Blues try to extend home streak vs. struggling Bruins

Hockey Betting Lines

02/22/2012 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - After closing out 2011 as the hottest team in the league, the new calendar year hasn't been as kind to the Bruins.

The Blues have yet to drop a regulation game at home in 2012.

St. Louis puts its franchise record 21-game home point streak on the line this evening as it looks to deal Boston its first three-game slide since late October.

The Blues have been one of the more dominating teams this year on home ice, where they are 26-3-4 this season and haven't lost in regulation since Dec. 3. They have gone 18-0-3 at Scottrade Center since and sit fourth overall in the Western Conference with 79 points, five back of Detroit for first place.

St. Louis comes into this test having won five straight at home and outscoring its opponents 16-3 in that span. However, the club fell to 10-13-3 on the road this season with Sunday's setback in Chicago and kicks off a six-game road trip tomorrow night in Nashville.

Goaltender Brian Elliott was coming off a shutout win over the visiting Wild on Saturday and held the Blackhawks off the board through the first two periods before getting beat twice in the final frame. Chicago added an empty- net tally to hand St. Louis a 3-1 defeat.

"We're a team right now that needs everybody to play at a high level for us to win on the road," said St. Louis head coach Ken Hitchcock. "The way we're built, we don't have offensive players to carry us. So if guys are not up to task it reflects on our game."

Elliott made 24 saves and Andy McDonald scored in his third straight game for the Blues, who had won six of seven coming in. Patrik Berglund and Jamie Langenbrunner each posted an assist for a third straight game.

Langenbrunner, though, suffered a broken left foot in the loss and was placed on injured reserve Tuesday. He is expected to be re-evaluated in four weeks.

Goaltender Jaroslav Halak was scratched for the past two games due to the flu, but is expected to serve as at least the backup tonight after Ben Bishop was sent back to the minors. McDonald is also questionable due to flu-like symptoms.

The Blues have a chance tonight to deal the Bruins their first three-game slide since Oct. 22-29. Boston followed that season-high slide by winning 10 straight and 21 of their next 24, but have gone 11-11-1 since Dec. 31 and now own just a two-point edge over Ottawa for first place in the Northeast Division.

The Bruins have lost six of nine this month and have been shut out four times in that span. That includes Sunday in Minnesota, where Boston was dealt a 2-0 setback.

Tim Thomas allowed two goals on 29 shots as Boston fell to 1-2 on a six-game road trip.

"We're just shooting it right back into the goaltender. ... That's what happens when things aren't going your way," Bruins head coach Claude Julien said.

The Blues have won nine of their last 11 versus the Bruins, with three of the past six encounters ending in shootout fashion. That includes St. Louis' 2-1 victory at Boston in the lone meeting last season.

The Bruins have won their last two trips to St. Louis and haven't lost in regulation as the road club in this series since Dec. 18, 1999.

Cowboycasinio Hockey Betting News

<< Lin, Knicks aim to bounce back vs. Hawks
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Sudden New York Knicks star Jeremy Lin was brought back to reality when New Jersey Nets point guard Deron Williams took him to school in a recent contest at Madison Square Garden. Arguably one of the fanciest point guards

<< Cavs resume lengthy homestand vs. Hornets
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Cleveland Cavaliers will resume a team-record nine-game homestand tonight versus the New Orleans Hornets at Quicken Loans Arena. Cleveland is 4-3 on the residency and is coming off last night's 101-100 win over the Cen

<< Caps hope to get season on track vs. streaking Sens
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - With just one victory in their last six games, the Washington Capitals are desperate to get their postseason push back on track. The Caps hope they can bounce back tonight at Ottawa's Scotiabank Place, where they'll try to

<< Reeling Celtics visit OKC
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Oklahoma City Thunder shoot for a fourth straight win this evening when they welcome the Boston Celtics to Chesapeake Energy Arena. After combining for 91 points on Sunday, Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook totaled 62

<< Clippers host Nuggets at Staples Center
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Los Angeles Clippers aim to halt a two-game skid and head into the NBA's All-Star break atop the Pacific Division when they host the Denver Nuggets tonight. The Clips lead their Staples Center co-tenants, the L

Howard, Magic visit Deron and the Nets >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Orlando Magic will try to continue their mastery of the New Jersey Nets when the two clubs clash tonight from the Prudential Center. Orlando has won eight in a row and 12 of the past 13 matchups between the teams, and

Bucks and Bulls clash in the Second City >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Reigning NBA MVP Derrick Rose recently made his return to the hardwood following a five-game absence due to lower back spasms. Rose and the Bulls will try to give the Central Division-rival Milwaukee Bucks a few spasms Wed

