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01/31/2012 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Phoenix Coyotes hope their victory prior to the All- Star break can get them headed in the right direction, while the Anaheim Ducks will try to avoid falling back into a rut that plagued a good portion of their first half.
Phoenix looks to record consecutive wins for the first time in over a month against a visiting Anaheim club that had a nine-game point streak snapped right before the break.
The Coyotes enter this meeting in a tie for 10th in the West with 52 points, three back of a playoff spot. They have won just two of their last eight games and have struggled to win the close ones as of late. In Phoenix's six most recent setbacks, two were one-goal losses in regulation and three others came in a shootout.
However, the 'Yotes did pick up a tight 3-2 win over Ottawa a week ago, one that goaltender Mike Smith hopes will create some momentum. Phoenix hasn't won two straight since Dec. 20-21.
"This was a huge two points for our team," said Smith after making 32 saves. "We've been playing good hockey lately but just weren't able to get that win, so we needed to have this game. We feel pretty good right now."
One Phoenix skater who certainly feels good is defenseman Keith Yandle, who skated for Team Alfredsson in Sunday's 12-9 loss to Team Chara in the All-Star Game. That stats weren't pretty for Yandle -- one assist and a minus-5 rating -- but he enjoyed the trip to Ottawa nonetheless.
"Nobody likes losing, but it was a good weekend and it was a good show," Yandle said on Phoenix's website. "You just hope the fans got what they paid for."
The Coyotes played their final three games before the break at home and begin another three-game stay tonight. They haven't played on the road since Jan. 18 and won't do so again until Feb. 7.
The Ducks, meanwhile, played their last game before the All-Star hiatus on the road and remain the guest tonight. They had won a season-high five straight and had points in nine in a row (8-0-1) before suffering a 1-0 loss in Dallas. Anaheim had outscored its opponents 20-7 over the five-game win streak.
With its recent run of points, the Ducks have climbed to within nine points of Phoenix, Calgary and Dallas in the Western standings.
Anaheim, which will play four in a row at home following this game, is 3-1-2 in its past six on the road and will welcome back leading goal-scorer Corey Perry after his trip to the All-Star Game. Perry leads the Ducks with 22 goals and had a goal and an assist for Team Chara.
Perry is also second on the club with 39 points, six back of forward Teemu Selanne, while goaltender Jonas Hiller has posted a 5-1-1 mark, 1.29 goals- against average and .954 save percentage in his past seven games. He stopped 16-of-17 shots in the loss to the Stars.
The Coyotes had won their first two encounters with the Ducks this season to stretch their series win streak to four in a row, but the Ducks have won the past two meetings -- both in Anaheim -- by a 10-3 margin. That includes a 6-2 win on Jan. 18 in the most recent battle, with defenseman Francois Beauchemin leading a balanced Anaheim attack with two goals and an assist.
Phoenix has won six of its past eight at home versus Anaheim.
<< Suter, Weber lead Predators into Minnesota
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - All-Star defenseman Ryan Suter and Shea Weber would rather
wait until after the season to address their contracts than possibly become a
distraction for the surging Predators.
With Nashville challenging for one of the West
<< Montero agrees to one-year contract with D-backs
Phoenix, AZ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Arizona Diamondbacks avoided arbitration
with catcher Miguel Montero on Tuesday, agreeing to terms on a one-year
contract.
Financial terms were not disclosed, although MLB.com has reported the de
<< Minus Ovechkin, Capitals visit streaking Lightning
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Washington's Alex Ovechkin was notably absent at All-Star
weekend and he will serve the second part of a three-game suspension tonight
as his Capitals visit the Lightning at the Tampa Times Forum.
Ovechkin was selected to
<< Sabres, Canadiens aim to right ship in Montreal
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Sabres and Canadiens both won their final games before
the All-Star break and the disappointing Northeast Division foes will try to
keep heading in the right direction when they clash tonight at Montreal's Bell
Centre.
Toews, Blackhawks ready for showdown in Vancouver >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - It's a good news and bad news opening to the second half
for the Chicago Blackhawks.
