Maple Leafs try to push win streak to four games versus Islanders

Hockey Betting Lines

03/14/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Toronto Maple Leafs will try to stretch their longest winning streak of the season to four games this evening when they visit the New York Islanders in a matchup of the two bottom teams in the Eastern Conference.

Toronto heads to New York's Nassau Coliseum after completing a perfect three- game homestand to give the club its first three-game win streak of the season. The Maple Leafs capped the residency with a 6-4 victory over the Oilers last night.

Phil Kessel scored a pair of power-play goals to go along with an assist, while Tyler Bozak added a goal and two helpers. Nikolai Kulemin scored and had an assist and both Mikhail Grabovski and Jamie Lundmark lit the lamp, while Jonas Gustavsson made 25 saves.

"We're just trying to keep it simple, play a basic hockey game," Leafs defenseman Tomas Kaberle said after his club went 3-for-8 on the man advantage. "Finally we used some power plays today and scored more goals."

One day after defeating the worst team in the Western Conference, the Maple Leafs visit the Islanders, who are 14th out of 15 teams in the East. Toronto, of course, is 15th and trails New York by five points in the standings.

Toronto has lost eight of its last nine on the road (1-5-3) and should turn to Jean-Sebastien Giguere in net tonight. The former Anaheim netminder has yet to face the Islanders this year and is 1-1-1 with a tie and 2.69 goals-against average versus them lifetime.

While the Islanders don't have a winning streak like the Maple Leafs, they do have a big victory under their belt. New York snapped a four-game skid last night with a 4-2 victory over the Devils, denying New Jersey a share of the Atlantic Division lead.

Freddy Meyer, Jon Sim and Mark Streit all scored for the Islanders and Dwayne Roloson stopped 38 shots for the win.

The Islanders put themselves in a hole midway through the third when defenseman Dylan Reese took a double-minor for high sticking with his club up by just a goal. However, Sean Bergenheim finished off a 2-on-1 break with Blake Comeau with a short-handed tally for a two-goal advantage.

"It was a big play," said Comeau. "They were down a goal and they were on a four-minute power play. Our penalty killing was great tonight."

It is unknown who will start in net tonight for the Islanders, who are 1-0-1 on a three-game homestand. Roloson entered the season just 1-6-0 versus the Maple Leafs, but has won two of three versus them this year while posting a 2.29 goals-against average. Martin Biron, meanwhile, is 11-11-3 with a pair of ties and 2.82 GAA versus them in his career.

Roloson's two victories over the Leafs this year includes a 58-save effort back on Nov. 23, a 4-3 overtime triumph, and after a loss at Toronto in early December, he turned aside 26 shots in a 3-1 home triumph on Dec. 23.

The Islanders have won five of their last seven at home over the Maple Leafs.

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Despite missing 20 games due to an injury earlier this season, Roy has definitely put up the best numbers of his 1st year peers. In 32 games, Roy is averaging 15.3 PPG, 4.2 boards and 3.5 assists in over 33 minutes of play per game. While most rookies breakdown as the season progresses (see Morrison), Roy is only getting stronger as his playing time and scoring average has increased each month.

With 30 or so games left in the regular season, Roy isn’t a lock for the award by any means. Other rookies are putting together some pretty impressive campaigns and a few could give Roy a run for the award with increased playing time. Heading the list is first pick, Andrea Bargnani of the Toronto Raptors. Even though he has started only two games all season, Bargnani is averaging 10.3 PPPG while shooting 35% from deep.

Randy Foye of the Minnesota Timberwolves could be set to give Roy the best competition NBA Rookie of the Year betting lines. With the benching of Mike James, Foye looks like he could be the starter in the T-Wolves backcourt for the rest of the season. So far, Foye has averaged 9 PPG and 2.4 assists in just under 21 minutes per game. With his new role of starter, Foye’s numbers will definitely increase. In his first game as the new starting guard this past Sunday, Foye had 10 points; five rebounds and 8 assists. More importantly, he logged 34 minutes of playing time; his third highest run of the season.

Adam Morrison, of the Charlotte Bobcats, was the favorite early on in the season after averaging 15+ PPG through the first month of the season. Ever since his torrid start, Morrison’s point production has declined each month. This really isn’t surprising, considering at 6’8” he only weighs 205 lbs. Obviously he will need to hit the weights big time during the off-season in order to keep from breaking down in the future.

Be sure to log on to MySportsbook.com to bet on the NBA. With the regular season about to hit the homestretch, it is important to point out that MySportsbook.com has the highest credit card acceptance rate in the industry.

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MySportsbook.com and Kentucky Derby Offer Bonuses
The 2008 Kentucky Derby has announced a $1-million bonus for this weekend’s 134th ‘Run for the Roses’ and MySportsbook.com is doing the same.

Well, not quite $1 million, but MySportsbook.com is offering a 75% rebate for Kentucky Derby lines. Check out the exclusive horse racing bonus for all the details.

According to MySportsbook.com, the favorites for Saturday’s Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky are: Curlin (+250); Street Sense (+500); Scat Daddy (+700); Circular Quay (+750); and Nobiz Like Shobiz (+800).

Derby organizers announced this week that there will be a $1-million bonus at the 2007 Kentucky Derby odds if the first-place horse wins by more than 6 1/2 lengths – the margin of Barbaro's victory last year. The bonus would be divided Saturday among the winning trainer, jockey, owner and a charity, with each receiving 25 percent. The designated charity is the Barbaro Memorial Fund.

''It's certainly creative, it's certainly fun and it has something for the horsemen, which we always want to embrace,'' Churchill Downs president and chief executive Robert Evans said at a news conference. ''What's really cool is it will force us to remember Barbaro.''
    
Meanwhile, the Derby favorite – Curlin – is going against the odds this year. It's been 125 years since Apollo won after skipping his 2-year-old season, and not since Regret in 1915 has such a lightly seasoned horse worn the blanket of red roses.

Arkansas Derby winner Curlin – unbeaten in three career races – tries to overcome both those obstacles in Saturday's 133rd Derby.

''We're not running against history,'' trainer Steve Asmussen said Monday. ''We're running against who they load up.''

Six other horses have run in the Derby without benefit of 2-year-old races and with three or fewer starts. The best any of them managed was a sixth-place finish by Showing Up last year.
   
Asmussen dismissed suggestions that Curlin's lack of racing experience could keep him from the winner's circle.

”He exudes confidence and he's got a great presence about him,'' the trainer said. ''I feel great about the position we're in. He's not worried about anything, why should you be?''
   
The Kentucky Derby is at 4:04 p.m., ET Saturday.

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