Sabres try to run win streak to four games versus Wild

Hockey Betting Lines

03/12/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Buffalo Sabres will aim for a fourth consecutive victory when they welcome the Minnesota Wild for an interconference clash at HSBC Arena.

The Sabres' three-game winning streak is the club's longest since a season- best six-game stretch from Dec. 27-Jan. 8. Buffalo needs all the wins it can get at this point as it fights to stay atop the Northeast Division. With 81 points, the Sabres are just two ahead of Ottawa for first place.

After winning back-to-back overtime decisions the Sabres recorded a regulation victory Wednesday against Dallas. Thomas Vanek scored the eventual game-winner midway through the second period, helping lift the Sabres to the 5-3 home win.

Rookie defenseman Tyler Myers had a goal and three assists for the Sabres, continuing to solidify his status as a Calder Trophy candidate. Myers is third amongst all rookie skaters with 36 points and is the top defenseman on that list.

Derek Roy and Mark Mancari each had a goal and an assist. Jason Pominville had the other score for the victors.

"I'm very excited to get in to help the team," Mancari said. "Obviously, I'm doing everything I can to stay here."

Ryan Miller made 17 saves to pick up his 33rd win of the year. Buffalo's No. 1 netminder is expected to sit tonight in favor of backup Patrick Lalime. Miller is instead expected to start Saturday in Detroit.

Buffalo has won three of its last four home games and is 21-8-6 as the host this year.

Meanwhile, the Wild have lost four straight games, going 0-2-2 over that stretch. Minnesota's playoff hopes are fading, as the Wild are currently tied for 12th in the Western Conference and nine points out the West's final postseason berth.

The Wild did not help their playoff chances at all on Thursday, getting pounded 5-1 in Detroit. Johan Franzen tallied a pair of goals as the Red Wings flattened Minnesota at Joe Louis Arena.

Andrew Ebbett notched the lone score for the Wild, who slid to their sixth loss in eight contests.

Josh Harding was tagged for all five goals on 30 shots in defeat.

"Tonight just wasn't my night," Harding said. "It was bouncing off me, and went off their guys and in the net. It just bounced over top of me and into the net. There's a couple that if I save, who knows what the outcome will be?"

Harding could start again tonight after regular goaltender Niklas Backstrom suffered a groin injury during Thursday's morning skate. Wade Dubielewicz has not been officially recalled as the backup but did make the trip to Buffalo in case Backstrom is unable to suit up tonight.

The Sabres won an OT decision in Minnesota in the only meeting between the clubs last year. Buffalo has won two of the last three encounters and has five wins in nine all-time matchups between the clubs. The Wild have won three straight in western New York.

The Wild have a poor 10-20-3 record as the visiting team this season.

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MySportsbook.com and Kentucky Derby Offer Bonuses
The 2008 Kentucky Derby has announced a $1-million bonus for this weekend’s 134th ‘Run for the Roses’ and MySportsbook.com is doing the same.

Well, not quite $1 million, but MySportsbook.com is offering a 75% rebate for Kentucky Derby lines. Check out the exclusive horse racing bonus for all the details.

According to MySportsbook.com, the favorites for Saturday’s Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky are: Curlin (+250); Street Sense (+500); Scat Daddy (+700); Circular Quay (+750); and Nobiz Like Shobiz (+800).

Derby organizers announced this week that there will be a $1-million bonus at the 2007 Kentucky Derby odds if the first-place horse wins by more than 6 1/2 lengths – the margin of Barbaro's victory last year. The bonus would be divided Saturday among the winning trainer, jockey, owner and a charity, with each receiving 25 percent. The designated charity is the Barbaro Memorial Fund.

''It's certainly creative, it's certainly fun and it has something for the horsemen, which we always want to embrace,'' Churchill Downs president and chief executive Robert Evans said at a news conference. ''What's really cool is it will force us to remember Barbaro.''
    
Meanwhile, the Derby favorite – Curlin – is going against the odds this year. It's been 125 years since Apollo won after skipping his 2-year-old season, and not since Regret in 1915 has such a lightly seasoned horse worn the blanket of red roses.

Arkansas Derby winner Curlin – unbeaten in three career races – tries to overcome both those obstacles in Saturday's 133rd Derby.

''We're not running against history,'' trainer Steve Asmussen said Monday. ''We're running against who they load up.''

Six other horses have run in the Derby without benefit of 2-year-old races and with three or fewer starts. The best any of them managed was a sixth-place finish by Showing Up last year.
   
Asmussen dismissed suggestions that Curlin's lack of racing experience could keep him from the winner's circle.

”He exudes confidence and he's got a great presence about him,'' the trainer said. ''I feel great about the position we're in. He's not worried about anything, why should you be?''
   
The Kentucky Derby is at 4:04 p.m., ET Saturday.

For complete odds on the Kentucky Derby, visit MySportsbook.com. Mysportsbook.com online sportsbook accepts Visa and Mastercard credit cards.