Chimera's OT goal lifts Blue Jackets over Blackhawks

Hockey Betting Lines

01/17/2007 - Chicago, IL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jason Chimera scored 2:31 into overtime to lift the Columbus Blue Jackets to a 5-4 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks at the United Center.

Fredrik Modin, Sergei Fedorov and Rostislav Klesla also scored for the Blue Jackets, who won for the first time in five games (1-3-1). Fredrik Norrena started in goal for Columbus, but was pulled midway through the second period after he allowed three goals on 15 shots. Ty Conklin made 12 saves in relief while Joe Motzko added his first career goal for the Blue Jackets, who will visit Nashville on Thursday before a three-game homestand.

Bryan Smolinski scored two goals for the struggling Blackhawks, who fell to 0-6-1 in their last seven games overall. Patrick Sharp and Jimmy Vandermeer both added a goal in the losing effort.

Chicago goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin allowed five goals on 18 shots.

After Smolinski tied the score at 4-4 with a late third-period goal, the contest went into overtime. Midway through the extra session, the Blue Jackets gained a 3-on-1 rush and cashed in. Chimera hustled over the blue line down the right-wing side and fired home a wrist shot from inside the circle as the visitors skated off with the win.

"Our line was out there when they tied the game, so it was nice to win this see-saw battle with hard work," said Chimera.

Columbus improved to 3-2 against the Hawks this season and also beat their Central Division foes by the same 5-4 margin in Chicago in early October.

Modin gave Columbus a 4-3 lead with 5:56 remaining in regulation when his wrist shot from the top of the left circle made its way in through traffic.

However, at 18:27, Smolinski's second goal of the game -- which was scored in almost exactly the same fashion as his first -- sent the game into overtime. A wraparound clearing attempt by the Blue Jackets saw the puck take a strange bounce along the left half-wall, stay in the Chicago offensive zone and it ended up on the stick of Martin Havlat along the rear boards. Havlat quickly fed out to the low slot for Smolinski's a successful one-timer.

"We had a two-goal lead and mental mistakes cost us," said Chicago's Martin Lapointe. "It's frustrating."

The opening period saw the teams trade goals within a 33-second span.

First, at 4:25, Fedorov's 14th goal gave the visitors the lead. A redirection one-timer in the low slot by Nikolai Zherdev was saved by Khabibulin but the puck trickled behind him and sat on the goal line for several seconds. After several pokes, Fedorov finally pushed the puck over the goal line.

Only 33 seconds later, though, the Blackhawks answered on Sharp's seventh goal. Tony Salmelainen held control along the rear left boards and passed to Sharp, who corralled the disc beneath the left circle and fired a wrister that Norrena saved. But Sharp followed his shot and lit the lamp on the rebound.

Before the midpoint of the second period, Chicago scored twice for a two-goal edge.

Smolinski scored at the 4:37 mark after strong forechecking by linemate Karl Stewart, whose bodycheck along the rear boards squirted the puck free and Havlat swooped in. Havlat then fed a backhand pass from behind the net near the left post out to the low slot for an easy one-timer by Smolinski that flew past Norrena.

With 10:38 to go in the second, Vandermeer's first goal of the campaign made it 3-1. Tuomo Ruutu held the puck along the outer rim of the left circle on a 3-on-2 rush and left a soft drop pass for Vandermeer, who wound up and fired home a one-timer from the high left slot.

That sent Norrena to the bench in favor of Conklin, and the Blue Jackets responded positively to the change with a pair of goals inside the final six minutes of the stanza.

"It really turned the game's momentum around," said Conklin of the goaltender change. "I was surprised because I didn't think the goals (that Norrena allowed) were that bad."

After a one-timer from the point by Klesla beat Khabibulin with 5:58 remaining, Motzko's first NHL goal -- a blazing wrist shot from inside the left circle at 15:22 -- tied it up.

Game Notes

This marked the fourth time in franchise history that the Jackets have played on this date of January 16. They improved to 4-0 in such games...Chicago fell to 10-12-2 at home this season...The Blue Jackets have won nine of the last 14 games against the Hawks...It was Chimera's ninth goal of the season...All the goals in the game were scored at even-strength. Chicago ended 0-for-3 on the power play while the Jackets had just one chance with the extra skater...Attendance was 10,623.

