Caps cruise without Ovechkin, beat Panthers

Hockey Betting Lines

03/16/2010 - Sunrise, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Brooks Laich had two goals and an assist as Washington took a 7-3 win over Florida as Capitals superstar Alex Ovechkin served the first of a two-game suspension.

The NHL's best offense didn't seem to miss the NHL's top point-getter as Ovechkin began his two-game suspension for shoving Chicago defenseman Brian Campbell into the boards from behind in Sunday's 4-3 overtime win. Campbell is out for 7-to-8 weeks with a fracture to his clavicle and ribs as Ovechkin, who was assessed a major penalty and game misconduct for the hit, was suspended for the second time this season.

Brendan Morrison had a goal and two assists while Nicklas Backstrom and Alexander Semin each added a goal and an assist for the Capitals, who have won two of their last three.

Jose Theodore stopped 34 shots in the win for Washington, which holds a commanding 16-point lead over Pittsburgh for first place in the Eastern Conference.

Kamil Kreps had a goal and an assist while Steven Reinprecht and Michal Repik each lit the lamp for the Panthers, who have dropped two of their last three.

Tomas Vokoun started the game in net, but was pulled after giving up five goals on 21 shots. Scott Clemmensen finished the game in net and was charged with two goals on 18 shots.

Florida's playoff hopes are fading as the team has 66 points and is eight back of Boston for the eighth playoff spot, with three teams in front of the Panthers.

Washington got on the board just 5:46 in on Semin's tip-in of a Laich shot and made it a two-goal game with 4:28 to play in the first on Jason Chimera's redirect off a Morrison shot.

Florida got on the board with 1:41 left in the first period as Reinprecht blasted a slap shot from the left circle past the glove of Theodore.

The Capitals got the goal back just 49 seconds into the second frame as Morrison picked up his own broken pass and backhanded it in from in front.

Washington took a 4-1 lead with 9 1/2 minutes to play in the second as Morrison picked up a Florida turnover in the Panthers end and passed it over to Eric Fehr, who slid a low wrister home from the slot.

At the 14:06 mark of the middle stanza the Caps made it a 5-1 game on Laich's 23rd goal of the year, this one on the power play, when he banged in his own rebound.

The Panthers got one back just 22 seconds later as Kreps' backhander from the left side off of a rebound went in, but Backstrom got the goal back 90 seconds later as he knocked in his own rebound.

Laich made it a 7-2 game with 7:35 to play in the game while Repik's third goal of the season with 1:33 remaining accounted for the final score.

Game Notes

Washington continues its four-game road trip in Carolina on Thursday...Florida hosts Phoenix on Thursday...Washington swept the season series with Florida, outscoring the Panthers, 33-15...Washington went 2-for-4 on the power play while Florida was 0-for-3.

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Sportsbook betting odds favor Europe in Ryder Cup

September 19, – Despite holding a decided edge in the all-time series, with 24 wins, 2 ties and 10 losses, Team USA is the underdog again heading into the Ryder Cup in Kidare, Ireland this weekend, according to MySportsbook.com.  The Europeans have captured four of the past five editions, including their largest victory ever, an 18 ½ to 9 ½ thumping in Michigan in 2004. Current Ryder Cup betting odds favor the Europeans to continue their winning ways; they are a 4-5 bet to take the title, compared to 6-5 for the Americans. 

Despite being knocked out in the first round of World Match play by Shaun Micheel, Tiger Woods is predicted to lead the US charge and be their highest point scorer for the week, with odds listed at 9-4 that he outpoints all other American players, including Jim Furyk, Phil Mickelson and Chris DiMarco to  name a  few.  Team USA has four relatively unknown players on the roster but all four are 2007 tournament winners and have posted some of season’s best performances, each earning over $1.5 million on the PGA TOUR.  They include Zach Johnson, Vaughan Taylor, JJ Henry and Brett Wetterich.

The experienced European squad includes the likes of Luke Donald, Sergio Garcia, Padraig Harrington, Jose Maria Olazabal and Darren Clarke, who’s emotions will be tested after the passing of his wife to a battle with cancer.  Donald and Garcia are in particularly good form and each is a 5-1 bet to lead the European squad in the points race. Donald has proven he can go head to head with Woods at a major event after a run for the $1.2 million purse at the PGA Championship. Garcia’s Ryder Cup credentials prove he’s ready for battle too.

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your golf sportsbook needs.

Ryder Cup Odds

Europe
Tie
USA
4-5
10-1
6-5


Ryder Cup Top US point scorer
Tiger Woods
Jim Furyk
Phil Mickelson
Chris DiMarco
David Toms
Stewart Cink
Chad Campbell
Scott Verplank
Zach Johnson
Vaughan Taylor
JJ Henry
Brett Wetterich
9-4
4-1
5-1
7-1
8-1
12-1
15-1
15-1
25-1
30-1
30-1
50-1


Ryder Cup Top European scorer
Sergio Garcia
Luke Donald
Padraig Harrington
Colin Montgomerie
Darren Clarke
David Howell
Lee Westwood
Paul Casey
Henrik Stenson
Jose Maria Olazabal
Paul McGinley
Robert Karlsson
5-1
5-1
6-1
13-2
8-1
9-1
9-1
11-1
12-1
12-1
20-1
25-1

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com