Gainey and Habs try to build momentum against Isles

Hockey Betting Lines

03/12/2009 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A sudden coaching change produced an instant boost for the Montreal Canadiens. The embattled club will now try to build off that encouraging victory when the New York Islanders invade the Bell Centre this evening.

Just one day after general manager Bob Gainey replaced Guy Carbonneau with himself behind the bench, the Canadiens rallied behind captain Saku Koivu to overtake the visiting Edmonton Oilers in overtime on Tuesday.

Koivu scored the game-tying goal with 4:35 remaining in regulation, then later netted the winning marker on a power-play opportunity 1:40 into extra time to give the Habs a thrilling 4-3 victory.

The win followed Sunday's 3-1 road ousting of Dallas in Carbonneau's final game and was the sixth in eight tries for Montreal. The surge has the Canadiens fifth in the Eastern Conference standings with 79 points, although only three points separate the team from the ninth-place New York Rangers.

The Canadiens appear to have an opportunity to distance themselves from the pack, as Tuesday's contest was the first of nine home tilts over a 10-game stretch. Montreal has posted an excellent 21-6-4 record as the host this season and has won four in a row on home ice.

The Islanders did defeat the Habs in their previous trip to the Bell Centre this season, however, having earned a 4-3 shootout win there on November 24. New York had lost six straight times to Montreal prior to that breakthrough, though, and are 2-7-0 over their last seven games as the visitor in this series.

In addition, the Islanders come in on a seven-game road losing streak and are a woeful 6-23-3 away from home on the season. The team has dropped 21 of its last 22 matchups in enemy arenas (1-19-2).

New York's road woes continued with Tuesday's 3-2 overtime loss at Toronto, in which the Islanders failed to hold onto a one-goal edge after two periods.

Kyle Okposo and Blake Comeau scored 45 seconds apart in the first period for the lone New York goals, while Joey McDonald made 25 saves in a losing cause.

Comeau is riding a five-game scoring streak and has tallied three goals and three assists during the run, while Okposo -- the seventh overall selection in the 2006 draft -- has a goal in three consecutive games.

The Islanders had won four of their last five tests prior to Tuesday's defeat and had a two-game win streak halted by the Maple Leafs.

Wwwfllottery Hockey Betting News

<< Devils welcome Coyotes to Garden State
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The first-place New Jersey Devils will face one of the bottom teams in the Western Conference tonight, as they host the Phoenix Coyotes at Prudential Center. With 89 points, the Devils have a seven-point lead over Philadel

<< Playoff-hopeful Sabres, Panthers clash in Buffalo
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A key battle in the Eastern Conference playoff race is on tap tonight in Buffalo, as the struggling Sabres host the Florida Panthers tonight at HSBC Arena. The Panthers are currently last among the eight playoff seeds in t

<< Lightning slide into Toronto
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Tampa Bay Lightning are hoping a matchup with the Toronto Maple Leafs will enable them to break out of their current slide. The team aims for its fourth straight win over the Leafs when it visits the Air Canada Centre thi

<< Struggling Bruins aim to snap Sens' win streak
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The struggling Boston Bruins will try to avoid a third consecutive defeat when they host the streaking Ottawa Senators in tonight's Northeast Division battle at TD Banknorth Garden. Boston is coming off consecutive losses

<< Flames visit Red Wings for battle between division leaders
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A pair of Western Conference division leaders face off tonight in the Motor City, where the reigning Stanley Cup champion Detroit Red Wings will attempt to maintain their recent mastery of the slumping Calgary Flames. Alt

Caps aim for consecutive wins in test with Flyers >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Washington Capitals will try to post back-to-back wins for the first time in nearly two weeks when they visit the Philadelphia Flyers for tonight's Eastern Conference showdown at the Wachovia Center. The Capitals are f

Rangers visit Preds for matchup between playoff hopefuls >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Nashville Predators have crept back into playoff contention on the strength of recent strong play on home ice, while lingering road troubles have the New York Rangers falling back in the postseason race. The Rangers ho

Penguins try for eighth straight win in battle with Blue Jackets >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The scorching Pittsburgh Penguins will shoot for their eighth consecutive victory when they visit the Columbus Blue Jackets for tonight's interconference clash at Nationwide Arena. Pittsburgh is in the midst of its longest

Wild open trip against sliding Avs >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The playoff-hopeful Minnesota Wild begin a three-game road trip tonight with a stop in Denver to take on the Colorado Avalanche at the Pepsi Center. The Wild are coming off a 5-4 overtime loss to the San Jose Sharks on Tue

Thrashers shoot for rare win in Edmonton >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Atlanta Thrashers aim for just their second win ever in Edmonton in tonight's battle with the Oilers at Rexall Place. Since joining the NHL as an expansion club prior to the 1999-2000 season, the Thrashers have made fi

Football Betting Lines

The 2009 AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year odds have been released and Denver Broncos' running back Knowshon Moreno has been made the opening favorite.

