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02/21/2007 - Buffalo, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Daniel Briere posted a goal and two assists as the first-place Buffalo Sabres crushed the last-place Philadelphia Flyers, 6-3.
Chris Drury, Jason Pominville and Derek Roy each had a goal and an assist for the Sabres, who have won seven of their last nine and improved to 4-0-1 on their current six-game home stand.
Adam Mair tallied his first goal in 43 games for Buffalo, while Andrew Peters scored for the first time since March 26, 2004.
Simon Gagne continued his torrid play as of late with two goals and Mike Richards notched a career-high three assists for the Flyers, who have dropped three of their last four.
Philadelphia netminder Robert Esche, in his first start since February 3, gave up four goals on 14 shots before being pulled early in the second period.
The game started off with a bang as R.J. Umberger and Brian Campbell exchanged fisticuffs just over two minutes into the opening period. Umberger, though, was whistled for instigating and was handed a game-misconduct penalty as the Sabres took advantage of the ensuing power play.
With time running out on the man-advantage, Roy fired the puck past a screened Esche 4:04 into the period to give Buffalo the first score of the game. Gagne's first goal of the game briefly knotted the contest midway through the period, but Peters answered with his first goal of the season 38 seconds later to make it 2-1 Sabres.
Mair then redirected Campbell's shot from the point 1:45 into the middle stanza to make it 3-1 and just 40 seconds later, Briere scored on the power play to make it a three-goal contest and chase Esche from the game.
Philadelphia did not go down quietly as Gagne's second goal of the game -- a cross-ice pass that deflected off a Sabre and past Buffalo goaltender Ryan Miller -- midway through the second period brought the Flyers within 4-2. Sami Kapanen then scored on a nice individual effort 5:17 into the third to make it a one-goal game.
Drury, however, answered with a power-play tally just over two minutes later and Pominville scored with 6:53 left in the third to restore the Sabres' three-goal advantage.
Game Notes
Miller ended the game with 32 saves...Gagne has recorded nine goals and four assists in his last seven games...Kapanen's score broke a 14-game goal-less drought...Flyers defenseman Alexei Zhitnik played in his 1,000th game...Esche has given up 13 goals in two starts in Buffalo this season and was pulled in both games...Antero Niittymaki took over for Esche and finished with just six saves.
<< Thomas, Bruins blank Maple Leafs
Toronto, ON (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Tim Thomas stopped 44 shots to record his
third shutout of the season, helping the Boston Bruins to a 3-0 win over the
Toronto Maple Leafs at Air Canada Centre.
Stanislav Chistov, P.J. Axelsson, and
<< Thrashers storm past Hurricanes
Raleigh, NC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Johan Hedberg made 33 saves to lead the Atlanta
Thrashers to a 3-1 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes in a big Southeast
Division battle at RBC Center.
Marian Hossa had a goal and an assist and Ilya
<< Providence knocks off No. 22 West Virginia
Providence, RI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Joe Alexander missed a wide open three for a
tie with 14.5 seconds left then Herbert Hill iced the tournament resume-
building victory with a breakaway slam, as Providence downed No. 22 West
Virgini
<< Oh, what a Neitzel: MSU upsets No. 1 Wisconsin
East Lansing, MI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Drew Neitzel scored 11 of his 28 points
during a game-clinching run in the final minutes, as Michigan State downed
top-ranked Wisconsin, 64-55, at the Breslin Center.
Neitzel, who hit 10-of-17 shot
Rutgers women rout Providence >>
Piscataway, NJ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Matee Ajavon scored 23 points and Epiphanny
Prince added 14 to lead 21st-ranked Rutgers to a 69-34 pounding of Providence.
Heather Zurich tallied 10 points for the Scarlet Knights (18-7, 11-3 Big
East
No. 18 Bowling Green rolls over Kent State >>
Kent, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Amber Flynn poured in 21 points and led six
players in double figures, as 18th-ranked Bowling Green defeated Kent State,
89-66, at the M.A.C. Center.
Kate Achter scored 14 points, Carin Horne chipped
Crawford, Curry propel Knicks over Magic >>
New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jamal Crawford and Eddy Curry each scored 20
points to lead the New York Knicks over the Orlando Magic, 100-94, at Madison
Square Garden.
Quentin Richardson added 15 points and David Lee had 14 points and
Nebraska falls to Iowa State >>
Ames, IA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Megan Ronhovde scored 15 points and pulled down
eight rebounds, as Iowa State defeated 25th-ranked Nebraska, 64-53, at Hilton
Coliseum.
Lyndsey Medders poured in 13 points and had nine boards for the Cyclones
(
BILLS (+10) at Steelers SPORTSBOOK LINES
It's impossible to gauge how a team will react after something like the Steve Everett situation, and it probably doesn't matter. That being said, the Bills are going to lose several games this year where they keep things close but fall short in the end to superior teams. Ben Roethlisberger and company could have a field day against Buffalo's decimated defense, but I like the Bills to cover.
BENGALS (-7) at Browns SPORTSBOOK LINES
All you can ask out of your NFL team is that it has a plan. You may not always agree with it as a fan, but as long as it appears the organization is going in some sort of direction, you have to go with it. Which brings us to the Cleveland Browns. You flip a coin to determine whether Chuck Frye or Derek Anderson should start the preseason opener. You start Frye in Week 1, but pull him in the first half. And then you deal him to the Seahawks for a sixth-round pick? Hmm... the Bengals could get six turnovers again this week.
