Gerber returns, helps Leafs clip Caps

Hockey Betting Lines

03/05/2009 - Washington, DC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Martin Gerber made 37 saves in his Maple Leafs debut as Toronto defeated the Alexander Ovechkin-less Washington Capitals, 2-1, at the Verizon Center.

Lee Stempniak and Pavel Kubina each scored for Toronto, which has registered a point in eight straight games (5-0-3). Gerber, who was claimed off waivers from the Ottawa Senators Wednesday, earned his fifth win of the season in his first game since January 8.

Despite being outshot, 38-29, the Leafs were able to beat the Caps for the first time in three tries this season.

Alexander Semin scored, while Jose Theodore allowed two goals on 29 shots to take the loss for Washington, which has dropped three straight and four of six. Ovechkin missed the game with a heel injury after hurting himself in the team's practice on Wednesday.

Washington outshot Toronto, 13-9, in the first period, but neither team was able to find the back of the net.

The second period ended in the same result, with neither team scoring a goal. Toronto failed on two power play chances, while the Caps squandered their only man-advantage.

The Leafs finally mustered some offense 6:05 into the third period. After a puck off the boards came right to Stempniak, he banked a shot off Theodore's right skate and into the net.

Kubina gave Toronto some breathing room just under four minutes later, blasting a slap shot past Theodore with 10:13 to play.

Washington pulled the goaltender with just over 1 1/2 minutes to go, and Semin made it a one-goal game with 38.6 seconds to play. The home team couldn't net the equalizer, as Toronto skated away with the hard-fought victory.

Game Notes

Maple Leafs goaltender Vesa Toskala will miss the regular season with hip and groin injuries. He will soon undergo season-ending surgery...Toronto on Wednesday also acquired former Capitals goaltender Olaf Kolzig, defenseman Jamie Heward and minor-league blueliner Andy Rogers while giving up Nik Antropov, Dominic Moore and Richard Petiot in separate deals...Washington fell to 25-9-1 at home, while Toronto improved to 15-15-4 on the road...Washington also lost defenseman Tom Poti, who played just seven seconds due to a groin injury.

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2007 NFL Football Betting Preview


“You play to win the game!”

Those are the words of notoriously intense head coach Herman Edwards. Unfortunately, from a bettors’ perspective, most coaches don’t feel that way about the NFL preseason. August is a time to evaluate young players, finalize the depth chart and pray your star players stay healthy.

The trick to making money during the exhibition schedule is identifying coaches – like Edwards – who can’t stand losing even when there's nothing on the line.

The New York Jets betting won 15 of 21 preseason games and went 14-7 against the spread (ATS) during Edwards’s five-year tenure with the club. In his first season as the Kansas City Chiefs field boss, the team improved from 0-4 to 2-2.

Identifying win-a-holics like Edwards is a good start if you plan betting the preseason – even though most say you shouldn’t ... but what the hell do they know anyway?

Here’s a brief rundown of two teams that have a habit of winning during the second-stringers’ season, and another club that has a good chance of exceeding this year.

New York Giants betting lines

Playing in the media hub of North America can be stressful but the press can’t write anything negative about the way Tom Coughlin’s boys play in the preseason. The Giants won and covered all four games last summer, improving their record to 7-1 both straight up (SU) and against the spread over the last two years.

Coughlin has shown he’s not afraid to give his starters more time in the second preseason game than most of his colleagues, no doubt one of the reasons his team has been so dominant.

Dallas Cowboys betting lines

Bettors can count on America’s team early on. The Cowboys are 14-6 both SU and ATS since 2002 in warm-up contests. Former coach Bill Parcells, the coach of the team the last four years, has an intimidating, in-your-face presence – surely a reason Dallas has had so much early success.

The Big Tuna won’t be strolling the sidelines with looks of disgust, but new coach Wade Phillips will be anxious to make a good first impression for owner Jerry Jones.

Dallas plays the Indianapolis Colts and the Denver Broncos before things get serious. They then face the Houston Texans in their third contest (the game starters see most game time) and finish off with the Minnesota Vikings.

Expect a Dallas team able to walk away with another 3-1 preseason record.

Oakland Raiders betting lines

This team scored a league-worst 12 offensive touchdowns last season, so the rookies and veterans each have something to prove. There’s a bounty of first-unit jobs up for grabs and plenty of bodies competing for those slots.

First-time head coach Lane Kiffin will be eager to impress an owner who employs the philosophy, “Just win, baby!”

The 32-year-old Kiffin has to command respect from a locker room full of players older than him. All of these factors should lead to purpose in preseason. 

Don’t forget: before playing like a team that belonged in NFL Europe, Oakland went 4-1 (both SU and ATS) in exhibition games.

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your football wagering needs. Mysportsbook.com online sportsbook accepts Visa and Mastercard credit cards.