Sabres try to run win streak to four games versus Wild

Hockey Betting Lines

03/12/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Buffalo Sabres will aim for a fourth consecutive victory when they welcome the Minnesota Wild for an interconference clash at HSBC Arena.

The Sabres' three-game winning streak is the club's longest since a season- best six-game stretch from Dec. 27-Jan. 8. Buffalo needs all the wins it can get at this point as it fights to stay atop the Northeast Division. With 81 points, the Sabres are just two ahead of Ottawa for first place.

After winning back-to-back overtime decisions the Sabres recorded a regulation victory Wednesday against Dallas. Thomas Vanek scored the eventual game-winner midway through the second period, helping lift the Sabres to the 5-3 home win.

Rookie defenseman Tyler Myers had a goal and three assists for the Sabres, continuing to solidify his status as a Calder Trophy candidate. Myers is third amongst all rookie skaters with 36 points and is the top defenseman on that list.

Derek Roy and Mark Mancari each had a goal and an assist. Jason Pominville had the other score for the victors.

"I'm very excited to get in to help the team," Mancari said. "Obviously, I'm doing everything I can to stay here."

Ryan Miller made 17 saves to pick up his 33rd win of the year. Buffalo's No. 1 netminder is expected to sit tonight in favor of backup Patrick Lalime. Miller is instead expected to start Saturday in Detroit.

Buffalo has won three of its last four home games and is 21-8-6 as the host this year.

Meanwhile, the Wild have lost four straight games, going 0-2-2 over that stretch. Minnesota's playoff hopes are fading, as the Wild are currently tied for 12th in the Western Conference and nine points out the West's final postseason berth.

The Wild did not help their playoff chances at all on Thursday, getting pounded 5-1 in Detroit. Johan Franzen tallied a pair of goals as the Red Wings flattened Minnesota at Joe Louis Arena.

Andrew Ebbett notched the lone score for the Wild, who slid to their sixth loss in eight contests.

Josh Harding was tagged for all five goals on 30 shots in defeat.

"Tonight just wasn't my night," Harding said. "It was bouncing off me, and went off their guys and in the net. It just bounced over top of me and into the net. There's a couple that if I save, who knows what the outcome will be?"

Harding could start again tonight after regular goaltender Niklas Backstrom suffered a groin injury during Thursday's morning skate. Wade Dubielewicz has not been officially recalled as the backup but did make the trip to Buffalo in case Backstrom is unable to suit up tonight.

The Sabres won an OT decision in Minnesota in the only meeting between the clubs last year. Buffalo has won two of the last three encounters and has five wins in nine all-time matchups between the clubs. The Wild have won three straight in western New York.

The Wild have a poor 10-20-3 record as the visiting team this season.

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How did changes to college football betting rules affect bettors?

The 2007 college football rules changes that were implemented to shorten games are now history. The NCAA rules committee did what they set out to do; games were cut by an average of 14 minutes per game last season. There were also, on average, 14 fewer plays per game. We’ll get into how that did (or didn’t) affect games in regards to the pointspread a bit later.

While the NCAA rules committee may have had the betterment of the game in mind, they'll now “turn back the clock” for next season. Two key rules have now been overturned by the NCAA committee for the 2007 season, something definitely for the better.

For those of you who may not remember what those rules actually were, let us refresh your memory.

1) The first one was actually starting the clock on a kickoff as soon as the kicker touched the ball rather than waiting until the returner touched it. The problem here was near the end of the half (or game), if the team leading was kicking off, they could milk the clock by intentionally running offsides and then re-kicking. They could run 10-15 seconds off the clock each play while taking just five-yard penalties each time. They could run the clock down and simply cause the half (or game) to end on a kickoff, keeping the opposing offense off the field. In 2007, the clock will now start when the returner touches the ball as it had before last season.

2) The second rule dealt with starting the clock after a change of possession rather than waiting until the ball was snapped. This took a lot of time off the clock throughout the game as teams changed possession, however it caused the most problems late in games (or halves). Rather than huddling up and calling a play, the offensive team would have to rush onto the field as the clock started. This was a definite disadvantage to a team that was trying to come from behind late in the game. This year the clock will start on a change of possession, after the ball is snapped.

How did those rules affect the college game last year and will it make a difference this year when it comes to the pointspread? We commonly heard two theories when it came to these changes. First, it would affect scoring negatively. Second, it would hurt favorites as they would have less time and fewer plays to cover the number.

Did the rules hurt scoring? Yes. It seemed obvious that shortening the game by what amounted to 14 plays would push scoring downward. That was the case last year. Of the 119 Division 1A teams, 69 squads scored fewer points in 2007 than they did in 2005. Just 48 teams had a higher PPG scoring average and two stayed the same. Almost 59 percent of the teams in college football last year had a lower PPG average than they did in 2005. Expect more scoring in 2007 as we revert back to the old rules.

Did the rules hinder favorites from covering the number in 2007? Not really. Last year the favorites posted an overall spread record of 336-350-16 (48.9 percent). The year before, favorites were 316-326-13 (49.2 percent). In 2004, the favorites were 316-339-2 (48.2 percent). In fact, college football favorites have been above 50 percent for the season just once in the last seven years (in 2003). Last year’s numbers fell right in line with where they have been historically.

How about big favorites? The rules must have hurt them? Maybe a little bit. Double-digit favorites last year came in at a 47.8 percent clip compare with an average of just over 50 percent over the last seven years. Since 1980, favorites of -10 or more have covered at exactly a 50 percent clip (measured over 6,716 games).

Even bigger favorites must have struggled? Not really. In fact, it was just the opposite. Favorites of three TD’s or more were 59-54-2 last year (52.2 percent). Since 2000, those same favorites (-21 or higher) hit at 51.3 percent and since 1990 came in a clip of 50.3 percent. Stepping it up a notch to four TD favorites or higher, we actually see they've covered at a much better rate last season than before. Last year, favorites of -28 or more were 31-21-1, or almost 60 percent. Historically, four-TD-or-higher favorites have come in at a 50.7 percent spot since 2000 and only 48.9 percent since 1990. The “perceived” problem with the favorites covering at a reduced rate really never came to fruition.

Bottom line is, there might be some more scoring in 2007, but no real revelations when it comes to finding any pointspread golden nuggets.

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