COLTS (-7) at Titans SPORTSBOOK LINES
Tennessee signed ex-Colts cornerback Nick Harper in the offseason so that should help slow down Peyton Manning. Just ask Jason David and the Saints. Oh wait... One of these weeks, I'm going to learn to not pick against Tennessee, which has won seven of its last eight games. But it's not happening against Indy.
TEXANS (+6.5) at Panthers SPORTSBOOK LINES
Houston's Mario Williams, the first pick in the '06 draft, has more touchdowns than Reggie Bush after one week. Somehow I don't see that lasting. Meanwhile, Carolina bottled up what was expected to be a pretty high-octane offense in St. Louis in Week 1. Could this be the Panthers' defense everyone expected last year? Maybe. This feels like a 20-16 Carolina win.
RAMS (-3) vs. 49ers SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Absolutely love this game. Everyone's favorite pick for this year's surprise team -- the 49ers -- laid an egg on Monday night (not that anyone was watching with the game ending in the middle of the night for those of us on the East Coast). St. Louis wasn't much better, delivering a lackluster effort against the Panthers that included two Steven Jackson fumbles and panic from his fantasy owners. Jackson rebounds this week, and the Rams get their first win.
PACKERS (+1.5) at Giants SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Do you really trust this guy to win an NFL game if Eli Manning can't go? I say no. I'd feel alot better about this Packers team if it had any semblance of a running game, but I still think Green Bay's defense is good enough to give it a 2-0 start.
JAGUARS (-10) vs. Falcons SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Does it scare me to pick Jacksonville to cover a double-digit spread after it scored just 10 points last week against the Titans? Absolutely. But can I bring myself to pick Atlanta under any circumstances? No. Check out this poll on ajc.com. It asks what Atlanta's most urgent deficiency is: offense, defense, specials teams or all of the above. "All of the above" has 57 percent of the votes. Ouch.
SAINTS (-3) at Buccaneers SPORTSBOOKS LINES
I'm picking way too many road teams this week. Oh well. New Orleans has had some time to reflect on its lackluster showing in the opener, and the Buccanneers just aren't a very good football team. Anyone else surprised Tampa Bay hasn't made a move to sign Byron Leftwich? I thought that's what they do.
VIKINGS (+3) at Lions SPORTS BETTING LINES
Run the ball and stop the run. Minnesota can do both, and that will keep them in a lot of games this season. Even though it was only one week, Adrian Peterson looks like he was a steal at No. 7 in last year's draft. Not only will he produce, but Peterson delivers excitement to what otherwise would be one of the league's most boring teams.
DOLPHINS (+3.5) vs. Cowboys SPORTS BETTING LINES
Lost in the Tony Romo lovefest is just how bad the Cowboys' defense was last week. I know they're banged up, but Dallas' 'D' allowed 438 yards to the Giants' offense, and backup running back Derrick Ward averaged 6.8 yards per carry. Meanwhile, Cam Cameron's decision to split carries between Ronnie Brown and Jesse Chatman sounds about as can't-miss as Larry David's plan to show up to Marty Funkhouser's party a night late. Still, gotta go with Miami to cover at home.
SEAHAWKS (-2.5) at Cardinals SPORTS BETTING LINES
I'm probably missing something, but this game seems too easy. Arizona blew Monday night's game against the 49ers in typical Cardinals fashion, and the Seahawks beat Tampa Bay by two touchdowns. Love Seattle in this one.
BRONCOS (-9.5) vs. Raiders SPORTS BETTING LINES
Special teams was a major story line in Week 1. Take a look at the Broncos. They had to rush on to the field to get a Jason Elam field goal as time expired against the Bills. Denver drove into Buffalo territory on eight of 10 drives but came away with just a pair of field goals and a touchdown. Look for more scoring from the Broncos this week against an Oakland defense that gave up 36 points to Detroit in Week 1.
BEARS (-12) vs. Chiefs SPORTS BETTING LINES
Everyone talks about Rex Grossman when dissecting the Bears' offense, but Chicago's quarterback got no help in last week's loss to the Chargers. Meanwhile, Kansas City confirmed what we all thought while watching Hard Knocks: The Chiefs are going to stink this year. It could be a rough first month for Larry Johnson fantasy owners. Kansas City's RB was limited to 43 yards on 10 carries in Week 1, and the Chiefs face the Bears, Vikings and Chargers the next three weeks, all formidable run defenses.
RAVENS (-10) vs. Jets SPORTS BETTING LINES
A big dose of Willis McGahee and a usual sound defensive effort will give the Ravens their first win. According to Football Outsiders, no team in the NFL rushed only three defenders on pass plays last year more than the Jets. And according to my special Jets correspondent Ben Stauber, New York did the same in Week 1. Whoever starts at quarterback for the Ravens should have all day to throw.
PATRIOTS (-3) vs. Chargers
Friends and I were discussing how Bill Belichick goes about paying his $500,000 fine for cheating. Does he just write one check to the NFL? Do you need some sort of clearance to make such a monstrous financial transaction? I guess I shouldn't complain about the security deposit I have to put down on my new apartment. Anyway, two of the league's best teams square off in what should be a good one Sunday night. The Patriots always respond well just when you think they're in trouble. And their offensive attack was the story in Week 1.
Note: Monday night game will be picked Monday. Lines used are from football betting.
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