Sports Betting News: NFL Team History | NFL Football Betting | College Football Betting | Baseball Betting | Basketball Betting | College Basketball Betting | Hockey Betting | Golf Betting | Tennis Betting | Auto Racing Betting | Horse Racing Betting | Soccer Betting
06/11/2010 - Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - For the first time since the days of Bobby Hull and Stan Mikita, the Chicago Blackhawks have delivered the Windy City a championship.
The 2009-10 Blackhawks will have their name etched on Lord Stanley's Cup after a highly entertaining final round against the Philadelphia Flyers.
Chicago's first title since 1961 was not just a great development for Blackhawks fans, but the Stanley Cup Finals also turned out to be a TV ratings bonanza for the NHL in the United States.
After the Blackhawks clinched the title Wednesday with an overtime victory in Game 6, it was revealed that the NHL saw its best ratings for a Stanley Cup Finals contest since 1974. The final game of the 2009-10 season was watched by 8.28 million viewers -- a 43-percent increase from last year's Game 6 between Pittsburgh and Detroit. Wednesday's viewers were also greater than the eight million who watched last year's decisive Game 7.
The numbers are great news for the NHL, of course, but the Cup Finals matchup did work in the league's favor. We'd probably be talking about how poor the TV ratings were if Montreal and San Jose happened to meet in this year's final.
Chicago and Philadelphia are both major media markets and both cities' fan bases were desperate to win another hockey title. Fortunately for Hawks fans, their drought ends at 49 years, while Philadelphia still hasn't tasted the ultimate victory since 197. The snake-bitten Flyers are now 0-6 in the Cup Finals since that last championship.
Along with those notable elements, here are some other storylines from a closely contested and highly entertaining Cup Finals.
TOEWS WINS SMYTHE
Those who questioned whether Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews truly deserved the NHL's playoff MVP award certainly have a case. Toews did lead Chicago with 29 points this postseason, and even though the Conn Smythe is awarded to the best player throughout the playoffs, usually the winner is a player who shines in the Cup Finals as well. Toews certainly did not stand out in the final round, posting just three assists and playing to a minus-five rating over the six games. His best work came in the faceoff circle, where the Flyers simply did not have an answer for the quick-handed centerman.
Patrick Kane and Patrick Sharp both had better final rounds and wound up with 28 and 22 points, respectively, during the playoffs. Kane also scored the series-clinching goal in overtime of Game 6, and he recorded three goals and eight points in the Finals after going pointless in the first two games of the series.
Still, it's hard to complain about Toews winning the Smythe. He may not have finished as strong as Kane, but he was the best player throughout the Western Conference playoffs, and that's what impressed voters the most in the end.
HOSSA CURSED NO MORE
Nobody was as relieved as Marian Hossa to finally lift Lord Stanley's Cup. Of course, the Slovakian star was a member of the Penguins in 2008 when they lost in six games to Detroit, and was on the Red Wings last spring when they were defeated by Pittsburgh in seven games. When he signed a big free agent deal with Chicago in the summer, many joked that it meant the Blackhawks were assured of a runner-up finish in this year's Cup Finals.
By jumping ship from Pittsburgh to the winning team following the 2007-08 season, Hossa became an outlaw in the Steel City. He doesn't have many fans in Detroit either, considering he left for the Red Wings' divisional rival this past summer. So, it's fair to call Hossa a mercenary, but it was nice to actually see him lift the Cup. It probably would've been even better for Hossa if he was able to add more than three goals and 15 points towards Chicago's playoff run, but he did have a solid Finals and gave Philadelphia's defense fits at times.
I consider the reasons that folks are turned off by Hossa to be valid, but have a heart, people. Schadenfreude is a fun hobby, but Hossa is really only guilty of wanting to go to the places where he can win. What's so wrong about that?
REDEMPTION FOR BRIERE
Flyers forward Danny Briere entered this spring's playoffs as a poster boy for bad contracts, but a superb postseason went a long way towards rehabilitating his image. Briere led all NHLers with 30 points (12 goals, 18 assists) in the playoffs and set a Philadelphia record for most points in a single postseason. He also had 12 points in the last round alone, falling one point shy of Wayne Gretzky's record for most ever in the Cup Finals.
Despite all that, Briere's contract remains a concern. This is the salary cap era and the 31-year-old Briere, who is signed through 2014-15, needs to pick it up in the regular season over the next five years to justify his annual $6.5 million cap hit. He has played in just 104 games over the last two regular seasons, and totaled 37 goals and 78 points in those contests. In order to truly live up to his deal, Briere needs to regain the form he displayed in 2006-07, when he posted 95 points in his final season with the Buffalo Sabres.
