Habs lose to Leafs in OT, clinch playoff spot anyway

Hockey Betting Lines

04/10/2010 - Montreal, QC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Dion Phaneuf scored the game-winning goal 2:06 into overtime to give Toronto a 4-3 win over Montreal, but the Canadiens picked up a point in the process to clinch a playoff berth.

The Canadiens lost three in a row to end the regular season but sit seventh in the Eastern Conference with 88 points. They are two points ahead of the Flyers and Rangers, who play one another Sunday afternoon for the final playoff berth. The Bruins, who beat Carolina earlier Saturday, clinched the No. 6 seed with Montreal's loss.

Christian Hanson had two goals and an assist for the Maple Leafs (30-38-14), who finished the season in the basement of the East with 74 points. Viktor Stalberg added a goal and an assist for the victors and Jean-Sebastien Giguere made 34 saves.

Andrei Markov finished with a goal and two assists for the Canadiens (39-33-10), who got a goal apiece from Brian Gionta and Marc-Andre Bergeron. Jaroslav Halak turned aside 24-of-28 shots in defeat.

Wmonster Hockey Betting News


<< Eveland, Jays shut down O's
Baltimore, MD (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Dana Eveland worked 7 1/3 scoreless innings to help the Toronto Blue Jays take a 3-0 win over the Baltimore Orioles in the second of a three-game set. Eveland (1-0) gave up just five hits and two walks wi

<< Schilawski's hat trick leads Revs over Reds
Foxborough, MA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The New England Revolution got a second-half hat trick from striker Zack Schilawski to top Toronto FC 4-1 at Gillette Stadium on Saturday night. The rookie out of Wake Forest helped the Revs overc

<< Devils secure second straight Atlantic Division title
Newark, NJ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Patrik Elias scored twice and Ilya Kovalchuk had a goal and two assists, as the New Jersey Devils captured their second straight Atlantic Division title with a 7-1 victory over the Islanders. The Devils

<< Le Toux's hat trick gives Union first-ever win
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Sebastien Le Toux scored a hat trick and the expansion Philadelphia Union won their first-ever MLS match Saturday, 3-2, over D.C. United in their home opener at Lincoln Financial Field. Le Toux scored tw

<< Hedberg, Thrashers blank Penguins
Atlanta, GA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Johan Hedberg posted 33 saves for his third shutout of the season to help Atlanta kill Pittsburgh's Atlantic Division crown hopes with a 1-0 win. The loss, coupled with New Jersey's 7-1 win over the

Vanek scores four times as Sabres down Sens >>
Ottawa, ON (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Thomas Vanek had a career night in his return to the Buffalo lineup, scoring four times to help the Sabres snap a nine-game winless streak against Ottawa with a 5-2 victory at Scotiabank Place. Vanek's firs

Varitek homers twice as Red Sox top Royals >>
Kansas City, MO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jason Varitek belted two of Boston's five homers in his first game of the season, and Josh Beckett got the better of Royals ace Zack Greinke in the Red Sox's 8-3 win in the middle installment of a three

Howard, Phillies rally past winless Astros >>
Houston, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Ryan Howard belted the go-ahead two-run homer in the seventh inning, leading the hot-hitting Philadelphia Phillies to a 9-6 decision over the winless Houston Astros. Shane Victorino also had a two-run homer

Boston College wins NCAA men's ice hockey title >>
Detroit, MI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Cam Atkinson's two goals and 20 saves from John Muse led Boston College to a 5-0 victory over Wisconsin in the 2010 NCAA men's ice hockey championship game from Ford Field. Muse, who recorded his third

Stamkos nets 50th goal, scores winner in shootout >>
Tampa, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Steven Stamkos scored twice to become the third- youngest player in NHL history to notch 50 goals in a season, and appropriately buried the shootout winner in Tampa Bay's 4-3 win over Florida. At j

NFL Football Betting


BILLS (+10) at Steelers SPORTSBOOK LINES

It's impossible to gauge how a team will react after something like the Steve Everett situation, and it probably doesn't matter. That being said, the Bills are going to lose several games this year where they keep things close but fall short in the end to superior teams. Ben Roethlisberger and company could have a field day against Buffalo's decimated defense, but I like the Bills to cover.

BENGALS (-7) at Browns SPORTSBOOK LINES

All you can ask out of your NFL team is that it has a plan. You may not always agree with it as a fan, but as long as it appears the organization is going in some sort of direction, you have to go with it. Which brings us to the Cleveland Browns. You flip a coin to determine whether Chuck Frye or Derek Anderson should start the preseason opener. You start Frye in Week 1, but pull him in the first half. And then you deal him to the Seahawks for a sixth-round pick? Hmm... the Bengals could get six turnovers again this week.

COLTS (-7) at Titans SPORTSBOOK LINES

Tennessee signed ex-Colts cornerback Nick Harper in the offseason so that should help slow down Peyton Manning. Just ask Jason David and the Saints. Oh wait... One of these weeks, I'm going to learn to not pick against Tennessee, which has won seven of its last eight games. But it's not happening against Indy.

