Caps aim for first home win of March against Hurricanes

Hockey Betting Lines

03/14/2009 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Washington Capitals have been one of the NHL's best home teams this season, but they have yet to find any success on their own ice during the month of March.

The Southeast Division leaders will try to break a four-game home losing streak when the playoff-hopeful Carolina Hurricanes skate into the Verizon Center this evening.

Washington's home skid began with a 6-2 defeat to fellow division member Florida on March 1 and continued with a 5-2 setback to the Hurricanes two nights later. The Caps would go on to lose twice more on the residency before getting back on track with a pair of recent road wins.

After downing Nashville in overtime on Tuesday, Washington rode an outstanding performance from goaltender Jose Theodore to a 2-1 triumph over Philadelphia Thursday at the Wachovia Center.

Theodore turned aside 35-of-36 shots, including all nine chances he faced in the third period to protect the one-goal lead. Alex Ovechkin put the Capitals ahead when he scored his league-leading 48th goal of the season late in the second frame.

Alexander Semin set up Ovechkin's tally to extend his scoring streak to eight games. The Russian forward has totaled six goals and six assists over that stretch.

Despite their struggles at home as of late, the Capitals still sport an excellent 25-9-2 record at the Verizon Center this season. Following tonight's tilt, the team will embark on a five-game road trip beginning Monday in Atlanta.

Carolina concludes a three-game trek tonight in which it has lost the first two tests. Both defeats came by a single goal, as the Hurricanes fell in a shootout to Chicago on Wednesday and came out on the short end of a 3-2 decision at Dallas the following night.

The Hurricanes had won four in a row prior to the Chicago game and are in the thick of a heated Eastern Conference playoff race. The club is presently tied with the New York Rangers for the final two postseason berths, but ninth-place Florida is lurking only one point behind both teams. Carolina also trails Pittsburgh by just one point for the No. 6 seed in the East.

Cam Ward made 28 saves in Thursday's 3-2 loss to the Stars, but allowed all three Dallas goals within a nine-minute span in the second period.

Hurricanes captain Rod Brind'Amour had a short-handed goal along with an assist on the evening and now has compiled seven points (4 goals, 3 assists) during a five-game scoring streak.

Carolina, which is 12 points in back of the Capitals in the Southeast standings, is 17-15-5 on the road for the season. The Hurricanes will embark on a three-game homestand, culminating with a March 21 meeting against Washington, after tonight's matchup.

These divisional foes have split four previous encounters this season, but the Hurricanes have lost in four of their last six visits to Washington.

Onlinevasino Hockey Betting News

<< Brodeur tries for record-tying win in Montreal
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Montreal is where Martin Brodeur was born and where Patrick Roy won a plethora of his 551 career victories. It is also where Brodeur will get his first shot at tying Roy's all-time wins mark. Just one victory shy of Roy's

<< Flames try for rare road win versus Maple Leafs
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Calgary Flames will aim for their first victory in Toronto since 2000, as they visit the Maple Leafs tonight and Air Canada Centre. The Flames haven't posted a victory in Toronto since December 16, 2000. They have los

<< Thrashers without Kovalchuk for test with Sabres
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Atlanta Thrashers will be without their top offensive weapon tonight when they visit the Buffalo Sabres and HSBC Arena. The Thrashers notched a 4-3 overtime win against Edmonton on Thursday to post their fourth victory

<< Pens hope to extend home win streak against Senators
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Despite having their longest winning streak of the season recently halted, the Pittsburgh Penguins will still try for a fifth straight win on home ice tonight against the Ottawa Senators at Mellon Arena. The Penguins begin

<< Blues continue homestand, seek first win vs. Red Wings
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The St. Louis Blues are trying to make their crucial four- game homestand a successful one. However, success isn't something they have had this year versus Detroit. The playoff-hopeful Blues seek their first win over the R

Panthers begin important homestand against Lightning >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Florida Panthers begin what could be their most important homestand in recent memory with tonight's tussle with the Tampa Bay Lightning from the BankAtlantic Center. Florida, which has not reached the postseason since

Wild, Stars face off in Dallas >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Two teams feverishly fighting for a playoff spot face off tonight at the American Airlines Center, where the Dallas Stars host the Minnesota Wild in a key late-season showdown. The Stars enter this important matchup tied w