Perhaps, a full season playing on a line with Ville Leino and Scott Hartnell will allow Briere to gain some level of consistency for the Flyers. That line was one of the best units in this year's playoffs, and it will be interesting to see if next year the trio can pick up where it left off in the postseason.
LEIGHTON THE ANSWER FOR FLYERS?
For a while this postseason, it seemed that the Flyers had solved the franchise's perennial goaltending problem. That is, until Michael Leighton turned in a poor Cup Finals. Leighton was pulled twice against Chicago in the final round, and Kane's OT game-winner that clinched the Cup was so soft, that at first nobody besides Kane, and most likely Leighton, knew that it was in the net.
My guess is that the Flyers, who already have Brian Boucher signed for next year, will bring Leighton - a midseason waiver-wire acquisition - back for at least another year. After all, the journeyman may have made himself some money with his play early in the spring, but Leighton still doesn't have the resume of a No. 1 NHL netminder and won't command an outrageous salary when he hits the free agent market this summer. Combine that fact with Philadelphia's recent history of going for the cheap option in net, and Leighton will probably be wearing Orange & Black next season.
Just don't expect the Flyers to commit to Leighton for more than two years. Despite his strong play in the regular season and most of the playoffs for Philadelphia, it's hard to believe Flyers GM Paul Holmgren will think of Leighton as much more than a stop-gap.
<< Breeders' Cup to return to Churchill Downs in 2011
Louisville, KY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Churchill Downs has again been selected as
host of the Breeders' Cup for 2011.
The legendary home of the Kentucky Derby will also host this year's Breeders'
Cup from November 5-6, and in 2011 will beco
<< Bettman needs to build off thrilling Cup final
Toronto, Canada (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - It may sound cliche, but when it comes to
fixing what ails the National Hockey League, there may be no better time than
the present.
On the heels of the most successful NHL season in a decade and a Stanley
<< Indians hope to change evil ways with recall of Santana
Cleveland, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Cleveland Indians, mired in last place in
the American League Central, have recalled catcher Carlos Santana from Triple-
A Columbus.
Santana, the Indians' minor league player of the year in 2009, was
<< We know drama: Brewers host Rangers at Miller Park
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Milwaukee Brewers followed a Hollywood script to pick
up a series win on Thursday. They'll try to keep that momentum going this
evening when they host the Texas Rangers for the first time in almost 13 years
with to
Izzo tells AP: Still no decision on Cavaliers job >>
Tom Izzo is still torn, trying to figure out if he should stay at Michigan State or leave to coach the Cleveland Cavaliers.Izzo wrote in a text message Friday morning - about 12 hours after he returned home from Cleveland - he has not made a decisio
Texas regents to meet Tuesday about Big 12 future >>
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) -University of Texas regents will meet next week to decide whether the Longhorns will remain in the Big 12 or switch to another conference.The regents announced Friday that they will hold a meeting by telephone Tuesday for ``discu
Cubs manager Piniella criticizes baseball analyst >>
CHICAGO (AP) -Cubs manager Lou Piniella has criticized longtime Chicago baseball analyst Steve Stone for questioning how he's handling prized rookie outfielder Tyler Colvin.Piniella took exception Friday to recent comments Stone made to Comcast Spor
Appeals court sides with Bonds on evidence >>
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -A divided federal appeals court has dealt the federal government a significant setback in its prosecution of Barry Bonds on perjury charges.The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Friday that prosecutors may not present posit
The Indianapolis Colts know that winning the Super Bowl last season put a huge target on their backs, and they expect opponents to go all-out to knock them from the top of the mountain.
They’ll get their first test from the New Orleans Saints this Thursday night. The defending champs had nothing but good things to say about the New Orleans defense this past week, praising their opponents’ pass rush and run-stopping abilities.
"They play very aggressively," head coach Tony Dungy told the New Orleans Times-Picayune. "They play a lot of man-to-man coverage, and they come after you. They have good pass rushers, and they're going to try to pressure us, I'm sure."
Both center Jeff Saturday and quarterback Peyton Manning gave New Orleans’ front four props, admitting keeping guys like Will Smithand Charles Grant contained would be a tall task for the offensive line.
New Orleans ranked second in total defense during the preseason at a sportsbook, allowing just under 233 yards per game. Last season, the defense finished 11th in the league after giving up 307.3 yards and 20.1 points per contest.
Not so sound on the ground
If Indianapolis' efficient offense has a weakness it has to be its running attack. The Colts one-two-punch of Dominic Rhodes and Joseph Addai is no longer, leaving the bulk of the carries to Addai, the second-year back out of LSU.
