Flames battle Stars in Big D
Hockey Betting Lines
02/16/2012 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Flames have been racking up points so far in February and their latest convincing victory has them within a point of a playoff spot.
Calgary puts a six-game point streak on the line this evening against the Dallas Stars.
The Flames are 4-0-2 this month and now sit second in the Northwest Division with 62 points. That still has them 16 points out of first place but only one back of eighth place Phoenix in the Western Conference standings.
Calgary rode a 41-save effort by Miikka Kiprusoff to a 5-1 win over visiting Toronto on Tuesday. The Flames goaltender notched the 302nd win of his career and is 9-3-2 in his past 14 starts.
"When you're in a dogfight like this and you're scratching and clawing for every point, it's nice to have Kipper," Flames head coach Brent Sutter said of his goaltender.
Calgary's top line of Olli Jokinen, Alex Tanguay and captain Jarome Iginla combined for seven points, with Tanguay leading the way with a goal and two assists. Jokinen scored and assisted on another to give him 13 points in his last 10 games, while Paul Byron scored on a penalty shot.
The Stars would love to swap places with the Flames. Dallas has lost three straight and 10 of its past 14 and sits three points behind Calgary in the standings.
The Stars became the latest victim of the Red Wings' record-breaking home win streak as they dropped a 3-1 decision in Detroit on Tuesday. It marked the 21st win in a row at home by the Red Wings, breaking the mark set by the 1929-30 Boston Bruins and later matched by the Philadelphia Flyers in 1975-76.
Dallas was nearly shut out on the milestone night before Adam Burish scored with 32.8 seconds left. Kari Lehtonen made 34 saves.
"Sometimes you have to tip your cap to the other guys and tonight I'm tipping my cap to Detroit," said Burish, who ended a 10-game point drought. "They're pretty darn good, but I would have liked to be the team to snap it."
The Stars and Flames are meeting for the first time this season after Calgary swept the four-game set last year. The Flames won both of their trips to Dallas in a shootout.
These clubs will play each other three more times next month, including a home-and-home set on March 24 and 26.
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - After splitting the first two tests of an epic nine-game road trip, the San Jose Sharks will travel to the Sunshine State for tonight's battle against the Lightning at Tampa Times Forum. Thanks to a tennis tournament curre
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Minnesota hopes to avoid a sixth straight defeat and falling further back in
the playoff race
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(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The struggling Philadelphia Flyers hope the return of Ilya
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The Flyers are
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(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The St. Louis Blues will try to rebound from just their
third regulation loss of 2012 when they host the New York Islanders tonight at
Scottrade Center.
St. Louis has gone 13-3-2 since the start of January and one of the f
<< Pirates beat Jones in arbitration; avoid hearing with McGehee
Pittsburgh, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Pittsburgh Pirates won their salary
arbitration case with first baseman Garrett Jones and avoided a hearing with
newly-acquired third baseman Casey McGehee.
Jones will earn a salary of $2.25 milli
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Los Angeles Kings remain the lowest-scoring team in the league, but perhaps some fresh blood can kick start the offense. It certainly worked on Sunday. After capping a six-game road trip with a victory thanks in part t
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Orlando, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - While making her weekly appearance on Golf
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"I've given it some thought
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FOOTBALL BETTING : Cassel Signs Contract
Kansas City, MO - Kansas City has not officially named Matt Cassel its starting quarterback, but there can be no doubt now.
NFL Betting
After praising his leadership and work ethic through spring workouts, the Chiefs announced Tuesday they had signed the 27-year-old Cassel to a multiyear contract. Terms were not disclosed, but he will almost certainly be one of the highest-paid members of the team.
"We are excited to be able to reach a long-term agreement for Matt Cassel to be a Kansas City Chief for many years to come," owner and board chairman Clark Hunt said in a statement. "His proven leadership on and off the field will be a tremendous asset to the organization."
Patriots made him their franchise player, meaning his salary for this season will be about $15 million.
New head coach Todd Haley, taking over for Herm Edwards after a 2-14 season, refused to name a starter at any position during offseason workouts. But it was obvious to everyone the team belonged to Cassel.
"I go out there each and every day with that focus that I'm the starter," Cassel said during a June minicamp. "Competition brings out the best in everybody."
The signing will come as welcome news to Cassel's new coaches and teammates. Amiable and hardworking, online football betting he appeared to win over everyone at minicamp.
"I think he's got some unique leadership qualities. I think his teammates like him and have respect for him. I think he's doing a pretty good job on the field, too," Haley said last month. "He's doing everything that I'm asking him, that our coaches are asking him to do. I don't have one single complaint how he's carrying himself."
After one workout, wide receiver Devard Darling declared Cassel "a breath of fresh air."
"He has a lot of swagger, a lot of confidence. It's good for us," said Darling. "We trust in him that he's going to go out there and lead us all the way."
nse to accommodate his specific abilities.
Trapped on the bench behind Heisman winners Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart at USC and then unable to unseat Super Bowl MVP Brady at New England, Cassel seemed destined to be a backup all his life. As Brady was helped off the field last September, Cassel seized the opportunity he'd been waiting for since high school.
In his only sustained action since his teens, he hit 349 of 555 passes for 3,949 yards at New England. He had 23 touchdown passes and 13 interceptions as the Patriots, who had gone unbeaten through the regular season the year before, finished 11-5 and out of the playoffs.
Chiefs general manager Scott Pioli, who had been Bill Belichick's assistant in New England, engineered the trade after the Patriots became convinced that Brady would recover fully from his knee operation.
"Since Matt arrived in Kansas City, he has embraced the team and the community," Pioli said. "His work ethic, his ability and competitive presence is what we expect from our players."
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