Sharks blank Avs, take series lead

Hockey Betting Lines

04/23/2010 - San Jose, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Rookie center Logan Couture paced the offense with a pair of goals, while Evgeni Nabokov made 28 saves, as the top-seeded San Jose Sharks dominated the eighth-seeded Colorado Avalanche, 5-0, in Game 5 of their Western Conference quarterfinal series.

Patrick Marleau had a goal and an assist for the Sharks, who now lead the series 3-2. Dwight Helminen and Joe Pavelski also lit the lamp for San Jose, which leads for the first time in this best-of-seven series.

Nabokov posted his seventh career playoff shutout in the most one-sided game of this matchup. The first four games were decided by just one goal and the previous three tilts ended in overtime.

The Sharks are trying to avoid losing to an eighth seed in the opening round for the second straight season. Last year, San Jose entered the playoffs fresh off a 117-point season that netted them the Presidents' Trophy and high expectations, but the Sharks dropped the first two games against the Anaheim Ducks and wound up losing the series in six.

Colorado's Craig Anderson turned aside 29-of-33 shots before being pulled late in the third period for Peter Budaj, who made three saves.

The Avalanche are trying to become the third eight seed in five seasons to knock off a top-seeded club.

Game 6 is scheduled for Saturday in Colorado.

After a scoreless first period, the Sharks took control with three goals in the second. Couture got things going for San Jose at the 8:25 mark. Patrick Marleau slid a cross-ice pass to Dany Heatley, who was positioned at the top of the right circle. Heatley's shot was deflected in front by Couture.

Pavelski scored on the power play at the 10:21 mark to make it 2-0. Dan Boyle slid a pass to the high slot for Pavelski, whose one-timer beat Anderson glove side.

With 4:30 remaining, Helminen lit the lamp to give the Sharks a three-goal cushion. Scott Nichol's blast hit off the backboards and Helminen was right there to chip the disc into the net.

Couture jammed home a rebound off a Ryane Clowe shot at the 10:37 mark of the third, extending the Sharks' lead to 4-0.

With 6:36 to go, Marleau scored his first goal of the series to make it a five-score contest.

Game Notes

These two clubs are meeting in the postseason for the fourth time, with the last matchup coming in 2004. The Sharks won that series, 4-2, in the semifinals before losing in six games to the Flames in the conference finals...Couture and Helminen scored their first career playoff goals...The Sharks have been a disappointing playoff team in recent years, having not made it past the second round of the postseason since losing to Calgary in the 2004 Western Conference finals...Sharks defenseman Niclas Wallin (lower body) and forward Jed Ortmeyer (undisclosed) missed the game...Colorado was without forwards Milan Hejduk (head) and Ryan Stoa (lower body)...The Sharks went 2-for-7 on the power play, while the Avs went 0-for-3 on the man advantage.

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Big East Conference odds

Work left to do: Villanova, Syracuse, DePaul, West Virginia, Providence

Notre Dame and Louisville appear to have done enough to make the move, so we'll make them locks. The Cardinals, despite a modest RPI, are trending way up and have clinched at least a tie for third in the Big East, which should be more than enough with their pair of big road wins. Villanova got back to .500 and gets back to more solid footing. Syracuse got a very important road win and crippled a fellow contender in the process. West Virginia's fate could be in its hands Tuesday at Pitt.

Work left to do:

Villanova [18-9 (7-7), RPI: 21, SOS: 5] Pounded Rutgers to get back to .500. If Cats can get their last two (at UConn, vs. Syracuse), that should be enough with strong computer numbers and a host of wins away from The Pavilion. The Cats have beaten Texas and swept the Big 5 (never easy in Philly), but have a couple of losses to bubble teams (Xavier, Drexel), too. I still think they'll be OK, possibly even at 8-8.

Syracuse [20-8 (9-5), RPI: 53, SOS: 62] History says 10 wins will be plenty, but it might be hard for the Orange to get that last one with a final two vs. G'town, which is trying to win the league title, and at Villanova, which will be desperate for a W. The relative lack of nonconference heft and the weak computer numbers are still concerns, but the Orange have won four in a row and got a very, very big win at Providence on Saturday.

DePaul [16-12 (8-7), RPI: 54, SOS: 18] Beat Cincy and should get past South Florida to get to 9-7, but then what? They have beaten Kansas and Cal (right after the DeVon Hardin injury) earlier this season, but also have lost to Bradley and Purdue, among others. They'll likely need a couple of BE tourney wins, too, but we'll see ...

West Virginia [19-7 (8-6), RPI: 58, SOS: 125] The game at Pitt on Tuesday night could decide the Mountaineers' fate (barring a deep tournament run). They can still get to 9-7 in the Big East without it by beating Cincinnati, but the nine wins would be against UConn, Villanova, St. John's, South Florida, DePaul, Rutgers, Seton Hall twice and the Bearcats. Beating bubble foes is fine, but where's the beef? Outside of beating PG-less UCLA in nonconference play (still a top quality win), there's not a lot to fall back on (besides maybe NC State). WVU vs. Syracuse would be an interesting debate, as the teams don't play in the Big East regular season. WVU has the best win, but Cuse has played the much better schedule.

Providence [17-10 (7-7), RPI: 70, SOS: 33] The Friars likely saw their at-large hopes die at home in the four-point loss to Syracuse, barring an unexpected run to the Big East semis or more. The RPI, bad already, won't be helped by playing St. John's and South Florida in the final two league games.

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MySportsbook.com week 1 NFL lines


Now that the 2008 NFL schedule is finally out, it is only matter-of-course for lines on “Week 1” to follow.  Of course MySportsbook.com is the first to churn out odds for the NFL’s inaugural week for the upcoming season.   Expect a lot of fireworks the first Thursday night of the season as the defending champion Indianapolis Colts face off against the surprise of the 2008 season, the New Orleans Saints.  These teams were ranked #1 and #3 in the NFL respectively a season ago so a high scoring affair could be in order.  As of now, the Colts will be giving 6 points to the Saints; keep in mind the Saints were one of the better road teams last season going 6-3 SU and 7-2 ATS.  The first Monday night of the season will again provide a “double feature”. Coming off a disappointing season, the Cincinnati Bengals will look to get back to playoffs and improve their public image as they take on the AFC North favorite Baltimore Ravens.  The second game features a couple of teams that haven’t had too much success recently but each could make some noise if the NFC is as weak as it was last year as the San Francisco 49ers host the Arizona Cardinals. The most interesting game of the opening week will feature the NFC champion Bears as they hit the road to take on the NFL’s top team during last year’s regular season, the San Diego Chargers.

MySportsbook.com Week 1 odds:

Saints +6 @ Colts -6

Falcons @ Vikings (pick ‘em)

Panthers @ Rams (pick ‘em)

Broncos -3.5 @ Bills +3.5

Chiefs -1 @ Texans +1

Dolphins +3 @ Redskins -3

Patriots -5 @ Jets +5

Eagles -3.5 @ Packers +3.5

Steelers -4 @ Browns +4

Titans +6 @ Jaguars -6

Bears +6 @ Chargers -6

Lions +3 @ Raiders -3

Bucs +6.5 @ Seahawks -6.5

Giants +4 @ Cowboys -4

Ravens +3 @ Bengals -3

Cardinals +3 @ 49ers -3

 Super Bowl line (2008)

NFC +6.5 vs. AFC -6.5

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