Bruins hope to get on track versus Capitals

Hockey Betting Lines

02/05/2012 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Boston Bruins hope to avoid matching their longest losing streak of the season this afternoon as they visit a Washington Capitals club that has its eyes set on first place in the Southeast Division.

The Bruins haven't been very impressive in February's early goings, getting blanked 3-0 by the Hurricanes on Thursday before suffering a 2-1 setback to the Penguins yesterday. It marks the first time since Dec. 6-8 that the Northeast Division leaders have lost consecutive games.

Joe Corvo scored and Tim Thomas made 26 saves for Boston, which has lost three of four and owns a five-point edge over Ottawa in the division. The Bruins are also three back of the New York Rangers for the most in the Eastern Conference, but will look to avoid dropping three in a row for the first time since Oct. 22-29.

"You got to start building on the positive and I thought tonight our effort was better and our focus was better," Bruins head coach Claude Julien said. "There was a couple of areas, again, that we need to continue to improve on but if our guys go out [Sunday] and give that same effort we're going to turn this around."

Boston will play two straight and eight of its next 10 on the road and remains without Nathan Horton, who has sat out four straight due to a mild concussion.

The Capitals return home to begin a three-game residency after snapping a four-game skid on the road with Saturday's 3-0 triumph in Montreal. Tomas Vokoun made 30 saves for his third shutout of the season and 47th of his career.

Vokoun blanked the Canadiens for the first time in his career and played the majority of the game with just a one-goal lead before Matt Hendricks and Alexander Semin found the back of the net in the third to create some breathing room.

Defenseman Dennis Wideman, who scored in the first, praised his goaltender for preserving the slim edge.

"[The Canadiens] took the game in the second (period), but (Vokoun) made some great saves and kept it 1-0," the Washington defenseman said. Montreal outshot the Capitals 10-3 during the middle stanza.

Washington, which had dropped four of five overall coming in, welcomed Alex Ovechkin back to the lineup as it pulled to within one point of idle Florida for the top spot in the Southeast Division. Ovechkin had been suspended for three games for an illegal hit on Pittsburgh's Zbynek Michalek on Jan. 22 and logged a shot and three hits in just under 20 minutes of ice time.

The Caps moved to 9-14-3 on the road this year and now return home, where they are 18-6-1 on the season and have won eight of nine.

The Bruins took three of four from the Capitals a season ago, but Washington drew first blood in this year's four-game series with a 5-3 home win on Jan. 24 that featured the first hat trick of Mathieu Perreault's career.

Boston has lost two straight and seven of its past nine in Washington.

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Football Betting: Defensive Rookie of the Year Awards

Oddsmakers have released the odds for the 2009 AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award and Seattle Seahawks linebacker Aaron Curry has been made the opening favorite.

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Seattle took Curry with the fourth overall pick in April's NFL draft and plan on inserting him into its starting lineup right away. The Hawks traded linebacker Julian Peterson in the offseason, so Curry is expected to have a significant role in Seattle's defense next year and that's one of the primary reasons he is the favorite to win the NFL ROY Award.

Oddsmakers from online sportsbook MySportsbook.com have made Curry a 5/1 favorite to win this year's NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award. Given that he was the best defensive prospect in this year's draft and how he'll have plenty of opportunities to make plays in '09, Curry offers a ton of value at 5/1.

Another thing working for Curry is the position he plays. A linebacker has won the defensive ROY award six straight times and eight of the last nine years. Jerod Mayo, Patrick Willis, DeMeco Ryans, Shawne Merriman, Jonathan Vilma, Terrell Suggs, Kendrell Bell and Brian Urlacher were the most recent linebackers to take home the award.

Following Curry at 5/1 are Tyson Jackson (Chiefs) at 7/1, James Laurinaitas (Rams) at 8/1, Brian Orakpo (Redskins) at 10/1, Rey Maualuga (Bengals) at 10/1 and Jerry Peria (Falcons) at 10/1.

All the players mentioned above are expected to start for their respective teams, but Jackson and Peria are going to have a tough time being recognized on a national level given they're both defensive linemen. D-linemen rarely put up the numbers that it takes to win an individual award like the ROY.

A couple of players with some value are Clay Matthews (Packers) at 12/1 and Larry English (Chargers) at 15/1. Matthews is expected to start at outside linebacker in Green Bay's new 3-4 defense and could rack up a ton of tackles. English, who was an impressive player at Northern Illinois, is expected to be a situational pass rusher for the Chargers and could rack up a ton of sacks.

For complete odds on the 2009 AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award, see below. And for complete odds for the 2009 AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Award, click the link provided.

2009 AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award

Robert Ayers (DEN) 12/1

Ron Brace (NE) 25/1

Everette Brown (CAR) 16/1

Darius Butler (NE) 40/1

Patrick Chung (NE) 30/1

Aaron Curry (SEA) 5/1

Brian Cushing (HOU) 12/1

Vontae Davis (MIA) 30/1

Louis Delmas (DET) 30/1

Larry English (SD) 15/1

Evander Hood (PIT) 25/1

Tyson Jackson (KC) 7/1

Malcolm Jenkins (NO) 25/1

Paul Kruger (BAL) 50/1

James Laurinaitas (STL) 8/1

Sen'Derrick Marks (TEN) 20/1

Clay Matthews (GB) 12/1

Aaron Maybin (BUF) 15/1

Rey Maualuga (CIN) 10/1

Roy Miller (TB) 20/1

Michael Mitchell (OAK) 45/1

Fili Moala (IND) 30/1

Brian Orakpo (WAS) 10/1

Jerry Peria (ATL) 10/1

B J Raji (GB) 7/1

Clint Sintim (NYG) 35/1

Alphonso Smith (DEN) 40/1

David Verkune (CLE) 20/1

Jason Williams (DAL) 30/1

Field (Any Other Player) 6/1

NFL football gambling

To visit this internet sportsbook go to MySportsbook.com for all your football betting needs.