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05/25/2010 - Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Sometimes a team has to be very bad before it can climb to the top of the mountain. Look at the Pittsburgh Penguins. They finished last or next-to-last in the two seasons surrounding the lockout and by 2008 were representing the Eastern Conference in the Stanley Cup Finals. Obviously selecting Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby in back-to-back drafts accelerated the process, but sometimes it doesn't hurt to rebuild from the bottom up.
The Chicago Blackhawks were in the same boat as Pittsburgh, finishing in last place in the Western Conference in the 2003-04 season. However, unlike the Penguins, they still finished last in the Central Division three years later.
The Blackhawks missed the playoffs again the following campaign, but along the way drafted Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane to put them in position to challenge for Lord Stanley's Cup as the decade came to an end.
Many experts predicted great things this season, after Chicago reached the Western Conference Finals in 2008-09, and they were right. By the end of the Olympic break, the Blackhawks were the 2-1 favorites to represent the West in the Stanley Cup Finals.
They failed to get the conference's number one seed over San Jose, but still finished the regular season with 112 points, only one point behind the Sharks. They also ranked third in the league in scoring with 271 goals and fifth in goals allowed at 209.
After disposing Nashville, Vancouver and San Jose in the postseason, the Blackhawks have home ice vs. Philadelphia in the Stanley Cup Finals. However, they are only 5-3 at United Center in the postseason. That statistic could come back to haunt them if faced with a must-win situation in a possible game seven.
THE EASTERN CONFERENCE REPRESENTATIVE
Chicago has earned the right to be favored vs. Philadelphia, but favorites don't always hoist the Cup. Just ask the Detroit Red Wings who were beaten just last season by the Penguins.
Balanced scoring and the addition of Chris Pronger catapulted the Flyers from first-round losers in 2009 to Cup finalists in 2010. In fact, many prognosticators, including yours truly, predicted the Flyers to represent the Eastern Conference before the season began.
However, multiple goalie injuries and uninspired play plagued the club for most of the year. So much so that making the playoffs was not even a foregone conclusion. The oddsmakers even labeled them the sixth choice at 12-1 to win the East heading into March.
On the verge of being left out of the postseason, the Flyers rallied for a shootout victory over the Rangers on the final day of the regular season, securing the seventh-seed and a date with the New Jersey Devils.
Even though they were heavy underdogs, the Flyers were a confident bunch, especially since they had tremendous regular season success vs. New Jersey, beating Martin Brodeur and the Devils five of the six meetings. Philadelphia proceeded to win the series in five games.
The Flyers then faced Boston due to Montreal's upset of Washington.
Down three games to none, they bounced back with a miraculous comeback nailing the seventh game 4-3 after trailing 3-0. From there, they made easy work of the Canadiens, winning that series in five.
WHO HAS THE EDGE?
Chicago has been installed as the heavy favorite to win the Stanley Cup. In fact, bettors must wager $250 to win $100 if they pick Chicago to win the series.
On the surface, that line looks way too high but considering where each team was seeded in postseason play, it's obvious which club has the superior profile. In addition, the Flyers have yet to play a team with such a high- powered offense as Chicago. The Devils, Bruins and Canadiens were all offensively-challenged and Philadelphia took advantage by allowing just 36 goals in only 17 games.
Taking on the Blackhawks will be an entirely new confrontation. Joel Quenneville's squad scored four goals or more in eight of their last 12 "second season" contests. Will Flyers goalie Michael Leighton, who has been outstanding in the postseason, be able to withstand the pressure?
He did beat Chicago in the only meeting this year, saving 39 of 41 shots in a 3-2 home win on March 13. That was the contest in which Chris Pronger scored the game-winning goal with only three seconds remaining.
Both Chicago (Duncan Keith) and Philadelphia (Pronger) have a rock on defense, capable of seeing 30 minutes of action per game. The Blackhawks mostly played five defensemen against San Jose as Jordan Hendry saw fewer than 10 minutes in all four matchups. On the other side, Ryan Parent and Lukas Krajicek played a little over 20 minutes combined in the final two Eastern Conference Final games.
