Ducks battle Avs in Anaheim

Hockey Betting Lines

03/21/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Anaheim Ducks will try to continue heading in the right direction when they host the Colorado Avalanche tonight at Honda Center.

The Ducks have won three straight, giving the club its longest winning streak since a season-best five-game stretch from Jan. 5-13.

Even with another victory today, Anaheim has an uphill battle to make the playoffs as it trails Detroit by nine points for the eighth and final postseason berth in the Western Conference.

Meanwhile, Colorado enters Sunday in seventh place in the West -- three points ahead of Detroit. The Avalanche also trail Vancouver by six points for first place in the Northwest Division.

The Ducks and Avs have split a pair of meetings this year, but Anaheim has dominated the recent series, winning nine of the last 11 matchups. Colorado has also been defeated in six of eight and eight of its last 11 trips to Orange County.

Tonight also marks the finale of Anaheim's seven-game homestand. The Ducks are 3-2-1 on the residency and have a 22-11-3 home record this season. The club will begin a three-game road trip Tuesday in Calgary.

Anaheim earned its most recent victory in dramatic fashion on Friday, picking up the 5-4 overtime win on Saku Koivu's goal 14 seconds into the extra session at Honda Center.

In OT, Bruno Gervais tried to force a pass that Koivu picked off. The Finnish veteran then skated into the New York zone and snapped a wrister into the left corner of the net.

Lubomir Visnovsky scored twice, including the tying goal with 32 seconds left in regulation, while Jason Blake and Matt Beleskey each lit the lamp for the Ducks.

"We need every point," said Visnovsky. "The last three games we've won have been great for the team. We have confidence. Tonight was a crazy game. For me, every puck was bouncing off my stick and I was not very comfortable with the puck. But it doesn't matter because the team wins and everything is OK."

Jonas Hiller gave up three goals on 17 shots and was pulled halfway through the second period. Curtis McElhinney finished the game in net and stopped 13 shots to get the win.

Anaheim winger Teemu Selanne remains at 599 career goals. Should he get to 600, he will be the 18th player in NHL history to reach that mark and if he gets to 601, he will tie Jari Kurri for most goals ever by a Finland native. He finished Friday's game with two assists.

The Avalanche had a three-game winning streak halted its last time out, losing to visiting Calgary in regulation. Rene Bourque tallied twice and Vesa Toskala made 32 saves to lead the Flames to Wednesday's 3-2 victory.

Chris Durno and Milan Hejduk scored for the Avalanche and Craig Anderson took the loss despite 31 stops.

"We can't afford to get comfortable out there, no matter what the reason is," Avs center Paul Stastny said.

Stastny added an assist in Wednesday's loss to push his point streak to nine games. He has five goals and 11 helpers during the run.

Colorado is playing the first of two straight on the road tonight and will visit Los Angeles on Monday. The Avs are 18-13-4 as the guest this season.

Usatodau Hockey Betting News

<< Thrashers try for home-and-home sweep in Philly
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Atlanta Thrashers will try to punctuate their newfound success against the Flyers by sweeping the season series in tonight's finale of a home-and-home set at Philadelphia's Wachovia Center. The Thrashers were swept in

<< Coyotes visit Dallas with shot at ninth straight win
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Phoenix Coyotes will try to match another franchise record tonight and also take a shot at first place in the Pacific Division when they visit the Dallas Stars at American Airlines Center. The Coyotes have already set

<< Streaking Preds make a stop in St. Louis
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The surging Nashville Predators will aim for a sixth straight victory when they visit the rival St. Louis Blues for tonight's Central Division battle at Scottrade Center. The recent hot streak has helped solidify Nashville

<< Panthers host Bolts in Sunrise
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A pair of Southeast Division foes with fading playoff chances will meet tonight in Florida, as the Panthers host the Tampa Bay Lightning at BankAtlantic Center. The Lightning are six points behind Boston for the eighth and

<< Sabres close road trip in Carolina
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Buffalo Sabres will shoot for a third straight victory this evening when they close out a five-game road trip against the Carolina Hurricanes. The Sabres had lost three in a row, including the first two tests of this

Sliding Sharks aim for a win in Edmonton >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - San Jose hopes a game against the NHL's cellar dwellers can help them snap their worst losing streak of the season as the Sharks visit the Edmonton Oilers tonight at Rexall Place. The Sharks have lost five straight contest

Miami-Ohio receives top seed in NCAA hockey tourney >>
Indianapolis, IN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Miami-Ohio, Denver, Wisconsin and Boston College have been selected as the top seeds for the 2010 NCAA hockey tournament. Miami-Ohio will be the top seed in the Midwest Region and will open

Suarez leads Ajax into second >>
Waalwijk, Netherlands (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Luis Suarez scored two more goals to raise his Eredivisie-leading total to 29 and Ajax hammered RKC Waalwijk 5-1 on Sunday at Mandemakers Stadion to move into second in the Dutch top flight. First-pl

Davies tops Oosthuizen in Morocco >>
Rabat, Morocco (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Rhys Davies fired a seven-under 66 Sunday to come from behind and win the Hassan II Golf Trophy. Davies, who led after the second round, completed his first European Tour victory at 25-under-par 266. The

Rooney, Park lead United over Liverpool >>
Manchester, England (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Wayne Rooney scored his 26th EPL goal, Ji-Sung Park added the match-winner, and Manchester United edged Liverpool 2-1 at Old Trafford on Sunday to move back into first place. United regained the lead

MySportsbook.com offers Blackjack contest and $10,000.00 in Free Prize money!

Every month MySportsbook.com's casino host, Jack Black, gives away $10,000.00 in free casino prize money. To Enter - All you have to do is play at least 10 hands (total) of Blackjack on one of the specified dates of the blackjack contest. The online casino host randomly hands out free bonuses ranging from $50 - $500, and one lucky player who will receive a free $2,500.00 bonus.

"We have been running this monthly free blackjack contest to our active mebers for 5 years now, and the players just love it," says Jack Black, online casino host at MySportsbook.com. "And why wouldn't they love a free chance to win some extra online blackjack cash."

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