Bet NFL Sports Lines

Moreno was selected in the first round of April's NFL draft and is expected to carry the rushing load for the Broncos this season. And with Jay Cutler now in Chicago, Moreno might be expected to be Denver's entire offense.

Betting Lines from sports betting lines have made Moreno a 5/2 favorite to win this year's Offensive Rookie of the Year Award. Fellow running back Chris “Beanie” Wells (Arizona Cardinals) is right behind Moreno at 7/2, while Donald Brown (Indianapolis Colts) and receiver Michael Crabtree (San Francisco 49ers) are 5/1 to win. Quarterbacks Mark Sanchez (New York Jets) and Matthew Stafford (Detroit Lions) are 7/1 and 8/1, respectively.

A couple of players who present some value are Josh Freeman, Shonn Green and Darrius Heyward-Bey.

Freeman needs to beat out Byron Leftwich to become the starting quarterback of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers but if he does, he has a lot or raw talent and could use the weapons around him (i.e. Kellen Winslow Jr. and Antonio Bryant) to be very successful in his first season.

Green enters a crowded backfield in New York, but considering both Thomas Jones and Leon Washington are unhappy about their contract situations and might holdout, the former Iowa product could become the Jets' primary back.

Everyone was shocked when Al Davis took Heyward-Bey with the eighth overall pick in April's draft, but the kid has a tremendous amount of talent and if quarterback JaMarcus Russell takes the next step this year, the former Maryland product could blossom. Plus, Heyward-Bey will be looking to prove the people wrong who said Oakland should have taken Michael Crabtree with the No. 8 pick.

And if you're looking for a deep sleeper, check out Pat White at 30/1. He enters the Miami Dolphins vaunted “Wild Cat” offense and could be a big time playmaker.

For complete odds on the 2009 AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year odds, see below.

2009 AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Odds to Win

Ramses Barden (NYG) 40/1

Andre Brown (NYG) 20/1

Donald Brown (IND) 5/1

Kenny Britt (TEN) 20/1

Glenn Coffee (SFO) 30/1

Chase Coffman (CIN) 50/1

Michael Crabtree (SFO) 5/1

Josh Freeman (TB) 14/1

Shonn Green (NYJ) 14/1

Percy Harvin (MIN) 10/1

Darrius Heyward-Bay (OAK) 18/1

Juaquan Iglesias (CHI) 30/1

Cornelius Ingram (PHI) 50/1

Rashad Jennings (JAC) 30/1

Johnny Knox (CHI) 40/1

Jeremy Maclin (PHI) 18/1

Mohamed Massaquoi (CLE) 30/1

LeSean McCoy (PHI) 12/1

Knowshon Moreno (DEN) 5/2

Hakeem Nicks (NYG) 18/1

Brandon Pettigrew (DET) 30/1

Brian Robiskie (CLE) 20/1

Mark Sanchez (NYJ) 7/1

Matthew Stafford (DET) 8/1

Jason Smith (STL) 40/1

Mike Thomas (JAC) 25/1

Patrick Turner (MIA) 50/1

Mike Wallace (PIT) 50/1

Chris Wells (ARI) 7/2

Pat White (MIA) 30/1

Field (Any Other Player) 9/1

Betting Line

To visit this sports betting site go to BettingExpress.com for all your football betting lines needs.

For sports betting with credit cards site go to BettingExpress.com as well.

Terrell Owens could return for Cowboys next game
A bye week will allow Terrell Owens broken hand to recover just in time for the next game the Dallas Cowboys are slated to play, according to reports. MySportsbook.com, an football sportsbook, has posted football betting lines on TO playing.

Owens broke the bone leading to his right ring finger Sunday night and had a plate surgically attached to it Monday. Although Owens' hand was swollen and aching Wednesday, Dallas Cowboys coach Bill Parcells said he's optimistic the receiver will be back at work next week and catching passes a week from Sunday against the Tennessee Titans.

MySportsbook.com online sportsbook listed Terrell Owens with odds of 7-2 (or $7 paid out for every $2 bet) to return back for the game against Tennessee.

"I certainly wouldn't rule it out now," Parcells said, referring to Terrell Owens immediate return. "Maybe five days from now I might, but I wouldn't rule it out now. ... I know we're looking to try to get him moving around pretty good in the next day or so. So we'll see where we are."

Owens did not speak with reporters Wednesday, but said Sunday he'd be out two to four weeks. A return against the Titans would be 13 days after the surgery. The Cowboys were listed as an early -7 1/2 favorite vs. the Tennessee Titans for Week 4 at MySportsbook.com

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