Aiming to extend win streak, Flyers visit Canadiens

Hockey Betting Lines

12/18/2008 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The red-hot Philadelphia Flyers will shoot for their sixth consecutive victory when they visit the sliding Montreal Canadiens for tonight's battle at the Bell Centre.

The Flyers can match their longest winning streak of the season after also taking six games in a row from November 15-26. Philadelphia has also earned at least a point in 16 of its last 17 contests, going 13-1-3 over that stretch.

The most recent triumph for the Flyers came in Tuesday's home decision over Colorado. Simon Gagne and Mike Richards recorded a goal and two assists each as Philadelphia topped the Avalanche, 5-2, at the Wachovia Center.

Mike Knuble, Jeff Carter and Joffrey Lupul also tallied for the Flyers, who are second in the Atlantic Division with 40 points on the season.

Antero Niittymaki, in place of the flu-ridden Martin Biron, made 29 saves for the win and improved to 6-1-2 on the season. Biron did not make the trip for this evening's contest and Scott Munroe will back up Niittymaki once again.

Richards has the second-longest current point streak in the NHL, having reached the scoresheet in eight straight contests. He has seven goals and eight helpers during the run and is tied with Gagne for the team lead in points this year with 37.

Carter also extended his point streak to five games and has four goals and four assists over that stretch.

Philadelphia has won four of its last five road tests and is 7-3-3 as the visiting club this year.

The Canadiens, meanwhile, were handed a 3-2 setback in Carolina on Tuesday as Eric Staal scored twice and Joe Corvo netted the game-winner in the second period.

Alex Kovalev ended a 19-game goal drought with a short-handed tally and Guillaume Latendresse scored on a penalty shot for the Canadiens, who have dropped three straight and four of five overall.

Kovalev has been a huge disappointment for Montreal so far this year as he has just six goals and 23 points in 30 games. Last season, the Russian veteran led the Habs in both goals (35) and points (84).

Jaroslav Halak made 24 saves in the loss as he started his fourth straight game in place of Carey Price, Montreal's No. 1 goaltender. Price was at first sidelined due to the flu, but is now out with a lower-body injury and is questionable for tonight's game.

Montreal is 9-4-3 as the host this year, but has lost two straight and three of its last four in Quebec. Tonight marks the start of a three-game homestand for the Habs.

Philly and Montreal have split a pair of meetings this year with each team winning a test on the opposition's ice. Montreal has still taken eight of 10 overall in the series and five of seven at the Bell Centre.

The Flyers and Canadiens also met in last year's Eastern Conference semifinals and Philly won that series in five games.

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Football Betting Lines

The 2009 AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year odds have been released and Denver Broncos' running back Knowshon Moreno has been made the opening favorite.

Bet NFL Sports Lines

Moreno was selected in the first round of April's NFL draft and is expected to carry the rushing load for the Broncos this season. And with Jay Cutler now in Chicago, Moreno might be expected to be Denver's entire offense.

Betting Lines from sports betting lines have made Moreno a 5/2 favorite to win this year's Offensive Rookie of the Year Award. Fellow running back Chris “Beanie” Wells (Arizona Cardinals) is right behind Moreno at 7/2, while Donald Brown (Indianapolis Colts) and receiver Michael Crabtree (San Francisco 49ers) are 5/1 to win. Quarterbacks Mark Sanchez (New York Jets) and Matthew Stafford (Detroit Lions) are 7/1 and 8/1, respectively.

A couple of players who present some value are Josh Freeman, Shonn Green and Darrius Heyward-Bey.

Freeman needs to beat out Byron Leftwich to become the starting quarterback of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers but if he does, he has a lot or raw talent and could use the weapons around him (i.e. Kellen Winslow Jr. and Antonio Bryant) to be very successful in his first season.

Green enters a crowded backfield in New York, but considering both Thomas Jones and Leon Washington are unhappy about their contract situations and might holdout, the former Iowa product could become the Jets' primary back.

Everyone was shocked when Al Davis took Heyward-Bey with the eighth overall pick in April's draft, but the kid has a tremendous amount of talent and if quarterback JaMarcus Russell takes the next step this year, the former Maryland product could blossom. Plus, Heyward-Bey will be looking to prove the people wrong who said Oakland should have taken Michael Crabtree with the No. 8 pick.

And if you're looking for a deep sleeper, check out Pat White at 30/1. He enters the Miami Dolphins vaunted “Wild Cat” offense and could be a big time playmaker.

For complete odds on the 2009 AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year odds, see below.

2009 AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Odds to Win

Ramses Barden (NYG) 40/1

Andre Brown (NYG) 20/1

Donald Brown (IND) 5/1

Kenny Britt (TEN) 20/1

Glenn Coffee (SFO) 30/1

Chase Coffman (CIN) 50/1

Michael Crabtree (SFO) 5/1

Josh Freeman (TB) 14/1

Shonn Green (NYJ) 14/1

Percy Harvin (MIN) 10/1

Darrius Heyward-Bay (OAK) 18/1

Juaquan Iglesias (CHI) 30/1

Cornelius Ingram (PHI) 50/1

Rashad Jennings (JAC) 30/1

Johnny Knox (CHI) 40/1

Jeremy Maclin (PHI) 18/1

Mohamed Massaquoi (CLE) 30/1

LeSean McCoy (PHI) 12/1

Knowshon Moreno (DEN) 5/2

Hakeem Nicks (NYG) 18/1

Brandon Pettigrew (DET) 30/1

Brian Robiskie (CLE) 20/1

Mark Sanchez (NYJ) 7/1

Matthew Stafford (DET) 8/1

Jason Smith (STL) 40/1

Mike Thomas (JAC) 25/1

Patrick Turner (MIA) 50/1

Mike Wallace (PIT) 50/1

Chris Wells (ARI) 7/2

Pat White (MIA) 30/1

Field (Any Other Player) 9/1

Betting Line

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