Sabres top Panthers to widen lead in Northeast

Hockey Betting Lines

03/20/2010 - Sunrise, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Ryan Miller made 31 saves to help the Buffalo Sabres take a 3-1 victory over the Florida Panthers at BankAtlantic Center.

Jochen Hecht, Patrick Kaleta and Mike Grier lit the lamp for the Sabres, who improved to 2-1-1 on a five-game road trip and are now seven points ahead of the Senators for first in the Northeast Division. Ottawa lost in Dallas on Saturday.

Byron Bitz scored the lone goal for the Panthers, who are 1-3-1 over their last five contests following a three-game win streak. Florida remained seven points behind Boston for the eight and final playoff spot in the East.

Tomas Vokoun turned aside 17-of-19 shots before being pulled early in the second period. Scott Clemmensen made 16 saves in relief.

Ahead 2-1 in the third, Buffalo got a score from Grier to build a two-goal cushion. Grier won the scramble for a loose puck in the crease and put the disc into the net with 6:11 to play.

Miller made 10 saves in the third to preserve the victory.

The Sabres got on the board 13:26 into the first period. Paul Gaustad slid a pass to the right circle for Hecht, who made his way to the goal line before firing a snap shot that snuck past Vokoun.

Kaleta lit the lamp 2:54 into the second to make it a 2-0 game. Adam Mair fired a shot from the left point that bounced off the back boards. The puck found the stick of Kaleta, whose wrister found the back of the net.

Bitz jammed home a rebound at the 11:04 mark of the middle stanza to cut the gap to 2-1.

Game Notes

The Panthers notched a 6-2 win at Buffalo on November 18 in the last meeting between the clubs to snap a four-game series losing steak. The Sabres have won seven of their last nine over the Panthers in addition to three straight and six of their last seven at Florida...Buffalo concludes its road trip at Carolina on Sunday...Florida fell to 0-2-1 on a four-game homestand, which ends Sunday against Tampa Bay.

Musportsbook Hockey Betting News

<< Rose returns, helps Bulls snap 10-game skid
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Derrick Rose, in his first game back from injury, scored 23 points and dished out five assists as the Bulls snapped a 10-game losing streak with a 98-84 effort over the Philadelphia 76ers at the Wachovi

<< Capitals-Lightning Sum
Washington 2 0 1-3Tampa Bay 1 0 0-1First Period-1, Washington, Fleischmann 21 (Fehr, Steckel), 2:40. 2, Tampa Bay, Lecavalier 22 (Purcell, Bochenski), 6:54. 3, Washington, Ovechkin 45 (Backstrom), 10:47.Second Period-None.Third Period-4, Wash

<< Hawaii names Gib Arnold head basketball coach
Honolulu, HI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The University of Hawaii athletic department announced the hiring of Gib Arnold as the new men's basketball coach Saturday. He replaces Bob Nash, who was fired March 8. "I'm glad to welcome Gib Arnold

<< Pondexter leads Washington into Sweet 16 with rout of Lobos
San Jose, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Quincy Pondexter poured in 18 points and pulled down five rebounds, as the 11th-seeded Washington Huskies dominated the third-seeded New Mexico Lobos, 82-64, in second-round play of the East Region. Matt

<< Spartans' Allen game-time decision for Sunday
Spokane, WA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Michigan State junior guard Chris Allen will be a game-time decision for Sunday against Maryland in the second round of the NCAA Tournament due to an arch injury in his foot. Allen, who is Michigan State's t

Leafs top Habs in SO, but Montreal ties for fifth in East >>
Toronto, ON (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - John Mitchell scored the winner in the third round of the shootout as the Toronto Maple Leafs took a 3-2 decision over the Montreal Canadiens. In the third round, Mitchell slammed on the brakes in front

Thrashers continue playoff push with win over Philly >>
Atlanta, GA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Colby Armstrong notched a pair of goals as Atlanta stymied Philadelphia, 5-2, in the front end of a home-and-home set from Philips Arena. Niclas Bergfors, Nik Antropov each posted a goal and one

Conklin, Blues blank Devils >>
Newark, NJ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Ty Conklin made 29 saves to record his fourth shutout of the season, as the playoff-hopeful St. Louis Blues stymied the New Jersey Devils, 1-0, at Prudential Center. Alexander Steen was the only player who f

Ovechkin scores in return to lineup as Caps beat Lightning >>
Tampa, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Alex Ovechkin returned from his two-game suspension to post a goal, as the Washington Capitals downed the Tampa Bay Lightning, 3-1, at St. Pete Times Forum. Ovechkin sat out the last two games as

Heat top Bobcats, keep pace in East playoff race >>
Miami, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Quentin Richardson set a Heat franchise mark with six three-pointers in the first half, helping the Heat grab a 77-71 win over Charlotte to jump in front of the Bobcats in the tight Eastern Conference playoff

Academy Award Betting Odds for Best Picture Offer Great Value

If there is any category that is not an obvious win for any one nominee in this year's Academy Awards, it would be for Best Picture.  Sure the Departed is a 5/7 favorite, but that's hardly anything when we look at Helen Mirren and her "out-of-reach" 1 to 40 odds (which means you would win a whopping $1 for every $40 bet).

For value, take a look at MySportsbook.com Oscars betting odds on my personal favorite, The Queen - a remarkable 12 to 1 long shot.  The film hasn't won any pre-awards for Best Picture (compared to The Departed and Little Miss Sunshine), but there is a tremendous following and it is a strong enough film to warrant a surprise win.

TV Guide advises Oscar watchers should be cautioned not to discount the  drama "Babel" with its strong social themes about overcoming communication gaps among people of different cultures.

"While 'Babel' lost several guild awards to 'Sunshine' and 'Departed,'  it still enjoys loyal support, and historically Oscar voters favor dramas with social messages over comedies like 'Sunshine' and violent crime movies like 'Departed'."

"It hasn't done well in the guilds, which means there isn't much industry support," said Tom O'Neil of awards site TheEnvelope.com, "But several critics are expecting it to win, and that gets my attention." Babel had 7 to 2 odds at press time.

Who is to say independently produced Little Miss Sunshine won't be this year's Crash.  Last year, Crash won for Best Motion Picture, shocking those who bet on gay cowboy flick, Brokeback Mountain, as the favorite to win. 

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your Sportsbook accepts Visa needs.