Blues make a stop in Tampa

Hockey Betting Lines

03/06/2009 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The St. Louis Blues play the first part of their two-game Sunshine State trip tonight, when they visit the Tampa Bay Lightning at St. Pete Times Forum.

The Blues, who will also visit the Florida Panthers on Saturday, had won a season-high tying three straight games prior to Tuesday's 5-0 setback versus Detroit.

Chris Mason had yielded just one goal per game in each of his previous five starts (4-0-1) before allowing all five goals on 36 shots faced versus the Red Wings. With the loss, the Blues are now four points back of a playoff spot.

St. Louis, which is 12-15-3 on the road this year and has won three straight as the guest, had outscored its opponents by an 8-3 margin over its three- game win streak, but was shut out for the fifth time this season.

Leading-goal scorer Brad Boyes failed to light the lamp for an eighth straight game. Boyes leads the Blues with 25 goals and 51 points, but has just one assist over his scoring drought. He does have five goals and seven assists in nine career games versus Tampa Bay.

St. Louis has three losses and a tie in its last four trips to Tampa, where it hasn't won since March 24, 2000. The Blues have also lost two straight overall in the series, including a 5-4 home loss on February 5 of last season.

Tampa Bay, which has lost seven of its last nine, will take the ice for the first time since Tuesday's 3-1 loss to Pittsburgh with a bit of a new look.

One day after the loss to the Penguins, a contest in which Vaclav Prospal scored the lone goal and Karri Ramo made 30 saves, the Lightning were involved in three trades prior to Wednesday's deadline. The biggest deal sent veteran winger Mark Recchi to Boston along with a 2010 second-round pick for defenseman Matt Lashoff and forward Martins Karsums.

Recchi turned 41 years old last month, but was having a solid season with 13 goals and 45 points in 62 games with the Lightning.

The Lightning also dealt netminder Olaf Kolzig, defensemen Jamie Heward and Andy Rodgers and a 2009 fourth-round pick to Toronto for defenseman Richard Petiot. The 26-year-old Petiot had three goals and 14 points in 45 games this season for the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League.

Kolzig wasn't expected to play again this season after having surgery to repair a torn distal biceps tendon in his left arm. Heward has been out since January 2 due to a concussion.

Finally, the Lightning dealt defenseman Steve Eminger to the Florida Panthers in exchange for defenseman Noah Welch and a third-round pick in the 2009 draft.

Tampa Bay plays the middle portion of a three-game homestand tonight and is 11-13-8 as the host this year. The club has dropped four of its last five at St. Pete Times Forum.

Sportsbok Hockey Betting News

<< Habs try to bounce back in Atlanta
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Montreal Canadiens will try to rebound tonight versus the Atlanta Thrashers, as the two clubs get together at Philips Arena. The Canadiens had won four straight games until Wednesday's 5-1 setback to Buffalo. Tomas Ple

<< Bulls welcome Bucks to Windy City
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Something more than just area bragging rights will be on the line when the Chicago Bulls and Milwaukee Bucks renew their rivalry tonight at the United Center. These two Central Division foes, separated by just 90 miles, en

<< Pistons welcome Warriors to The Palace
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - After enduring their longest losing streak in 14 years, the Detroit Pistons have suddenly looked like their old selves again. The resurgent club aims for its fourth win in a row when it welcomes the Golden State Warriors t

<< Eastern Conference heavyweights meet as Cavs visit Celtics
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - One of the biggest showdowns of this year's regular season takes place tonight at TD Banknorth Garden, where the reigning world champion Boston Celtics square off against the Cleveland Cavaliers in a clash of the Eastern Conf

<< Raptors hope to snap skid vs. Heat
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The struggling Toronto Raptors still have a chance at a playoff spot and will try to put the brakes on a three-game losing streak this evening against the Miami Heat in the opener of a two-game homestand. The Raptors will

Sabres host Coyotes aiming for back-to-back wins >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Buffalo Sabres will try to post back-to-back victories for the first time in over a month when they welcome the Phoenix Coyotes for tonight's encounter at HSBC Arena. Buffalo ended a three-game losing streak its last t

Ducks, Stars clash in Anaheim >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Minus a few familiar faces, the Anaheim Ducks will host a Pacific Division foe tonight when they welcome the Dallas Stars for a battle at Honda Center. Anaheim is tied with Edmonton and Dallas for the eighth and final play

Streaking Bobcats host Hawks in Southeast showdown >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Charlotte Bobcats will be shooting for their longest winning streak in almost a year when they host the Southeast Division-rival Atlanta Hawks Friday night from Time Warner Cable Arena. Charlotte is riding a season-hig

New Flame Jokinen shoots for encore performance against 'Canes >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Olli Jokinen made a big splash in his first game with the Flames and will try to stay hot as Calgary visits the Carolina Hurricanes in tonight's interconference battle at RBC Center. On Thursday, Jokinen celebrated his fir

Suns continue trek with key clash in Houston >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Phoenix Suns, currently on the outside looking in at the Western Conference playoff picture, hope to gain some ground as they resume a four-game road trip by visiting the Houston Rockets Friday at the Toyota Center. T

Marlins could start season without No. 2 starter Johnson

JUPITER, Fla. -- The Foorida Marlins are preparing for the likelihood that right-hander
Josh Johnson won't be ready when the season starts April 2.

Grapefruit League action starts Wednesday, but Johnson, penciled in as the No. 2 starter, hasn't even thrown off a mound at full speed since September. He's experienced some soreness in his right forearm.

MySportsbook.com have the Marlins listed with baseball betting lines at +800 to win the NL East this season .

''You guys know the math. If he's not on the hill then he becomes an opening day roster issue,'' manager Fredi Gonzalez said Saturday. ''We're borderline now.''

Johnson, who finished 12-7 with a 3.10 ERA in 2007, was supposed to throw on flat ground Saturday. That was canceled when he woke up with pain.

He played catch on Wednesday with no pain but felt discomfort in a throwing session on Thursday. He's expected to try again Sunday.

''Like we always said from the very beginning, we're going to take it easy on him,'' Gonzalez said. ''He didn't feel right, so we shut him down. We're going to take it back to step one and see where we're at.''

Among the candidates to take Johnson's spot in the rotation are left-hander Chris George and right-handers Yusmeiro Petit and Jose Garcia.

Right-hander Sergio Mitre, who missed most of last season with arm and shoulder problems, also is behind.

With Johnson's status doubtful, Gonzalez said right-hander Ricky Nolasco will stay in the rotation and no longer will be considered a candidate for closer.

Additional basbeall odds can be found at: www.MySportsbook.com

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