Sliding Blackhawks welcome Kings to town

Hockey Betting Lines

03/22/2009 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The stumbling Chicago Blackhawks will try to end a five- game losing streak when they host the Los Angeles Kings in an afternoon clash today at the United Center.

With the regular season winding down, the Blackhawks have picked a terrible time for their longest losing streak of the season. Chicago once seemed to have a lock on the Western Conference's fourth seed, but is now tied with Vancouver at 85 points apiece.

Despite losing their last five games, the Blackhawks have at least been able to recorded a point in their two most recent trips to the ice. Chicago dropped an overtime decision in Columbus on Wednesday and was handed a shootout loss Friday against visiting Edmonton.

The setback to the Oilers marked the first of five straight on home ice for the Blackhawks. Chicago has lost three in a row and four of five as the host, but is 18-8-7 in the Windy City this season.

Patrick O'Sullivan scored the game-winner in the shootout to lead Edmonton to Friday's 5-4 victory over Chicago. After Jonathan Toews was stopped by Dwayne Roloson, O'Sullivan lifted the puck over Nikolai Khabibulin. Patrick Kane was then denied his stuff attempt from the left side and Ales Kotalik sealed the win with a wrister into the right corner.

Martin Havlat had a goal and an assist and Khabibulin stopped 27 shots in the setback for the Blackhawks, who have also lost seven of their last eight tests.

Chicago will be without forward Ben Eager for the next three games as he was suspended by the league for delivering a blow to the head of Edmonton's Liam Reddox on Friday. Eager is considered a repeat offender, having also earned a three-game suspension in October for swinging his stick from the bench at then-Dallas Stars forward Sean Avery in a preseason game.

Eager has tallied 10 goals and four assists, with 139 penalty minutes, in 66 games this season.

The Kings are 13th in the West, but are still only seven points out of a playoff berth. Los Angeles hasn't helped its postseason chances lately, as it has dropped four of five and eight of its last 12 games.

LA was in action Friday night at Pittsburgh and was handed a 4-1 setback by the Penguins as Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby both registered a goal and an assist.

Kings center Michal Handzus netted the lone goal of the third period -- a power-play tally -- to spoil Pittsburgh goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury's shutout bid. Jonathan Quick surrendered four goals on 26 shots in the loss for Los Angeles.

LA activated right winger Justin Williams from injured reserve Friday and he played in the game against the Penguins. Williams, who was acquired from Carolina at the trade deadline in a three-way deal with the Hurricanes and Edmonton, had not played since February 15th because of a broken hand.

The Kings are playing the third segment of a season-high six-game road trip today. Los Angeles is just 14-17-2 as the guest this year and has lost three of four and seven of its last eight road tests.

LA has won two of three matchups with Chicago this season and the clubs will complete the season series this afternoon. The Kings have taken four of six overall in the series, but have dropped two of three and four of six in the Windy City.

Wfodors Hockey Betting News

<< Flyers visit sizzling Pens for key battle
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A key Eastern Conference playoff battle is on tap today in the Steel City, as the scorching Pittsburgh Penguins welcome the rival Philadelphia Flyers for an Atlantic Division battle at Mellon Arena. The Penguins and Flyers

<< Heat pay a visit to Pistons at The Palace
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The recently-struggling Miami Heat will try to salvage the finale of a four-game road trip Sunday against the Detroit Pistons at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Miami has dropped the first three tests of the road swing a

<< Southwest Showdown: Rockets try to pass Spurs in division
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The top spot in the Southwest Division is up for grabs this afternoon, as the Houston Rockets try to inch closer to the San Antonio Spurs in a showdown at the AT&T Center. Houston has won three straight games and

<< Raptors, Clippers square off up north
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Two of the NBA's worst teams get together Sunday in Toronto, as the struggling Raptors welcome the lowly Los Angeles Clippers to the Air Canada Centre. Toronto has lost two straight, nine of 10 and opened a f

