Avs try to stop slide in home battle vs. Sharks

Hockey Betting Lines

04/04/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Colorado Avalanche will try to revive their stalled playoff push tonight when they host the San Jose Sharks, a team they haven't had much success against recently.

The Avalanche have just one win in their last eight games (1-6-1) and are 0-2 so far on a three-game homestand at Pepsi Center. Colorado lost a 2-1 regulation decision against Calgary on Friday night to fall into a tie with the Flames for the eighth and final postseason berth in the Western Conference.

The good news for the Avs is the Flames, who play this afternoon in Chicago, have only four games remaining compared to five for Colorado. The Avalanche also currently hold all three tie-breaking scenarios over Calgary, including wins (41-40), head-to-head points and goal differential. Despite Friday's setback, Colorado still took four of six from Calgary in the season series.

San Jose, meanwhile, has won five of its last six games and is first in the Pacific Division and the Western Conference. San Jose is four points ahead of Phoenix for the division crown and three in front of Chicago for the top seed in the West. The Sharks are also eight points behind Washington for the Presidents' Trophy, and the idle Capitals could clinch the league's best record with any kind of San Jose loss tonight.

The Sharks have taken two of three from Colorado this year and have won six of seven and eight of the last 10 meetings between the clubs. San Jose also boasts five victories in its last eight trips to Denver.

Colorado was dealt its fourth straight regulation defeat Friday against the Flames. Miikka Kiprusoff made 35 saves and Rene Bourque provided the game- winner early in the third period to lift Calgary to the important victory.

T.J. Galiardi lit the lamp for Colorado, and Craig Anderson made 25 saves in the loss. Anderson has started the last eight games for the Avs and is expected to get the call again tonight.

The Avs are 23-13-2 as the host this year, but have lost three of four in Denver.

The Sharks had a four-game winning streak halted Wednesday night in Dallas, but righted the ship with a close win Friday in Minnesota. Logan Couture scored the game-winner with 3:51 left in regulation, lifting San Jose to the 3-2 victory at Xcel Energy Center.

Manny Malhotra and Scott Nichol also tallied for the Sharks. Rob Blake picked up two assists and Evgeni Nabokov made 11 of his 27 saves in the third period to notch his 41st win of the season.

Sharks leading scorer Joe Thornton missed his third straight game on Friday, but is with the team on its road trip and is questionable for tonight.

San Jose is playing the third test of a four-game road trip tonight and has a solid 23-14-2 record as the guest this year.

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Sportsbook betting odds favor Europe in Ryder Cup

September 19, – Despite holding a decided edge in the all-time series, with 24 wins, 2 ties and 10 losses, Team USA is the underdog again heading into the Ryder Cup in Kidare, Ireland this weekend, according to MySportsbook.com.  The Europeans have captured four of the past five editions, including their largest victory ever, an 18 ½ to 9 ½ thumping in Michigan in 2004. Current Ryder Cup betting odds favor the Europeans to continue their winning ways; they are a 4-5 bet to take the title, compared to 6-5 for the Americans. 

Despite being knocked out in the first round of World Match play by Shaun Micheel, Tiger Woods is predicted to lead the US charge and be their highest point scorer for the week, with odds listed at 9-4 that he outpoints all other American players, including Jim Furyk, Phil Mickelson and Chris DiMarco to  name a  few.  Team USA has four relatively unknown players on the roster but all four are 2007 tournament winners and have posted some of season’s best performances, each earning over $1.5 million on the PGA TOUR.  They include Zach Johnson, Vaughan Taylor, JJ Henry and Brett Wetterich.

The experienced European squad includes the likes of Luke Donald, Sergio Garcia, Padraig Harrington, Jose Maria Olazabal and Darren Clarke, who’s emotions will be tested after the passing of his wife to a battle with cancer.  Donald and Garcia are in particularly good form and each is a 5-1 bet to lead the European squad in the points race. Donald has proven he can go head to head with Woods at a major event after a run for the $1.2 million purse at the PGA Championship. Garcia’s Ryder Cup credentials prove he’s ready for battle too.

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

Ryder Cup Odds

Europe
Tie
USA
4-5
10-1
6-5


Ryder Cup Top US point scorer
Tiger Woods
Jim Furyk
Phil Mickelson
Chris DiMarco
David Toms
Stewart Cink
Chad Campbell
Scott Verplank
Zach Johnson
Vaughan Taylor
JJ Henry
Brett Wetterich
9-4
4-1
5-1
7-1
8-1
12-1
15-1
15-1
25-1
30-1
30-1
50-1


Ryder Cup Top European scorer
Sergio Garcia
Luke Donald
Padraig Harrington
Colin Montgomerie
Darren Clarke
David Howell
Lee Westwood
Paul Casey
Henrik Stenson
Jose Maria Olazabal
Paul McGinley
Robert Karlsson
5-1
5-1
6-1
13-2
8-1
9-1
9-1
11-1
12-1
12-1
20-1
25-1

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com