Struggling Sixers invade Space City to take on Rockets >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Philadelphia 76ers should consider themselves lucky to still have a sizable lead atop the Atlantic Division standings since they're currently mired in a season-high four-game losing streak. The Sixers look to end their

Avs shoot for season sweep of Kings >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Last night, the Kings found the offense they have been so sorely lacking but it still resulted in a third straight loss. Los Angeles looks to rebound this evening and avoid a season series sweep at the hands of the hosting

Williams signs new deal with Union >>
Chester, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Philadelphia Union announced on Wednesday that the club has signed defender Sheanon Williams to a new contract. The 21-year-old joined the club from Harrisburg City Islanders in August 2010 and has gone

COLLEGE FOOTBALL BETTING

NCAA Football Betting

Many fans thought it was the best side in the nation by the end of last season. This year, the polls have built on Georgia's momentum and granted it the No. 1 preseason ranking, followed by Ohio State and USC. (The Associated Press has the Buckeyes at No. 2; USA Today took the Trojans.)

"To have people believing we have one of the best teams in the nation going into this thing, it's exciting for us," Bulldogs coach Mark Richt told the AP. "I don't think anything is guaranteed, but we certainly have put ourselves in position where at least the college football world thinks we're pretty good."

Georgia Bulldogs - 9.5 wins

There's no question they're good, but the Bulldogs have one of the toughest 12-game schedules in the nation, mostly because they play in the powerhouse Southeastern Conference. Away games at No. 15 Arizona State, No. 7 LSU and No. 10 Auburn loom large, with contests between the hedges versus No. 24 Alabama and No. 18 Tennessee as well as the World's Largest Cocktail Party in Jacksonville versus No.5 Florida.

Ohio State Buckeyes - 10 wins

Like the Bulldogs, the Buckeyes also have a number of tough road contests in 2008. After two scrimmages dressed up as real games versus Youngstown State and Ohio, it's off to face USC. Other tough away games include No.13 Wisconsin in October and No. 20 Illinois in November. Granted, it should be pretty easy sledding at the Horseshoe. In fact, the only ranked team that travels to Columbus is No. 22 Penn State, in October.

USC Trojans - 10.5 wins

A similarly light schedule awaits the Trojans of Southern California, which is why the oddsmakers' total is one win more and the over is currently commanding -150 odds. Pete Carroll's troops only play three ranked teams in 2008, and all of those games are at home. After what should be an easy trip to Virginia to start things off on Aug. 30, the Trojans get two weeks to prepare for Ohio State in Los Angeles. Their two other ranked opponents, No. 21 Oregon and No. 15 Arizona State, visit in consecutive weeks to start the month of October. After that, the competition eases up. Of course, this is the same highly-touted school that lost to Stanford in 2007 and Oregon State in 2006. And don't discount the fact that USC plays its biggest rivals, Notre Dame and UCLA, back-to-back to close out the regular season. On paper, the Trojans are far superior, but motivation will be high for the Irish and Bruins, especially if their historic foes are in national-title contention.

Odds to Win the Heisman Trophy

Tim Tebow, Florida - 7/2
He won it last year, so it's no surprise he's the favorite to do it again, making him just the second player to go back-to-back. Ohio State's Archie Griffin turned the trick in 1974 and 1975, and Tebow's coach, Urban Meyer, is pretty sure his star quarterback can match the Buckeyes legend.

"There has never been anyone quite like him," Meyer told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "I am very lucky to be his coach."

Chris Wells, Ohio State - 5/1

The man they call "Beanie" was a star recruit out of high school, so it's not like nobody knew who the star tailback was before he rushed for 576 yards as a freshman in 2006 and 1,609 as a sophomore. But perhaps his finest moment came last year versus Michigan when he rumbled for 222 yards and two touchdowns in the Buckeyes' 14-3 victory over the hated Wolverines.

Knowshon Moreno, Georgia - 8/1

If the Bulldogs are to live up to expectations, they'll need a huge effort from their sophomore running back. This might be the last year of college ball for Moreno, who rushed for 1,334 yards and for 14 touchdowns as a freshman, while adding 253 receiving yards on 20 receptions, so expect big things for the man from Belford, N.J.

Stay with us here as we take you through the best in NFL action on a consistent basis, with advice columns as well as handicapping selections. If you're looking for college football betting, that's in our NCAA section, which you can reach by clicking here. And if you're looking for a different kind of football, such as the Canadian Football League, which we'll deal with occasionally, or the Arena Football League, which we really like, you can find it in our Miscellaneous section by clicking

Note: Monday night game will be picked Monday. Lines used are from football betting lines .
To visit this sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your football betting needs. Mysportsbook.com online sports betting