<< Wolves welcome Thunder to Target Center
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Bottom feeders in the Northwest Division get together this afternoon at the Target Center, where the Minnesota Timberwolves will host the Oklahoma City Thunder. Minnesota just lost all three tests on its recent road

Oilers visit Wild with shot at fourth straight victory >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Edmonton Oilers will try for their first four-game winning streak since the early stages of the season when they visit the struggling Minnesota Wild for today's Northwest Division battle at Xcel Energy Center. The Oil

Ducks take aim at third straight win in home test vs. Coyotes >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Anaheim Ducks will shoot for their first three-game winning streak in nearly four months when they welcome the Phoenix Coyotes for today's clash at the Honda Center. The Ducks last won three in a row during a four-game

Sharks eye West's top seed in home test against Avalanche >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Having already clinched the Pacific Division title, the San Jose Sharks can regain the top seed in the Western Conference when they host the lowly Colorado Avalanche tonight at HP Pavilion. The Sharks have 104 points on th

Surging clubs meet as Rangers host Sens at MSG >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A pair of hot teams will meet tonight in the Big Apple, as the New York Rangers welcome the Ottawa Senators for an Eastern Conference battle at Madison Square Garden. The Senators have won four straight and eight of their

No. 1 Louisville to try and avoid upset at hands of Siena >>
Dayton, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Midwest Regional was full of upsets on the first day and the top-seeded Louisville Cardinals will try to avoid one themselves against the ninth-seeded Siena Saints in second-round play at UD Arena this evening.

FOOTBALL BETTING : Cassel Signs Contract

Kansas City, MO - Kansas City has not officially named Matt Cassel its starting quarterback, but there can be no doubt now.

NFL Betting
After praising his leadership and work ethic through spring workouts, the Chiefs announced Tuesday they had signed the 27-year-old Cassel to a multiyear contract. Terms were not disclosed, but he will almost certainly be one of the highest-paid members of the team.
"We are excited to be able to reach a long-term agreement for Matt Cassel to be a Kansas City Chief for many years to come," owner and board chairman Clark Hunt said in a statement. "His proven leadership on and off the field will be a tremendous asset to the organization."
Patriots made him their franchise player, meaning his salary for this season will be about $15 million.
New head coach Todd Haley, taking over for Herm Edwards after a 2-14 season, refused to name a starter at any position during offseason workouts. But it was obvious to everyone the team belonged to Cassel.
"I go out there each and every day with that focus that I'm the starter," Cassel said during a June minicamp. "Competition brings out the best in everybody."
The signing will come as welcome news to Cassel's new coaches and teammates. Amiable and hardworking, online football betting he appeared to win over everyone at minicamp.
"I think he's got some unique leadership qualities. I think his teammates like him and have respect for him. I think he's doing a pretty good job on the field, too," Haley said last month. "He's doing everything that I'm asking him, that our coaches are asking him to do. I don't have one single complaint how he's carrying himself."
After one workout, wide receiver Devard Darling declared Cassel "a breath of fresh air."
"He has a lot of swagger, a lot of confidence. It's good for us," said Darling. "We trust in him that he's going to go out there and lead us all the way."
nse to accommodate his specific abilities.
Trapped on the bench behind Heisman winners Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart at USC and then unable to unseat Super Bowl MVP Brady at New England, Cassel seemed destined to be a backup all his life. As Brady was helped off the field last September, Cassel seized the opportunity he'd been waiting for since high school.
In his only sustained action since his teens, he hit 349 of 555 passes for 3,949 yards at New England. He had 23 touchdown passes and 13 interceptions as the Patriots, who had gone unbeaten through the regular season the year before, finished 11-5 and out of the playoffs.
Chiefs general manager Scott Pioli, who had been Bill Belichick's assistant in New England, engineered the trade after the Patriots became convinced that Brady would recover fully from his knee operation.
"Since Matt arrived in Kansas City, he has embraced the team and the community," Pioli said. "His work ethic, his ability and competitive presence is what we expect from our players."

NFL Betting Lines

To visit this sportsbook go to MySportsbook.com for all your college football betting needs.