05/11/2008 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Pittsburgh Penguins will try to take a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference finals tonight, when they host the rival Philadelphia Flyers in Game 2 at Mellon Arena.
The second-seeded Penguins, champions of the Atlantic Division, had an impressive showing in the series opener on Friday, downing their division rivals and fellow Pennsylvanians by a 4-2 count in the Steel City.
With the victory, Pittsburgh improved to 9-1 in this postseason and has won 20 of its last 26 games dating back to the regular season. Pittsburgh swept the Ottawa Senators in four games during the opening round and then notched a five-game series victory over the rival New York Rangers.
The Pens were an excellent home team during the regular season, going 26-10-5 at the Igloo. They are 6-0 in Pittsburgh during the postseason. Philadelphia was 21-15-5 as the visiting team this year and 4-4 on the road in the playoffs.
The series will shift to the other side of the Keystone State for Games 3 and 4. The Flyers will host the third meeting on Tuesday night at the Wachovia Center.
Evgeni Malkin scored twice and added an assist, as Pittsburgh doubled up Philadelphia in Game 1 at the Igloo.
Sidney Crosby and Petr Sykora also tallied for the Penguins, while Marc-Andre Fleury made 26 saves to earn his ninth win.
Malkin leads Pittsburgh in goals (8) and points (17) this postseason. The sophomore sensation is a finalist for the Hart Trophy, which is given annually to the league MVP, after notching 106 points (47 goals, 59 assists) during the regular season.
Meanwhile, Crosby's goal was his first since scoring against Ottawa in Game 4 of the opening round. Last year's Hart Trophy recipient has three goals in this year's postseason and has also added a team-high 12 assists.
Mike Richards scored twice for the Flyers, who fell to 8-5 on the playoff year. Martin Biron had an uncharacteristically off night in net, allowing four goals on only 21 shots in the loss.
The sixth-seeded Flyers also lost Game 1 in both of their previous series this postseason. Philadelphia defeated Washington in seven games during the opening round and needed just five games to oust top-seeded Montreal in the conference semifinals.
Philadelphia missed the impact of veteran defenseman Kimmo Timonen, who is likely lost for the remainder of the playoffs with a blood clot in his left leg.
Timonen, an All-Star in each of the past two seasons, is averaging nearly 25 minutes of ice time in the playoffs and was used by the Flyers to help contain Alex Ovechkin in the Washington series and Montreal's Alex Kovalev in the next round. The 33-year-old Finn was expected to take a similar role against Crosby and Malkin.
The Flyers are in the conference finals for the first time since 2004 and last made it to the Stanley Cup finals in 1997, when they were swept by Detroit.
Pittsburgh is in the conference finals for the first time since 2001. The Pens haven't made it to the Stanley Cup finals since winning the second of back-to- back championships in 1992.
The Flyers won the season series against Pittsburgh, 5-3, but Philadelphia posted four of those victories prior to the All-Star break, before the Penguins really started to click.
The Penguins then won three straight in the series before Philadelphia posted a 2-0 victory on the final day of the regular season.
The Flyers are 3-0 all-time in playoff series against the Penguins with the most recent meeting coming in the 2000 conference semifinals. Philadelphia fell behind 0-2 in that series, but won the final four outings, including a memorable five-overtime matchup in Game 3.
<< Floyd leads Pale Hose at Seattle
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as they will have to battle the red hot Gavin Floyd and the Chicago White Sox
in the finale of a three-game set at Safeco Field.
Floyd was at the top of his ga
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(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Randy Johnson will try to keep his perfect record against
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game series at Chicago's historic Wrigley Field.
Johnson, who is 2-1 with a 5.06
<< Pirates, Braves continue series at PNC Park
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jair Jurrjens seeks a fifth straight start without a loss
today when the Atlanta Braves enter PNC Park for the third game of a four-game
series with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
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<< Reds visit Mets at Shea
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Cincinnati rookie Johnny Cueto tries for a second straight
win today, when the Reds visit Shea Stadium to close out a three-game weekend
series with the New York Mets.
The 22-year-old Dominican burst onto the scene in
Santana leads Halos into Tampa >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - For the second consecutive matchup the Los Angeles of
Anaheim will send an undefeated pitcher to the hill, as Ervin Santana will try
to shut down the Tampa Bay Rays in the finale of a three-game set at Tropicana
Field.
Jays, Tribe resume series in Cleveland >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Toronto Blue Jays will try to get back on the winning
track when they take on the Cleveland Indians this afternoon in the third
matchup of a four-game series at Progressive Field.
The Blue Jays have lost three
Pettitte leads Yankees against Tigers >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The New York Yankees will try to inch their way up the AL
East standings when they take on the Detroit Tigers today in the finale of a
three-game set at Comerica Park.
Andy Pettitte will try to get back into the win c
Boston takes on Minnesota at Metrodome >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The American League's top team, the Boston Red Sox, will
take the field this evening in hopes of winning the third test of a four-game
set against the Minnesota Twins at the Metrodome.
Tim Wakefield will take the hill toni
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.
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