron, Barry Bonds is indeed planning on coming back for more in 2007. At least, that's what his agent told the Los Angeles Times.

"Barry's going to play in 2007," Jeff Borris of Beverly Hills Sports Council told the Times on Tuesday. "I've had many discussions with Barry and he's going to play. My intentions are to see to it he's in a big-league uniform next season. Those are my marching orders."

Contract negotiations could get started as early as next week. Let's see which team has the deeper pockets. Will MLB baseball betting lines despite allegations of steroid use? Bet On It at www.MySportsbook.com .

Get all your baseball betting lines, MLB lines and MLB team props at the My Sportbook.

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your baseball sportsbook needs.