Resurgent Red Wings try to get over on rival Blackhawks

Hockey Betting Lines

03/07/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Detroit Red Wings are making a strong push for the playoffs, but the perennial postseason participants still have a long way to go if they want to catch the Chicago Blackhawks, who'll be hosting their longtime Central Division rival this afternoon at the United Center.

Although they're certainly no guarantee to be making a 19th consecutive playoff trip, the reigning Western Conference champion Red Wings have enhanced their chances by winning three of their last four games. That surge has placed Detroit into the eighth and final postseason seed in the West at the moment, one point in front of Calgary.

The Red Wings stayed in front of the Flames with Friday's big 5-2 victory over fellow Central member Nashville at Joe Louis Arena. Darren Helm led the offense with a pair of goals, while Pavel Datsyuk scored once and assisted on another to help Detroit bounce back from a 6-3 home defeat to Vancouver on Wednesday.

"These are extremely important games for us now," said Helm after Friday's win. "Coming out flat like we did [against] Vancouver is not acceptable. [This] was a lot better effort by us."

Henrik Zetterberg and Tomas Holmstrom also had goals for Detroit, while goaltender Jimmy Howard needed to make only 20 saves to record his 23rd win of the season.

The Red Wings will now focus on attempting to beat the Blackhawks, a task that has proven rather difficult as of late. Chicago has bested Detroit in five of the last six matchups between the Original Six foes, including three of four meetings this season, and the Red Wings have been shut out in each of their past two visits to the Windy City.

Chicago also blanked the Wings by a 3-0 count in Detroit on December 23 behind a 33-save effort out of goaltender Antti Niemi.

The Blackhawks' offense was the difference in their most recent outing, when the Central Division leaders erupted for five first-period goals en route to a 6-3 triumph over visiting Vancouver on Friday.

Andrew Ladd, Duncan Keith, Troy Brouwer, Kris Versteeg and Jordan Hendry all lit the lamp in the opening session as Chicago won for the second straight game and sixth time in its last seven tilts. The Blackhawks began this current four-game homestand with a 5-2 decision over Edmonton on Wednesday.

"They carried the play in the first period," said Canucks goaltender Roberto Luongo. "They came out strong and that was pretty much the game."

Patrick Kane assisted on Hendry's tally to extend his scoring streak to eight games, with the United States Olympian amassing four goals and eight helpers during that stretch. Keith has a goal and five assists over a five-game point streak.

Chicago begins today's play two points behind San Jose for the Western Conference lead with 91 points and is 16 points ahead of second-place Nashville in the Central standings. Detroit is three points back of the Predators in the division race.

Horsetacing Hockey Betting News

<< Lions battle Zags in WCC Tournament semifinals
Las Vegas, NV (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The 18th-ranked Gonzaga Bulldogs are the top- seeded team in the West Coast Conference Tournament, and they begin play at the event with a semifinal-round matchup against the fifth-seeded Loyola Marymount Lions.

<< SEC showdown pits Gators against Wildcats
Lexington, KY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The third-ranked Kentucky Wildcats close out the regular season this afternoon with an SEC clash against the Florida Gators, who need a victory to help their NCAA Tournament prospects. Losses in the last two

<< Shockers battle Panthers for MVC Tournament crown
St. Louis. MO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Gunning for their second straight Missouri Valley Conference Tournament championship, top-seeded Northern Iowa takes on second-seeded Wichita State in the title game this afternoon at the Scottrade Center in St.

<< Illinois welcomes No. 15 Wisconsin to Champaign
Champaign, IL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - In desperate need of a win, the Illinois Fighting Illini seek an upset of the 15th-ranked Wisconsin Badgers today in a Big Ten showdown at Assembly. At 10-7 within the conference, Illinois is already guarante

<< Spartans can claim share of Big Ten title with win over Wolverines
East Lansing, MI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Bitter Big Ten Conference rivals close out the regular season against each other this afternoon in East Lansing, as the Michigan Wolverines come calling on the 11th-ranked Michigan State Spartans. Michigan

Heat suspend Alston indefinitely >>
Miami, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Miami Heat announced they have suspended guard Rafer Alston indefinitely. The team's statement said Alston, who made contact with the Heat via text message, has "made himself otherwise unavailable t

Raptors face home test vs. Sixers >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Toronto Raptors have been solid defenders of their home floor and will try to keep it that way Sunday afternoon versus the Atlantic Division-rival Philadelphia 76ers at Air Canada Centre. The playoff-hopeful Rapto

Predators to host Canucks in key conference clash >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - While the Vancouver Canucks continue on a record sequence of road games, the Nashville Predators have been enjoying their time at home as of late. The playoff-hopeful Predators shoot for a third straight win at Bridgestone

30 Something: Durant, Thunder visit Kings >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Kevin Durant and the Oklahoma City Thunder will close out a three-game road trip Sunday against the Sacramento Kings at ARCO Arena. Durant led the Thunder to a 104-87 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday, pu

Flames aim for revenge against division-rival Wild >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Calgary Flames will have an opportunity to avenge a recent shutout loss to the Minnesota Wild when the two Northwest Division foes face off for the second time in less than a week this afternoon at the XCel Energy Center.

Terrell Owens could return for Cowboys next game
A bye week will allow Terrell Owens broken hand to recover just in time for the next game the Dallas Cowboys are slated to play, according to reports. MySportsbook.com, an football sportsbook, has posted football betting lines on TO playing.

Owens broke the bone leading to his right ring finger Sunday night and had a plate surgically attached to it Monday. Although Owens' hand was swollen and aching Wednesday, Dallas Cowboys coach Bill Parcells said he's optimistic the receiver will be back at work next week and catching passes a week from Sunday against the Tennessee Titans.

MySportsbook.com online sportsbook listed Terrell Owens with odds of 7-2 (or $7 paid out for every $2 bet) to return back for the game against Tennessee.

"I certainly wouldn't rule it out now," Parcells said, referring to Terrell Owens immediate return. "Maybe five days from now I might, but I wouldn't rule it out now. ... I know we're looking to try to get him moving around pretty good in the next day or so. So we'll see where we are."

Owens did not speak with reporters Wednesday, but said Sunday he'd be out two to four weeks. A return against the Titans would be 13 days after the surgery. The Cowboys were listed as an early -7 1/2 favorite vs. the Tennessee Titans for Week 4 at MySportsbook.com

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your Sportsbook accepts Mastercard needs.