Casinobaccarat Hockey Betting News

<< Falcons continue MAC surge by topping RedHawks
Oxford, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Ali Mann scored 18 points to lead 18th-ranked Bowling Green to a 64-56 win over Miami-Ohio. Liz Honegger added 11 points and 10 rebounds for the Falcons (15-2, 5-0 MAC), who won their eighth straight overa

<< Williams nets OT goal to lift Canes over Panthers
Sunrise, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Justin Williams scored a power-play goal 1:47 into overtime to lead the Carolina Hurricanes to a 3-2 victory over the Florida Panthers at BankAtlantic Center. Florida's Mike Van Ryn got called for hol

<< Streaking Senators surge past Capitals
Ottawa, ON (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Mike Comrie had a pair of goals as the streaking Ottawa Senators skated past the Washington Capitals, 5-2, at Scotiabank Place. Daniel Alfredsson and Peter Schaefer each had a goal and an assist, and Andrej Masz

<< Royals avoid arbitration with OF Brown
Kansas City, MO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Kansas City Royals avoided salary arbitration with Emil Brown on Tuesday, agreeing on a one-year contract with the outfielder for the 2007 season. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. The 3

<< Crosby, Christensen lead Pens over Isles
Pittsburgh, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Sidney Crosby and Erik Christensen notched a pair of goals each, lifting the Pittsburgh Penguins over the New York Islanders, 5-2, at Mellon Arena. Michel Ouellet picked up a goal and an assist fo

USF trounces No. 15 Louisville >>
Tampa, FL (The Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Sophomore guard Shantia Grace scored a game- high 20 points and dished out 11 assists, leading South Florida to a 74-58 victory over No. 15 Louisville at the Sun Dome. Jessica Dickson contributed 15 p

Steen and Maple Leafs zap Lightning >>
Tampa, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Alex Steen's late third-period goal was the eventual game-winner, as the Maple Leafs edged the Lightning, 4-2 at St. Pete Times Forum. Alexei Ponikarovsky and Nik Antropov both tallied a goal and an as

Lofton reportedly on verge of becoming Raiders head coach >>
San Diego, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Oakland appears ready to turn over the keys of a rebuilding project to a rival assistant coach and Hall of Fame receiver, as Chargers wide receivers coach James Lofton is reportedly on the verge of becomin

25th-ranked Wildcats crush Gamecocks >>
Columbia, SC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Joe Crawford poured in 23 points as the 25th- ranked Kentucky Wildcats crushed the South Carolina Gamecocks, 87-49, at the Colonial Center. Randolph Morris scored 17 points and added 11 rebounds while R

Memphis crushes UAB >>
Memphis, TN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Sophomore forward Robert Dozier scored a team- high 15 points and also grabbed eight rebounds as 17th-ranked Memphis ran over UAB, 79-54, at FedEx Forum. Jeremy Hunt contributed 14 points for Memphis (14-3, 4-

MySportsbook.com - The World's Leading Online Sportsbook

For more than 11 years now, MySportsbook.com has been the World’s BEST online sports book website, providing a safe and secure place for sports wagering. Our world-class level of experience and industry sportsbook expertise is unmatched.

Offering a wide array of sports to wager on, MySportsbook.com leaves no stone unturned in our search to provide you with great football betting lines and online blackjack options. From teasers to parlays, from futures to wacky propositions, we add more game excitement than any other sportsbook. Fully licensed in two gaming jurisdictions, MySportsbook.com is open and eager to assist you 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Whatever the sporting event, this online sportsbook has you covered. Enjoy some of sport’s most memorable moments that much more with MySportsbook.com. With increased interest, follow the game-winning field goal, the walk-off homerun, the buzzer-beater or the hole-in-one shot. Bank on that clutch glove save, the upset TKO or an incredible Hail Mary pass. MySportsbook.com quenches your thirst for action.

To visit this online blackjack got to MySportsbook.com for all your Sportsbook accepts credit cards needs.

Numerous College Basketball teams take final big step to March Madness betting

So, what turned on the lock spigot? Well, after what felt like weeks of teams treading water and slipping back into the bubble muck, a bunch of them finally decided to say "to heck with parity" and won games that should put them into the Big Dance.

Disagree with some of these? Then here's the challenge. Take all of the "should be ins" and make a legit case that each should be ahead of the team that's a lock. Then find 10 more teams that also should be placed in the bracket ahead of that lock team. Not so easy, is it?

