Predators aim to extend series win streak over Kings

Hockey Betting Lines

03/14/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - There is a chance that the Predators could visit the Kings in the postseason's opening round depending on how the Western Conference shakes down. Los Angeles would prefer that didn't happen.

Currently seeded seventh in the West, Nashville will try for its seventh straight win over Los Angeles this afternoon at Staples Center.

The Predators have 79 points on the season, one more than the eighth-seeded Red Wings and two up on the ninth-seeded Flames. Nashville is also just three points behind the Avalanche and six back of the Kings, who are currently fifth in the standings.

Los Angeles would like to avoid a first-round meeting with Nashville, which has won its two meetings with the Kings this year to run its overall winning streak in the series to six games. The Preds have also won four straight at Staples Center, where they haven't lost since October 23, 2007.

Nashville, which will try to avoid its first overall loss to Los Angeles since March 13, 2008, wraps a four-game road trip tonight. The Predators improved to 2-1-0 on that trip with Friday's 1-0 win over Anaheim.

Shea Weber scored a first-period goal while Nashville skated with a five-on- three advantage off assists from Jason Arnott and Ryan Suter, who has a goal and five helpers over his last seven games. Pekka Rinne made it stand up with 31 saves for his fourth shutout of the season in what was his 100th NHL games.

"He's been a great goalie ever since he's been here and obviously the organization wants him for the long run," said Weber about Rinne, who owns 11 career shutouts. "They showed that by signing him [to a two-year extension on Feb. 24]. Obviously, he's rewarding them with some good play."

Rinne could again draw the start today seeing as he is a perfect 3-0-0 with a 2.62 goals-against average in three lifetime meetings with the Kings.

The Kings will try to solve the Predators today in the opener of a four-game homestand. Los Angeles has won six of its last eight at home and returns to Staples Center after Friday's 2-1 shootout victory in Dallas.

With starter Jonathan Quick away from the team after his wife gave birth to the couple's first child Friday morning, 21-year-old Jonathan Bernier was recalled from Manchester of the American Hockey League and posted 29 saves. Bernier was making just his fifth career start and first since Oct. 2007. He earned the second win of his career and first since winning his NHL debut on Sep. 29, 2007.

"He's a very talented young man," Kings head coach Terry Murray said on his team's Web site of Bernier, "and he has worked hard this year to get his game to a good level and having good success. The opportunity and the preparation came together here tonight, and I really liked what I saw."

Despite that, Quick is expected return to the net today aiming for his first career win versus the Predators. He is 0-2-1 with a 3.31 GAA lifetime against them.

Fredrik Modin scored his third goal in five games since being acquired by the Kings from Columbus before the trade deadline, while Jarret Stoll had the game-winner in the shootout's sixth round.

Los Angeles, which won 34 games last year, reached the 40-win plateau for the first time since 2005-06 and tied a club record by winning its 21st road game.

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NCAA Football Betting

Many fans thought it was the best side in the nation by the end of last season. This year, the polls have built on Georgia's momentum and granted it the No. 1 preseason ranking, followed by Ohio State and USC. (The Associated Press has the Buckeyes at No. 2; USA Today took the Trojans.)

"To have people believing we have one of the best teams in the nation going into this thing, it's exciting for us," Bulldogs coach Mark Richt told the AP. "I don't think anything is guaranteed, but we certainly have put ourselves in position where at least the college football world thinks we're pretty good."

Georgia Bulldogs - 9.5 wins

There's no question they're good, but the Bulldogs have one of the toughest 12-game schedules in the nation, mostly because they play in the powerhouse Southeastern Conference. Away games at No. 15 Arizona State, No. 7 LSU and No. 10 Auburn loom large, with contests between the hedges versus No. 24 Alabama and No. 18 Tennessee as well as the World's Largest Cocktail Party in Jacksonville versus No.5 Florida.

Ohio State Buckeyes - 10 wins

Like the Bulldogs, the Buckeyes also have a number of tough road contests in 2008. After two scrimmages dressed up as real games versus Youngstown State and Ohio, it's off to face USC. Other tough away games include No.13 Wisconsin in October and No. 20 Illinois in November. Granted, it should be pretty easy sledding at the Horseshoe. In fact, the only ranked team that travels to Columbus is No. 22 Penn State, in October.

USC Trojans - 10.5 wins

A similarly light schedule awaits the Trojans of Southern California, which is why the oddsmakers' total is one win more and the over is currently commanding -150 odds. Pete Carroll's troops only play three ranked teams in 2008, and all of those games are at home. After what should be an easy trip to Virginia to start things off on Aug. 30, the Trojans get two weeks to prepare for Ohio State in Los Angeles. Their two other ranked opponents, No. 21 Oregon and No. 15 Arizona State, visit in consecutive weeks to start the month of October. After that, the competition eases up. Of course, this is the same highly-touted school that lost to Stanford in 2007 and Oregon State in 2006. And don't discount the fact that USC plays its biggest rivals, Notre Dame and UCLA, back-to-back to close out the regular season. On paper, the Trojans are far superior, but motivation will be high for the Irish and Bruins, especially if their historic foes are in national-title contention.

Odds to Win the Heisman Trophy

Tim Tebow, Florida - 7/2
He won it last year, so it's no surprise he's the favorite to do it again, making him just the second player to go back-to-back. Ohio State's Archie Griffin turned the trick in 1974 and 1975, and Tebow's coach, Urban Meyer, is pretty sure his star quarterback can match the Buckeyes legend.

"There has never been anyone quite like him," Meyer told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "I am very lucky to be his coach."

Chris Wells, Ohio State - 5/1

The man they call "Beanie" was a star recruit out of high school, so it's not like nobody knew who the star tailback was before he rushed for 576 yards as a freshman in 2006 and 1,609 as a sophomore. But perhaps his finest moment came last year versus Michigan when he rumbled for 222 yards and two touchdowns in the Buckeyes' 14-3 victory over the hated Wolverines.

Knowshon Moreno, Georgia - 8/1

If the Bulldogs are to live up to expectations, they'll need a huge effort from their sophomore running back. This might be the last year of college ball for Moreno, who rushed for 1,334 yards and for 14 touchdowns as a freshman, while adding 253 receiving yards on 20 receptions, so expect big things for the man from Belford, N.J.

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