Nugent-Hopkins returns, carries Oilers to SO win over Red Wings
Hockey Betting Lines
02/05/2012 - Edmonton, AB (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Ryan Nugent-Hopkins netted the game-winning goal in the sixth round of the shootout, sending the Edmonton Oilers to a 5-4 win over the Detroit Red Wings at Rexall Place.
Nugent-Hopkins, who returned to the lineup for the first time since suffering a left shoulder injury on January 2, picked up the puck at center ice and went in deliberately on Wings goalie Joey MacDonald. Nugent-Hopkins faked forehand- backhand and fired a quick wrist shot to the blocker side of MacDonald.
Devan Dubnyk stopped Danny Cleary on Detroit's final attempt to seal the win for the Oilers, who broke a seven-game slide against the Red Wings.
"I think we started out really strong and came out flying," Nugent-Hopkins said. "In the third period, we knew they were going to come out strong, we just had to weather that storm. They got a few good goals but in the end I thought it was a really good character win for us."
Coming off a ridiculous eight-point game in an 8-4 win over the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday, Sam Gagner continued his offensive assault on the NHL with two goals and an assist in regulation. Jordan Eberle also added a pair of goals for the Oilers, who got 35 saves from Dubnyk en route to their third straight win.
Todd Bertuzzi scored twice, while Drew Miller and Valtteri Filppula also scored for the Red Wings, who had their brief two-game winning streak snapped.
Ty Conklin gave up three goals on nine shots before getting yanked in favor of MacDonald, who stopped 22-of-23 shots.
Edmonton opened the scoring with a power-play tally just 2:42 into the game when Ryan Whitney ripped a slap shot from the point that was stopped by Conklin, but Gagner was parked in front and slammed home the rebound.
Edmonton extended its lead to 2-0 at 5:41 of the opening period after Gagner threw one on net from just inside the left circle and Eberle was the first to spot the puck in the crease amid a scramble and tap it in.
Detroit cut the deficit to 2-1 while shorthanded off a turnover in the defensive zone by the Oilers. Filppula jumped on a loose puck in the slot and wristed one on net, which he didn't get all of, but the lack of velocity on the shot caught Dubnyk by surprise and it trickled over the line for the goal.
The Oilers though, atoned for their blunder when Gagner struck again in the dying seconds of the first period. Ryan Smyth threw one on goal from the right circle and Gagner was in perfect position in front of Conklin to deflect it into the net.
After a scoreless second period, Detroit came out on fire in the third and scored three consecutive goals to take a 4-3 lead.
Bertuzzi tucked one home from in front with a wrist shot 2:18 into the period, then Miller slid one past Dubnyk off a nice centering feed from Darren Helm at 5:49, and Bertuzzi capped the scoring burst with his second of the night 16:19 after he dangled past his checker in the left circle and wired a wrist shot high over Dubnyk's left shoulder.
"If anything, we should feel good we got the one point," Bertuzzi said. "We didn't play very well in the first period. In the second we got a little better and obviously turned it on in the third period, but we still wanted the two points. We gave ourselves a good chance to do it, just came up a little short."
Edmonton fought to the end though, and got rewarded with the tying goal with just 39 seconds to play. Following good forechecking work behind the net, the puck came out front to Eberle, and he made no mistake, tapping it into the open cage.
Game Notes
The Red Wings fell to 6-1 in shootouts this season, while Edmonton improved to 3-4...It was Bertuzzi's second two-goal game of his career...Edmonton finished 2-for-3 with the man advantage, while the Red Wings went 0-for-4 on the power play...Detroit will visit the Phoenix Coyotes on Monday, while the Oilers will be on the road against the Toronto Maple Leafs, also on Monday.
Sacramento, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - John Salmons scored 14, including the go- ahead three-pointer to start overtime, helping Sacramento to a 114-106 win over the Golden State Warriors. DeMarcus Cousins had 21 points and a career-high
<< Batum makes 9 three-pointers, Blazers down Nuggets
Portland, OR (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - There was nothing wrong with Nicolas Batum's
left knee on Saturday.
Batum returned from a brief two-game absence and nailed a franchise record
nine three-pointers en route to a career-high 33 points
<< San Diego State handles TCU
San Diego, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jamaal Franklin poured in a game-high 24
points on 7-of-11 shooting and grabbed 11 rebounds as No. 17 San Diego State
handled TCU, 83-73, on Saturday.
James Rahon netted 16 points to go with five reb
<< Pangos, Sacre lift No. 24 Gonzaga over Pepperdine
Malibu, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Kevin Pangos and Robert Sacre each scored 15
points, lifting the 24th-ranked Gonzaga Bulldogs over the Pepperdine Waves,
72-60.
Guy Landry Edi added 13 points for the Bulldogs (18-4, 8-2 WCC), who bounc
<< Parker sets franchise assists record as Spurs down Thunder
San Antonio, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Tony Parker exploded for a season-high 42
points and added nine assists to become the Spurs' all-time assists leader
as San Antonio handled Oklahoma City 107-96 at AT&T Center on Saturday.
