05/13/2008 - (Hockey Betting) - The Philadelphia Flyers hope a return to their home ice can get them on the board in the Eastern Conference finals, as Philly welcomes the Pittsburgh Penguins to the Wachovia Center for Game 3 of the best-of-seven series.
The second-seeded Penguins, champions of the Atlantic Division, have grabbed a 2-0 edge in the series dubbed as the "Battle of Pennsylvania" by posting a pair of 4-2 victories on their home ice in Games 1 and 2.
Pittsburgh is now 10-1 overall in this postseason and has won 21 of its last 27 games dating back to the regular season. The Penguins are also 7-0 at home in the playoffs and have won 15 straight at the Igloo since last losing a test in the Steel City on February 24 against San Jose.
The series will now shift to the eastern side of the Keystone State for Games 3 and 4. The Flyers, who were 21-14-6 as the home club during the regular season, will also host a test at the Wachovia Center on Thursday. Philadelphia is 4-1 at home this postseason.
Pittsburgh was 21-17-3 as the visiting team during the regular season and 3-1 on the road in this year's playoffs.
The Penguins swept Ottawa in the opening round and defeated the New York Rangers in five games during the conference semifinals.
The sixth-seeded Flyers are in the conference finals after outlasting Washington in seven games in the opening round and then beating top-seeded Montreal in five games.
After taking the series opener by a 4-2 count on Friday, the Penguins extended their lead with a victory on Sunday by the same score. Maxime Talbot scored the go-ahead goal 8:51 into the third period to help Pittsburgh take a two games to none advantage.
Talbot returned to the lineup after missing the last three games due to a broken right foot.
Sidney Crosby finished with a goal and an assist for the Penguins, who are trying to take a 3-0 lead for the third straight series. Marian Hossa and Jordan Staal also scored for the Penguins.
After failing to score a goal in the New York series, Crosby has notched a marker in each of the first two games against Philadelphia. The 20-year-old captain has four goals and 13 assists in 11 playoff games this year, tying him with Evgeni Malkin for the team-lead in postseason points. Malkin has registered his 17 points on eight goals and nine assists.
Sergei Gonchar finished with three assists, while Marc-Andre Fleury stopped 30-of-32 shots in the victory for Pittsburgh.
Jeff Carter scored, and Mike Richards added a shorthanded tally for the Flyers. Martin Biron faced 37 shots, and stopped 34 of them.
Philadelphia was already playing without star defenseman Kimmo Timonen, who is out for the entire series with a blood clot, but also lost blue-liner Braydon Coburn, who was hit near the eye with a puck and did not return. Coburn's eye was swollen shut and over 50 stitches were needed to close the gash. The Flyers have not revealed if any permanent damage to the eye was sustained.
Coburn is doubtful for tonight's game and 21-year-old Ryan Parent is expected to take his place in the lineup.
Prior to the injuries, Coburn and Timonen made up Philadelphia's top defensive pairing and the players were the top-two Flyers in terms of average ice time per game.
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 also fell behind 0-2 in that series, but won the final four outings, including a memorable five-overtime matchup in Game 3.
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Brewers
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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