TEXANS (+6.5) at Panthers SPORTSBOOK LINES

Houston's Mario Williams, the first pick in the '06 draft, has more touchdowns than Reggie Bush after one week. Somehow I don't see that lasting. Meanwhile, Carolina bottled up what was expected to be a pretty high-octane offense in St. Louis in Week 1. Could this be the Panthers' defense everyone expected last year? Maybe. This feels like a 20-16 Carolina win.

RAMS (-3) vs. 49ers SPORTSBOOKS LINES

Absolutely love this game. Everyone's favorite pick for this year's surprise team -- the 49ers -- laid an egg on Monday night (not that anyone was watching with the game ending in the middle of the night for those of us on the East Coast). St. Louis wasn't much better, delivering a lackluster effort against the Panthers that included two Steven Jackson fumbles and panic from his fantasy owners. Jackson rebounds this week, and the Rams get their first win.

PACKERS (+1.5) at Giants SPORTSBOOKS LINES

Do you really trust this guy to win an NFL game if Eli Manning can't go? I say no. I'd feel alot better about this Packers team if it had any semblance of a running game, but I still think Green Bay's defense is good enough to give it a 2-0 start.

JAGUARS (-10) vs. Falcons SPORTSBOOKS LINES

Does it scare me to pick Jacksonville to cover a double-digit spread after it scored just 10 points last week against the Titans? Absolutely. But can I bring myself to pick Atlanta under any circumstances? No. Check out this poll on ajc.com. It asks what Atlanta's most urgent deficiency is: offense, defense, specials teams or all of the above. "All of the above" has 57 percent of the votes. Ouch.

SAINTS (-3) at Buccaneers SPORTSBOOKS LINES

I'm picking way too many road teams this week. Oh well. New Orleans has had some time to reflect on its lackluster showing in the opener, and the Buccanneers just aren't a very good football team. Anyone else surprised Tampa Bay hasn't made a move to sign Byron Leftwich? I thought that's what they do.

VIKINGS (+3) at Lions SPORTS BETTING LINES

Run the ball and stop the run. Minnesota can do both, and that will keep them in a lot of games this season. Even though it was only one week, Adrian Peterson looks like he was a steal at No. 7 in last year's draft. Not only will he produce, but Peterson delivers excitement to what otherwise would be one of the league's most boring teams.

DOLPHINS (+3.5) vs. Cowboys SPORTS BETTING LINES

Lost in the Tony Romo lovefest is just how bad the Cowboys' defense was last week. I know they're banged up, but Dallas' 'D' allowed 438 yards to the Giants' offense, and backup running back Derrick Ward averaged 6.8 yards per carry. Meanwhile, Cam Cameron's decision to split carries between Ronnie Brown and Jesse Chatman sounds about as can't-miss as Larry David's plan to show up to Marty Funkhouser's party a night late. Still, gotta go with Miami to cover at home.

SEAHAWKS (-2.5) at Cardinals SPORTS BETTING LINES

I'm probably missing something, but this game seems too easy. Arizona blew Monday night's game against the 49ers in typical Cardinals fashion, and the Seahawks beat Tampa Bay by two touchdowns. Love Seattle in this one.

BRONCOS (-9.5) vs. Raiders SPORTS BETTING LINES

Special teams was a major story line in Week 1. Take a look at the Broncos. They had to rush on to the field to get a Jason Elam field goal as time expired against the Bills. Denver drove into Buffalo territory on eight of 10 drives but came away with just a pair of field goals and a touchdown. Look for more scoring from the Broncos this week against an Oakland defense that gave up 36 points to Detroit in Week 1.

BEARS (-12) vs. Chiefs SPORTS BETTING LINES

Everyone talks about Rex Grossman when dissecting the Bears' offense, but Chicago's quarterback got no help in last week's loss to the Chargers. Meanwhile, Kansas City confirmed what we all thought while watching Hard Knocks: The Chiefs are going to stink this year. It could be a rough first month for Larry Johnson fantasy owners. Kansas City's RB was limited to 43 yards on 10 carries in Week 1, and the Chiefs face the Bears, Vikings and Chargers the next three weeks, all formidable run defenses.

RAVENS (-10) vs. Jets SPORTS BETTING LINES

A big dose of Willis McGahee and a usual sound defensive effort will give the Ravens their first win. According to Football Outsiders, no team in the NFL rushed only three defenders on pass plays last year more than the Jets. And according to my special Jets correspondent Ben Stauber, New York did the same in Week 1. Whoever starts at quarterback for the Ravens should have all day to throw.

PATRIOTS (-3) vs. Chargers

Friends and I were discussing how Bill Belichick goes about paying his $500,000 fine for cheating. Does he just write one check to the NFL? Do you need some sort of clearance to make such a monstrous financial transaction? I guess I shouldn't complain about the security deposit I have to put down on my new apartment. Anyway, two of the league's best teams square off in what should be a good one Sunday night. The Patriots always respond well just when you think they're in trouble. And their offensive attack was the story in Week 1.

Note: Monday night game will be picked Monday. Lines used are from football betting.