Former Saskatchewan Roughrider Kenton Keith was named Addai’s backup this week after beating out DeDe Dorsey for the second-string position. Indy has only three backs on the roster right now, including fullback Luke Lawton, and coach Dungy is aware of the thinness of his ground game. Sports Betting lines on the game can be found at BettingExpress.com
“We’ll continue to look. Luke Lawton’s done a good job for us too. So probably getting a third true tailback is something that we’d like to do,” Dungy told the Indiana Tribune-Star.
Last season, Addai rushed for over 1,000 yards in his rookie campaign and scored seven touchdowns on the ground.
Brees says bring it on
Opening the season on the road against the defending Super Bowl champions is not the way most teams would like to kick off their year – unless you’re the New Orleans Saints or their quarterback Drew Brees. This internet Sportsbooks had the Saints as the favorites.
Brees told the New Orleans Times-Picayune that he is excited to get the regular season started and the Colts are a great challenge for him and his teammates. The 28-year-old QB, entering his second season with the Saints, is expecting a wild environment in the RCA Dome this Thursday when the franchise celebrates its 2007-2007 championship.
Brees said he sees the opening game scheduling as an honor and a testament to how well New Orleans did last season. The Saints missed facing the Colts in the Super Bowl by one game, losing to the Chicago Bearsin the NFC Championship game.
"I mean, people think we can hang with these guys," Brees told reporters. "Even if they didn't, it wouldn't matter what they thought because as a team we're very confident. We know what we can do. We're not satisfied where we finished the season last year. And we've been looking forward to this opportunity for a long time."
SportsBooks ready for a shootout
Oddsmakers are preparing for some fireworks this Thursday when the NFL season kicks off. online Sportsbooks have Thursday’s total set at a whopping 52 points, accounting for two of the league’s most explosive offenses.
“This is like must-see TV,” Saints cornerback and former Colt Jason David told the Baton Rouge Advocate. “It’s two exciting offenses with great players. You’ve got a lot of star power on offense. At any given time a big play can happen. If I was a fan, I wouldn’t miss a snap.”
New Orleans, who ranked No.1 in total offense last season, can go blow-for-blow with the Colts’ attack. Head coach Sean Payton’s offensive schemes will get even better production out of Drew Brees, Reggie Bush and receiver Marques Colston now that they’ve each had a season of playing together under their belts.
The Saints and Colts were the top two passing teams in the NFL last year, but while Indianapolis managed to put up almost 27 points per game, New Orleans struggled to capitalize on their efforts. The Saints ranked fifth in points per game.
“Yards are great,” running backDeuce McAllister told reporters, “but to be able to score more touchdowns would be important for us.”
To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your football betting needs. Mysportsbook.com online sportsbook accepts US credit cards
JUPITER, Fla. -- The Foorida Marlins are preparing for the likelihood that right-hander
Josh Johnson won't be ready when the season starts April 2.
Grapefruit League action starts Wednesday, but Johnson, penciled in as the No. 2 starter, hasn't even thrown off a mound at full speed since September. He's experienced some soreness in his right forearm.
MySportsbook.com have the Marlins listed with baseball betting lines at +800 to win the NL East this season .
''You guys know the math. If he's not on the hill then he becomes an opening day roster issue,'' manager Fredi Gonzalez said Saturday. ''We're borderline now.''
Johnson, who finished 12-7 with a 3.10 ERA in 2007, was supposed to throw on flat ground Saturday. That was canceled when he woke up with pain.
He played catch on Wednesday with no pain but felt discomfort in a throwing session on Thursday. He's expected to try again Sunday.
''Like we always said from the very beginning, we're going to take it easy on him,'' Gonzalez said. ''He didn't feel right, so we shut him down. We're going to take it back to step one and see where we're at.''
Among the candidates to take Johnson's spot in the rotation are left-hander Chris George and right-handers Yusmeiro Petit and Jose Garcia.
Right-hander Sergio Mitre, who missed most of last season with arm and shoulder problems, also is behind.
With Johnson's status doubtful, Gonzalez said right-hander Ricky Nolasco will stay in the rotation and no longer will be considered a candidate for closer.
Additional basbeall odds can be found at: www.MySportsbook.com
To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com - this sportsbook accepts credit cards.
Sports Betting News: NFL Team History | NFL Football Betting | College Football Betting | Baseball Betting | Basketball Betting | College Basketball Betting | Hockey Betting | Golf Betting | Tennis Betting | Auto Racing Betting | Horse Racing Betting | Soccer Betting