Kings vie to bounce back against Canadiens

Hockey Betting Lines

03/06/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Coming off just their second regulation loss in 14 games, the Los Angeles Kings will try to post their first victory over the Montreal Canadiens in seven years tonight in a meeting at Staples Center.

The Kings came out of the Olympic break flying, as they posted a 5-1 win at Dallas on Tuesday. Los Angeles then concluded its mini-trip on Thursday with a 4-2 loss in Nashville to fall to only 11-2-1 in its last 14 games, but also one point behind Phoenix for fourth overall in the Western Conference.

"We were lacking in intensity and hard work," Kings forward Anze Kopitar said. "We took some lazy penalties and gave them the momentum."

Alexander Frolov scored for Los Angeles to give him three goals and nine points over his last seven games and Drew Doughty also scored for the Kings, who have won five of their last six at home. Jonathan Quick gave up three goals on 31 shots in the loss.

Forward Ryan Smyth hit a milestone in the setback, picking up his 700th career point with an assist on Doughty's goal.

The Kings will now try to halt a four-game slide to the Canadiens. Los Angeles dropped a 4-3 test in Montreal on January 31 of last season and hasn't bested the Habs since March 8, 2003.

Quick posted 22 saves in last season's loss, while Dustin Brown, Jarret Stoll and Michael Handzus all scored goals.

Montreal's current win streak over Los Angeles includes a pair of victories at the Staples Center. Goaltender Carey Price posted 29 saves in last year's home win and was solid as well on Thursday versus San Jose. However, he was beaten twice in a 2:33 span in the third period as the Habs dropped a 3-2 contest to the Sharks.

"He kept us in it and gave us a chance. I wish we could have gotten that win for him." Canadiens defenseman Hal Gill said of Price, who finished with 37 saves.

Scott Gomez and Brian Gionta each had a goal and an assist for the Canadiens, who have lost four of their last six and are now tied with Atlanta and the New York Rangers for the final playoff spot in the East, one point back of seventh-seeded Boston.

Montreal fell to 1-1-0 on a four-game road trip and has lost five of its last seven overall on the road. The Canadiens are 15-16-2 as the guest this season.

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2007 NFL Football Betting Preview


“You play to win the game!”

Those are the words of notoriously intense head coach Herman Edwards. Unfortunately, from a bettors’ perspective, most coaches don’t feel that way about the NFL preseason. August is a time to evaluate young players, finalize the depth chart and pray your star players stay healthy.

The trick to making money during the exhibition schedule is identifying coaches – like Edwards – who can’t stand losing even when there's nothing on the line.

The New York Jets betting won 15 of 21 preseason games and went 14-7 against the spread (ATS) during Edwards’s five-year tenure with the club. In his first season as the Kansas City Chiefs field boss, the team improved from 0-4 to 2-2.

Identifying win-a-holics like Edwards is a good start if you plan betting the preseason – even though most say you shouldn’t ... but what the hell do they know anyway?

Here’s a brief rundown of two teams that have a habit of winning during the second-stringers’ season, and another club that has a good chance of exceeding this year.

New York Giants betting lines

Playing in the media hub of North America can be stressful but the press can’t write anything negative about the way Tom Coughlin’s boys play in the preseason. The Giants won and covered all four games last summer, improving their record to 7-1 both straight up (SU) and against the spread over the last two years.

Coughlin has shown he’s not afraid to give his starters more time in the second preseason game than most of his colleagues, no doubt one of the reasons his team has been so dominant.

Dallas Cowboys betting lines

Bettors can count on America’s team early on. The Cowboys are 14-6 both SU and ATS since 2002 in warm-up contests. Former coach Bill Parcells, the coach of the team the last four years, has an intimidating, in-your-face presence – surely a reason Dallas has had so much early success.

The Big Tuna won’t be strolling the sidelines with looks of disgust, but new coach Wade Phillips will be anxious to make a good first impression for owner Jerry Jones.

Dallas plays the Indianapolis Colts and the Denver Broncos before things get serious. They then face the Houston Texans in their third contest (the game starters see most game time) and finish off with the Minnesota Vikings.

Expect a Dallas team able to walk away with another 3-1 preseason record.

Oakland Raiders betting lines

This team scored a league-worst 12 offensive touchdowns last season, so the rookies and veterans each have something to prove. There’s a bounty of first-unit jobs up for grabs and plenty of bodies competing for those slots.

First-time head coach Lane Kiffin will be eager to impress an owner who employs the philosophy, “Just win, baby!”

The 32-year-old Kiffin has to command respect from a locker room full of players older than him. All of these factors should lead to purpose in preseason. 

Don’t forget: before playing like a team that belonged in NFL Europe, Oakland went 4-1 (both SU and ATS) in exhibition games.

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