Tim Du
Queensland, Australia (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Christel Boeljon birdied the 72nd hole Sunday to polish off a come-from-behind victory at the Australian Ladies Masters. Boeljon posted her second straight four-under 68 and won by a single strok
Pratt wins playoff for Myanmar Open title >>
Yangon, Myanmar (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Australia's Kieran Pratt birdied the second
playoff hole Sunday to earn his first Asian Tour title at the Myanmar Open.
Pratt bested Adam Blyth and Kiradech Aphibarnrat in the extra session at The
Royal M
Lawrie pulls away for Qatar Masters title >>
Doha, Qatar (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Paul Lawrie staved off challenges from Jason
Day and Sergio Garcia on Sunday to win the Qatar Masters in comfortable
fashion.
Lawrie, the second-round leader, fired a seven-under 65 on Sunday.
Russia beats Spain to reach Fed Cup semis >>
Moscow, Russia (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Svetlana Kuznetsova outlasted Silvia Soler-
Espinosa in the fourth rubber to give Russia an insurmountable 3-1 lead over
Spain in their best-of-five Fed Cup quarterfinal.
Russia entered Sunday's action with
Bruins hope to get on track versus Capitals >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Boston Bruins hope to avoid matching their longest
losing streak of the season this afternoon as they visit a Washington Capitals
club that has its eyes set on first place in the Southeast Division.
The Bruins haven't
Football Betting: Defensive Rookie of the Year Awards
Oddsmakers have released the odds for the 2009 AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award and Seattle Seahawks linebacker Aaron Curry has been made the opening favorite.
Seattle took Curry with the fourth overall pick in April's NFL draft and plan on inserting him into its starting lineup right away. The Hawks traded linebacker Julian Peterson in the offseason, so Curry is expected to have a significant role in Seattle's defense next year and that's one of the primary reasons he is the favorite to win the NFL ROY Award.
Oddsmakers from online sportsbook MySportsbook.com have made Curry a 5/1 favorite to win this year's NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award. Given that he was the best defensive prospect in this year's draft and how he'll have plenty of opportunities to make plays in '09, Curry offers a ton of value at 5/1.
Another thing working for Curry is the position he plays. A linebacker has won the defensive ROY award six straight times and eight of the last nine years. Jerod Mayo, Patrick Willis, DeMeco Ryans, Shawne Merriman, Jonathan Vilma, Terrell Suggs, Kendrell Bell and Brian Urlacher were the most recent linebackers to take home the award.
Following Curry at 5/1 are Tyson Jackson (Chiefs) at 7/1, James Laurinaitas (Rams) at 8/1, Brian Orakpo (Redskins) at 10/1, Rey Maualuga (Bengals) at 10/1 and Jerry Peria (Falcons) at 10/1.
All the players mentioned above are expected to start for their respective teams, but Jackson and Peria are going to have a tough time being recognized on a national level given they're both defensive linemen. D-linemen rarely put up the numbers that it takes to win an individual award like the ROY.
A couple of players with some value are Clay Matthews (Packers) at 12/1 and Larry English (Chargers) at 15/1. Matthews is expected to start at outside linebacker in Green Bay's new 3-4 defense and could rack up a ton of tackles. English, who was an impressive player at Northern Illinois, is expected to be a situational pass rusher for the Chargers and could rack up a ton of sacks.
For complete odds on the 2009 AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award, see below. And for complete odds for the 2009 AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Award, click the link provided.
2009 AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award
Robert Ayers (DEN) 12/1
Ron Brace (NE) 25/1
Everette Brown (CAR) 16/1
Darius Butler (NE) 40/1
Patrick Chung (NE) 30/1
Aaron Curry (SEA) 5/1
Brian Cushing (HOU) 12/1
Vontae Davis (MIA) 30/1
Louis Delmas (DET) 30/1
Larry English (SD) 15/1
Evander Hood (PIT) 25/1
Tyson Jackson (KC) 7/1
Malcolm Jenkins (NO) 25/1
Paul Kruger (BAL) 50/1
James Laurinaitas (STL) 8/1
Sen'Derrick Marks (TEN) 20/1
Clay Matthews (GB) 12/1
Aaron Maybin (BUF) 15/1
Rey Maualuga (CIN) 10/1
Roy Miller (TB) 20/1
Michael Mitchell (OAK) 45/1
Fili Moala (IND) 30/1
Brian Orakpo (WAS) 10/1
Jerry Peria (ATL) 10/1
B J Raji (GB) 7/1
Clint Sintim (NYG) 35/1
Alphonso Smith (DEN) 40/1
David Verkune (CLE) 20/1
Jason Williams (DAL) 30/1
Field (Any Other Player) 6/1
To visit this internet sportsbook go to MySportsbook.com for all your football betting needs.