Caps welcome Maple Leafs to D.C.

Hockey Betting Lines

12/28/2008 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Washington Capitals will aim for their sixth straight win at home and third in a row overall, as they welcome the Toronto Maple Leafs for this evening's matchup at Verizon Center.

The Capitals, who have an amazing 14-1-1 record as the host this year, have won their last five tilts on home ice. Washington has also notched back-to- back wins and recorded victories in seven of its last eight outings overall.

Washington's most-recent victory came at home on Friday night as the Caps edged Buffalo, 3-2. Alex Ovechkin scored a highlight reel goal in the third period which turned out to be the game-winner for the Caps.

Thomas Vanek's 25th goal of the year cut Washington's lead to 2-1 early in the third, but Ovechkin showed why he is the reigning league MVP with a great individual effort around the midway point of the final period.

After breaking out of his own zone, Ovechkin tipped a pass to himself while turning around a Buffalo defender at the blue-line. He then unleashed a hard shot and fell to the ground while the puck sailed past goaltender Patrick Lalime.

Boyd Gordon and Viktor Kozlov also scored while Jose Theodore turned back 22- of-24 shots for the Capitals, who lead the Southeast Division with 47 points.

Washington will close out the 2008 calendar year on the road, as it visits Buffalo on Tuesday. The Caps will then return home and begin a four-game homestand with a matchup against Tampa Bay on New Year's Day.

When the Maple Leafs beat Atlanta, 6-2, this past Monday it was the club's fifth win in six games. Toronto has since dropped back-to-back games and was outscored by a combined 12-3 margin in those setbacks.

After getting slammed 8-2 by visiting Dallas on Tuesday, the Leafs were handed a 4-1 setback Friday night on Long Island. Bill Guerin scored twice for 400 career goals to lead the Isles past Toronto.

Lee Stempniak notched the only goal for the Maple Leafs and Vesa Toskala was unimpressive in net, allowing four goals on 31 shots in taking the loss.

Toronto, which is 8-9-2 as the visiting team this year, had won two in a row on the road before losing to the Isles on Friday.

Washington earned a 2-1 road win over the Leafs on December 6 in the only meeting between the clubs so far this year. The Caps have taken two of three and four of the last six encounters overall, while Toronto has dropped four of its last six in D.C.

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MySportsbook.com and Kentucky Derby Offer Bonuses
The 2008 Kentucky Derby has announced a $1-million bonus for this weekend’s 134th ‘Run for the Roses’ and MySportsbook.com is doing the same.

Well, not quite $1 million, but MySportsbook.com is offering a 75% rebate for Kentucky Derby lines. Check out the exclusive horse racing bonus for all the details.

According to MySportsbook.com, the favorites for Saturday’s Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky are: Curlin (+250); Street Sense (+500); Scat Daddy (+700); Circular Quay (+750); and Nobiz Like Shobiz (+800).

Derby organizers announced this week that there will be a $1-million bonus at the 2007 Kentucky Derby odds if the first-place horse wins by more than 6 1/2 lengths – the margin of Barbaro's victory last year. The bonus would be divided Saturday among the winning trainer, jockey, owner and a charity, with each receiving 25 percent. The designated charity is the Barbaro Memorial Fund.

''It's certainly creative, it's certainly fun and it has something for the horsemen, which we always want to embrace,'' Churchill Downs president and chief executive Robert Evans said at a news conference. ''What's really cool is it will force us to remember Barbaro.''
    
Meanwhile, the Derby favorite – Curlin – is going against the odds this year. It's been 125 years since Apollo won after skipping his 2-year-old season, and not since Regret in 1915 has such a lightly seasoned horse worn the blanket of red roses.

Arkansas Derby winner Curlin – unbeaten in three career races – tries to overcome both those obstacles in Saturday's 133rd Derby.

''We're not running against history,'' trainer Steve Asmussen said Monday. ''We're running against who they load up.''

Six other horses have run in the Derby without benefit of 2-year-old races and with three or fewer starts. The best any of them managed was a sixth-place finish by Showing Up last year.
   
Asmussen dismissed suggestions that Curlin's lack of racing experience could keep him from the winner's circle.

”He exudes confidence and he's got a great presence about him,'' the trainer said. ''I feel great about the position we're in. He's not worried about anything, why should you be?''
   
The Kentucky Derby is at 4:04 p.m., ET Saturday.

For complete odds on the Kentucky Derby, visit MySportsbook.com. Mysportsbook.com online sportsbook accepts Visa and Mastercard credit cards.


MySportsbook.com and Kentucky Derby Offer Bonuses
The 2008 Kentucky Derby has announced a $1-million bonus for this weekend’s 134th ‘Run for the Roses’ and MySportsbook.com is doing the same.

Well, not quite $1 million, but MySportsbook.com is offering a 75% rebate for Kentucky Derby lines. Check out the exclusive horse racing bonus for all the details.

According to MySportsbook.com, the favorites for Saturday’s Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky are: Curlin (+250); Street Sense (+500); Scat Daddy (+700); Circular Quay (+750); and Nobiz Like Shobiz (+800).

Derby organizers announced this week that there will be a $1-million bonus at the 2007 Kentucky Derby odds if the first-place horse wins by more than 6 1/2 lengths – the margin of Barbaro's victory last year. The bonus would be divided Saturday among the winning trainer, jockey, owner and a charity, with each receiving 25 percent. The designated charity is the Barbaro Memorial Fund.

''It's certainly creative, it's certainly fun and it has something for the horsemen, which we always want to embrace,'' Churchill Downs president and chief executive Robert Evans said at a news conference. ''What's really cool is it will force us to remember Barbaro.''
    
Meanwhile, the Derby favorite – Curlin – is going against the odds this year. It's been 125 years since Apollo won after skipping his 2-year-old season, and not since Regret in 1915 has such a lightly seasoned horse worn the blanket of red roses.

Arkansas Derby winner Curlin – unbeaten in three career races – tries to overcome both those obstacles in Saturday's 133rd Derby.

''We're not running against history,'' trainer Steve Asmussen said Monday. ''We're running against who they load up.''

Six other horses have run in the Derby without benefit of 2-year-old races and with three or fewer starts. The best any of them managed was a sixth-place finish by Showing Up last year.
   
Asmussen dismissed suggestions that Curlin's lack of racing experience could keep him from the winner's circle.

”He exudes confidence and he's got a great presence about him,'' the trainer said. ''I feel great about the position we're in. He's not worried about anything, why should you be?''
   
The Kentucky Derby is at 4:04 p.m., ET Saturday.

For complete odds on the Kentucky Derby, visit MySportsbook.com. Mysportsbook.com online sportsbook accepts Visa and Mastercard credit cards.