Oilers welcome road-challenged Avs to Edmonton >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - If the Edmonton Oilers are to reach the playoffs, they'll need to take advantage of an upcoming stretch of home games, especially ones against teams that have struggled on the road this season. The Oilers will face such an

Preds try to get on track versus Coyotes >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Mired in an untimely three-game losing streak, the Nashville Predators will be vying to get back on track when they take on the sliding Phoenix Coyotes tonight at Jobing.com Arena. Nashville's skid comes immediately after

Sharks aim to dethrone Kings in San Jose >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The San Jose Sharks hope that a visit from the Kings will be enough to get them back on track. The club hosts Los Angeles tonight at HP Pavilion. The Sharks had led the Western Conference for most of the season, but now fi

American Idol Betting Odds: Season 6  

The online gambling websites are in the process of deciphering each American Idol contestant and his or her chances of winning Season 6 to come up with the early American Idol betting lines.

Tim Dalton of MySportsbook.com has been locked away in a soundproof room coming up with all the latest tallies, we are told. "American Idol has become one of the most significant betting events of the year," claims Jack Black of MySportsbook.com.  "Last year, millions were bet during the season across the globe, not just in America.

It's tough early on since we really do not have a glimpse as to how well each of these individuals will perform solo on a week-to-week basis.  It's like Week 1 of the NFL.  Pre-season means nada!

We do know the 24 finalists however.

Sanjaya Malakar is the young man whose sister failed to make it into the Top 24.  He's very low key but - unless he totally flubs - will probably win over the young girlie vote for a few weeks anyway.  He's too young to go all the way, according to Payton O'Brien. 

Brandon Rogers - Who?

Phil Stacy is the military guy who missed his daughter's birth because of the Memphis audition.  He should go a good distance.

Chris Sligh - He's got the humor and in many ways he's the Anti-American Idol much like last year's winner Taylor Hicks was.  And this is why he'll probably get pretty far in this competition.  He's chubby, white with a big curly afro....but more importantly, a great voice!  People love "real", not "real cute" to go all the way. 

"Blake Lewis should go far because of his uniqueness and looks.  He's the boy next store with a twist - he beat boxes.  But on top of this, he's a great singer, and I adore him," Payton O'Brien relayed.

A talented beat-boxer Blake Lewis was a hit during the group sing in Hollywood but Simon explained that this is a singing contest just before he told him he was “in.”

Paul Kim has caught our own roving reporter, Jenny Woo's eyes. 

"I love the fact that there is a Korean American on the show and he is bound to get more Asians tuning into the show," Woo said from her Miami Beach estate.  "There has never been a major presence of Asian-Americans on American Idol in the past.  He's a hottie with a nice voice so that should help to take him far.  Expect heavy betting action from the Asian community."

Sundance Head - He's not perfect, but he's got the personality that will take him through a few weeks, plus he's got the lineage (son of Roy Head - whose 1965 single, "Treat Her Right," hit No. 5 in the charts) 

And the others:

Rudy Cardinas
AJ Tabaldo - the 5th time is the charm
Nicolas Pedro
Chris Richardson
Jared Cotter

The girls

"Melinda Doolittle has one of the best voices," says MySportsbook.com Reporter and an acclaimed dancer in her own right, Destiney Lewis.  "It is great to see a back up singer step out like she has.  The girl needs to gain more confidence but that can also be a positive.  I think she will go far."

Alena Alexander - Those tears (she never seems to stop bawling) should get her far.

"Single mom Lakisha Jones I suspect will be a pretty big favorite entering Week 1 of the competition," says Destiny Williams.  Jones is an excellent singer and down to earth.  "She'll have a wide appeal," echoed O'Brien.

Nicole Trellis - Seems to exert confidence.

Amy Krebs - a powerful singer.

Antonella Barba
Gina Glocksen
Hailey Scanardo
Jordan Sparks
Stephanie Edwards
Leslie Hunt
Sabrina Sloan

MySportsbook.com is offering a 20% signup bonus with an initial deposit (i.e. open your American Idol betting account with $300, receive another $60 in which to bet with). 

Last two contestants will be?

1 Male/1 Female +100 (a $10 bet pays $10 plus your initial $10)

2 Males +170 (a $10 bet pays $17 plus your initial $17)

2 Females +130 (a $10 bet pays $13 plus your initial $10)

MySportsbook.com is an online sportsbook accepts Visa Credit Cards and online sportsbook accepts Mastercard Credit Cards for easy American Idol betting lines.