Home sweet home: Canucks return to GM Place to battle Senators

Hockey Betting Lines

03/13/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The wait is finally over.

After playing 14 straight times on the road over a span of six weeks, the Vancouver Canucks finally return to GM Place for tonight's interconference showdown with the slumping Ottawa Senators.

That epic stretch -- the longest sequence of away games by any team in NHL history -- was necessitated by the city of Vancouver's hosting of the Winter Olympics. The Canucks played eight of those contests prior to the league's stoppage for the Games, then began their post-break schedule with a six-game trip that culminated with Wednesday's 4-3 shootout loss at Phoenix.

"There were days when you woke up in another hotel and wondered Where are we now?' before you get it together a little bit," center Ryan Kesler recently told the Canucks' official site. "The last six we've played here on the other end of the Games, that hasn't been as bad, but those first eight were real tough. They took forever."

Vancouver acquitted itself well over the massive trek, compiling an 8-5-1 record over the 14 games. The team was especially successful over the second leg, winning four of five outings before coming up just short against the Coyotes.

Down 1-0 in the third round of the shootout, Radim Vrbata kept Phoenix alive by firing the puck past Canucks goaltender Andrew Raycroft. After Mikael Samuelsson missed for Vancouver on the ensuing attempt, both teams were successful in the fourth and fifth rounds before the Coyotes' Adrian Aucoin opened the sixth with a shot that beat Raycroft upstairs. The Canucks' Mason Raymond then misfired on a backhand try to give Phoenix the two points.

The Coyotes claimed a 3-2 lead on Lee Stempniak's goal 35 seconds into the third period, but Vancouver's Christian Ehrhoff scored less than a minute later to tie the score.

Samuelsson had a goal earlier in the game and has now lit the lamp in each of Vancouver's last five matchups, with seven tallies over that span. Kesler assisted on Ehrhoff's marker to extend his scoring streak to 11 games, with the U.S. Olympic team member having notched 13 points (5 goals, 8 assists) during that span.

Canucks forward Daniel Sedin also has a notable streak going, as the standout Swede has registered an assist in eight consecutive tilts after getting one on twin brother Henrik Sedin's goal in Wednesday's loss. He has 11 helpers over that run.

Although a few Vancouver players, including Kesler, the Sedin brothers, Ehrhoff and goaltender Roberto Luongo, had the opportunity to play in their home venue while competing in the Olympics, tonight's clash will be the Canucks' first game at GM Place since a 3-2 decision over St. Louis on January 27.

The Canucks will attempt to build on their three-point lead over second-place Colorado in the Northwest Division when they take on an Ottawa squad that's gone just 1-3-1 since the break. The Senators were able to defeat doormat Edmonton in the opener of the team's three-game swing through Western Canada, but were stymied by Calgary's Miikka Kiprusoff (33 saves) in Thursday's 2-0 loss to the Flames.

"I thought we worked hard and played well, we just couldn't get one past Kiprusoff," said Senators head coach Cory Clouston. "They did a great job of blocking shots. I'm not going to criticize any of our effort; we had the chances and had the opportunities."

Ottawa is presently two points back of Buffalo for first place in the Northeast Division.

The Senators have lost two straight games at GM Place since a 2-1 triumph there on March 13, 2004. Vancouver had won four straight in this series before a 3-1 defeat in Ottawa on February 4.

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American Idol Betting Odds: Season 6  

The online gambling websites are in the process of deciphering each American Idol contestant and his or her chances of winning Season 6 to come up with the early American Idol betting lines.

Tim Dalton of MySportsbook.com has been locked away in a soundproof room coming up with all the latest tallies, we are told. "American Idol has become one of the most significant betting events of the year," claims Jack Black of MySportsbook.com.  "Last year, millions were bet during the season across the globe, not just in America.

It's tough early on since we really do not have a glimpse as to how well each of these individuals will perform solo on a week-to-week basis.  It's like Week 1 of the NFL.  Pre-season means nada!

We do know the 24 finalists however.

Sanjaya Malakar is the young man whose sister failed to make it into the Top 24.  He's very low key but - unless he totally flubs - will probably win over the young girlie vote for a few weeks anyway.  He's too young to go all the way, according to Payton O'Brien. 

Brandon Rogers - Who?

Phil Stacy is the military guy who missed his daughter's birth because of the Memphis audition.  He should go a good distance.

Chris Sligh - He's got the humor and in many ways he's the Anti-American Idol much like last year's winner Taylor Hicks was.  And this is why he'll probably get pretty far in this competition.  He's chubby, white with a big curly afro....but more importantly, a great voice!  People love "real", not "real cute" to go all the way. 

"Blake Lewis should go far because of his uniqueness and looks.  He's the boy next store with a twist - he beat boxes.  But on top of this, he's a great singer, and I adore him," Payton O'Brien relayed.

A talented beat-boxer Blake Lewis was a hit during the group sing in Hollywood but Simon explained that this is a singing contest just before he told him he was “in.”

Paul Kim has caught our own roving reporter, Jenny Woo's eyes. 

"I love the fact that there is a Korean American on the show and he is bound to get more Asians tuning into the show," Woo said from her Miami Beach estate.  "There has never been a major presence of Asian-Americans on American Idol in the past.  He's a hottie with a nice voice so that should help to take him far.  Expect heavy betting action from the Asian community."

Sundance Head - He's not perfect, but he's got the personality that will take him through a few weeks, plus he's got the lineage (son of Roy Head - whose 1965 single, "Treat Her Right," hit No. 5 in the charts) 

And the others:

Rudy Cardinas
AJ Tabaldo - the 5th time is the charm
Nicolas Pedro
Chris Richardson
Jared Cotter

The girls

"Melinda Doolittle has one of the best voices," says MySportsbook.com Reporter and an acclaimed dancer in her own right, Destiney Lewis.  "It is great to see a back up singer step out like she has.  The girl needs to gain more confidence but that can also be a positive.  I think she will go far."

Alena Alexander - Those tears (she never seems to stop bawling) should get her far.

"Single mom Lakisha Jones I suspect will be a pretty big favorite entering Week 1 of the competition," says Destiny Williams.  Jones is an excellent singer and down to earth.  "She'll have a wide appeal," echoed O'Brien.

Nicole Trellis - Seems to exert confidence.

Amy Krebs - a powerful singer.

Antonella Barba
Gina Glocksen
Hailey Scanardo
Jordan Sparks
Stephanie Edwards
Leslie Hunt
Sabrina Sloan

MySportsbook.com is offering a 20% signup bonus with an initial deposit (i.e. open your American Idol betting account with $300, receive another $60 in which to bet with). 

Last two contestants will be?

1 Male/1 Female +100 (a $10 bet pays $10 plus your initial $10)

2 Males +170 (a $10 bet pays $17 plus your initial $17)

2 Females +130 (a $10 bet pays $13 plus your initial $10)

MySportsbook.com is an online sportsbook accepts Visa Credit Cards and online sportsbook accepts Mastercard Credit Cards for easy American Idol betting lines.