If you want more evidence that these locks should be good to go, check out what our research department dug up. Since the NCAA Tournament went to 64 teams in 1985, only six teams from a "big six" conference have had a record of 10-6 or better in conference play and not been selected: Colorado (2004) and Nebraska (1999) from the Big 12, Boston College and Seton Hall (both 2003) from the Big East, Indiana (2005) from the Big Ten and UCLA, which somehow went 12-6 in the Pac-10 in 1988 and still missed out. (Note: Five teams went 11-7 and didn't get in, the latest being last season's Stanford team, which had a brutal nonconference run.)

Yes, 10 conference wins doesn't always mean what it used to because of unbalanced schedules, but this season, it should be plenty good in all but the extreme cases (see: Iowa).

In a way, this is a welcome development, because this is a bubble watch, not a lock watch. We can finally be done with teams like Maryland and Virginia Tech and start really bearing down on at-large battles such as Syracuse-West Virginia and Appalachian State-Georgia Tech.

Interestingly, all the shifting of teams into lock status appears to be more administrative than impactful. The number of remaining available at-larges didn't change one iota. The only difference is that teams on the bubble now have a clearer idea of which team(s) they are competing with for those precious bids.

The Bubble Breakdown
CONFERENCE LOCKS SHOULD BE INS AT-LARGES TAKEN
(assuming no auto bid outlier)
ACC Betting Odds 6 0 5
Big East Betting Odds 5 0 4
Big Ten Betting Odds 2 2 3
Big 12 Betting Odds 3 0 2
Pac-10 Betting Odds 5 1 5
SEC Betting Odds 4 0 3
MVC Betting Odds 1 1 1
MWC Betting Odds 2 1 2
TOTAL 28 5 25

As always, I've tried to be as inclusive as possible while only including teams that would have a reasonable chance of at least being discussed if this were Selection Sunday. If your team's not on here, there's probably a good reason (or three) -- start with the RPI and SOS numbers and work your way down.

(Please remember, per selection committee criteria, that records displayed are Division I only. Next update: Feb. 28)

If you have a legitimate grievance, or just like talking bubble, send an e-mail. Polite ones with fact-based arguments have a much better chance of receiving a response. I apologize in advance if I can't get back to all of you.

Atlantic Coast Conference

Work left to do: Clemson, Florida State, Georgia Tech

The ACC moves to six locks as BC, Va Tech and Virginia all got their 10th ACC wins, which should be more than enough this season, and Maryland rallied past North Carolina to get the final piece the Terps needed. After that? It could end there unless FSU, Ga Tech or Clemson picks things up in a hurry.

 

Work left to do:

Clemson [19-9 (5-9), RPI: 41, SOS: 42] The Tigers are closer to locking up the collapse of the year award (in a good battle with OK State) than they are to grabbing an at-large. Clemson's been very competitive, but there's no really positive way you can spin nine losses in 11 games. They now cannot get to .500 in ACC play and still must head to Virginia Tech in the season finale (after hosting Miami). Unless the Tigers win both and/or do some serious work in the ACC tourney, they very well could be left out. There are no great nonconference wins, but ODU, App State, Miss. State, South Carolina and Georgia are all respectable W's.

Florida State [18-11 (6-9), RPI: 48, SOS: 14] The Noles got thrashed at Maryland to run their losing streak to five, but then pounded NC State at home to set the table for what likely is an elimination game at Miami. You can at least make a case for the Seminoles at 7-9 in ACC play (and some work in the ACC tourney), but 6-10 is not going to cut it. Wins at Duke and over Florida will resonate, but the computer numbers remain questionable. Beyond Florida, FSU thrashed bubble buddy Providence, but there's not a ton beyond those two games that will help. They didn't show well in big-time opportunities against Pitt and Wisconsin (before the Florida win).

Georgia Tech [18-10 (6-8), RPI: 51, SOS: 46] The Jackets beat Wake on Wednesday but couldn't get it done at UVa on Saturday, which could be a crucial loss with UNC and BC (both at home) remaining and 8-8 almost a certain need for at-large consideration. A nonconference win over Memphis helps, but the RPI and SOS are not at-large quality right now; if you combine those with a sub-.500 ACC mark, that could spell NIT for GT.

For more College Basketball betting lines go to MySportsbook.com

Additional basketball lines can be found at: www.MySportsbook.com

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com - this sportsbook accepts credit cards.