On the down side, the 'Hawks come out of the All-Star break with a nine-game
road trip. However, they will have captain Jonathan Toews ba
Sharks try to break out of scoring slump against Blue Jackets >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Goals have been hard to come by as of late for the San Jose
Sharks. Hopefully the club found its scoring touch over the break and will
look to turn up the offense tonight and record a fourth straight win over the
Columbus Blu
Lindpere inks new contract with New York >>
Harrison, NJ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Red Bull New York announced Tuesday that it
has signed midfielder Joel Lindpere to a new, multi-year contract. Terms of
the deal were not disclosed.
Lindpere, 30, first joined the Red Bulls ahead of
Phillies add Qualls to bullpen >>
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Philadelphia Phillies added a durable
arm to their bullpen by signing Chad Qualls to a one-year, $1.15 million
contract on Tuesday.
Qualls, whose contract includes performance and awards bonuses, went
After all the trouble that’s ensued since Braylon Edwards allegedly punched one of LeBron James’ homeboys in the face at a club, the Cleveland Browns have sent away their last remaining player of worth to the New York Jets. This is a great move for Dirty Sanchez and all, but it’s even better for the Knicks. Now Donnie Walsh can say, “You get to haunt Braylon Edwards with your posse if you sign here!” next summer.
Putting that aside for a moment, the move is a clear indication that the new-look Jets are gunning for the Super Bowl this year. I don’t think that New York thought that Dirty Sanchez was going to be such a rock star. With a 75.2 passer rating that was killed against the Jets, Sanchez is doing an admirable job of managing games and putting the Jets in a position to win. The defense has been the major story in New York thus far, but the acquisition of Braylon Edwards makes this offense loaded with talent that can dent any defense…as long as Dirty Sanchez continues his meteoric rise.
Thus far, Edwards has been a non-factor in the NFL piling up just 139 receiving yards on 10 catches. He has yet to find the endzone, and with the Browns mired in the most unsexy quarterback controversy of all time (Anderson vs. Quinn...yawn), there going nowhere fast. Edwards is two seasons removed from a career year which saw him catch 80 passes for 1,289 yards and 16 touchdowns when the Browns were the spread killing monsters of 2007. In 2008, injuries slowed the receiver down to just 873 yards and three touchdowns though he played in all 16 games.
So that being said, we really don’t know if Braylon Edwards is just a flash in the pan, or a legit threat. At 6-foot-3 and 215 pounds, he is a prototypical receiver. But he’s also shown a strange, and unwarranted, talent for dropping passes. Lining up opposite Jericho Cotchery, a speed demon with 23 catches, 356 yards and a single touchdown, may give Braylon the open looks he needs. A change of scenery may also rejuvenate the star receiver.
In return, the Browns will receive Chansi Stuckey, online football betting a special teams player you’ve never heard of and a pair of draft picks. That’s a tall order for a guy whose only real value right now is in his name, and it shows no promise to the Browns that they can rebuild around those acquisitions. Braylon was the only reason to hope for the Browns to go 3-14 SU this year. Without him, they don’t have a single guy on offense that can scare any team.
For the Jets, it’s a response to the pounding that they took at the hand of the Saints. Thomas Jones and Leon Washington have averaged around 4.0 yards per carry each on the ground, but striking a fair balance between the passing and rushing attacks in New York has been a struggle. You have to believe that the trio of Dustin Keller, Jericho Cotchery and Braylon Edwards will give Sanchez the weapons he needs to unleash through the air. Theoretically, that would open up holes for the rushing game. But the proposed public option health care plan works in theory too. We need to see the proof in the pudding before we start loading up mega bucks on the New York Jets to take the AFC.
The one wrinkle in this whole thing is that Braylon could very well be suspended by the league for disciplinary action due to his “brawl” with LeBron’s friend. If that’s the case, the Jets may have to bench him for a few games leaving them with a somewhat depleted receiving corps for a few games. Also, this is a guy who gets in fights with people at clubs. New York may not be the best place for him. Just sayin’.
The Jets have a long week before they meet the Miami Dolphins on Monday Night Football Betting in a virtual pick ‘em game. Braylon’s excess baggage may be a distraction, and his curiously low production may be what we should be expecting of him overall, but for the Jets, taking a chance to strike gold is well worth it. At the end of the year, they can simply just blame it on their rookie quarterback.
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