Offensively, each team has three scoring lines capable of putting pucks in the net. Six Chicago players have scored at least four playoff goals, and Marian Hossa, who has only two, can break out at any time. Seven different Flyers have scored at least four as well, while two more players have three.
Both squads have excellent special teams so it's hard to give either side the edge on the power play.
In between the pipes, both Antti Niemi and Michael Leighton have been outstanding in the postseason.
Niemi is 12-4 with a 2.33 goals-against average and a .921 save percentage. He was instrumental in holding the Sharks to just seven goals in four games - twice facing 45 shots or more.
Leighton, since coming in to replace the injured Brian Boucher, has allowed only 11 goals in seven-plus games for a 1.45 GAA and a spectacular .948 save percentage. But once again, those contests came against the likes of Boston and Montreal.
For the Flyers to upset Chicago they need their defense to help out Leighton by blocking as many shots as possible and giving him square looks on the shooters. Philadelphia will not be able to win the high-scoring games.
For the Blackhawks to be successful, they must wear down Philadelphia's defense with the likes of Dustin Byfuglien, Troy Brouwer and Ben Eager throwing their weight around in the offensive zone.
Both teams are well-coached, so don't expect either squad to show signs of cracking under the pressure.
Four of the last six Stanley Cup Finals have been stretched to seven games and this one should be no different. Since Philadelphia is the heavy underdog, go with the Flyers to come away with a 3-2 victory in the seventh and final game, bringing the Stanley Cup back to Broad Street for the first time since 1975.
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Chicago, IL - New Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler and star linebacker Brian Urlacher shot down reports of a rift, saying they're simply not true.
"There's nothing between us," Cutler said Thursday, when he reported to training camp. "I just want to put that to rest. There never has been anything between us."
Urlacher added: "I never said what I was quoted as saying and that's it. I have a lot of respect for Jay. I think Jay knows that."
Former Bears receiver Bobby Wade caused a stir when he told Minneapolis radio station KFAN-AM that Urlacher used a profanity while questioning Cutler's manhood during a conversation in Las Vegas last weekend. Wade, who now plays for the Vikings, said Urlacher used a profane version of the word "wimp" during the interview that had to be edited out.
go radio station WSCR-AM also reported that Urlacher had to be restrained from confronting Cutler during organized team activities.
"I wouldn't go face-to-face with Brian, anyway," Cutler said. "No, that's never happened. I've hung out with Brian away from the facility numerous times and we've always gotten along."
Urlacher, noting he was limited by a groin injury, denied the reports in an interview with the Chicago Tribune and did it again when he reported to camp.
"I didn't practice this summer, so I don't know how I would fight the guy if I didn't practice," Urlacher said. "We have no problems. I'm excited about football starting. I'm excited to have him as our quarterback."
Why would Wade say that?
"I don't know," Urlacher said. "Maybe he's jealous because we have a good quarterback now."
Cutler said the first he heard of any friction was when he got a call from Urlacher to clear the air. Urlacher, however, said he had already taken several calls from teammates wondering if the reports were true when Cutler phoned.
"He called me and I said, What's up (expletive), what are you doing?'" a grinning Urlacher said, uttering the same word he allegedly used with Wade. "It's so dumb to me that this even got to this point, but it did and then here we are."
better place after going 9-7 and missing the playoffs for the second straight year. They have a franchise quarterback for the first time in decades after acquiring Cutler in an offseason trade with Denver. But there are questions about his attitude following a fallout with Broncos management and new coach Josh McDaniels.
His critics include former Bears coach Mike Ditka and former Indianapolis and Tampa Bay coach Tony Dungy, one of Smith's mentors. Smith, however, said Cutler has been a model teammate so far while denying any animosity with Urlacher.
"There's no issue with Jay and Brian, except Brian and Jay are both excited about being teammates for our club this year," coach Lovie Smith said. "No more than that. We can't spend a whole lot of time on something that isn't true. I have talked to the players. Whenever something comes out, you have to address it, but it's a non-issue."
In some ways, Cutler is getting a second chance in Chicago, an opportunity to repair his reputation.
Smith said another quarterback - Michael Vick - deserves one, although he doesn't see it happening with the Bears, who lack an experienced backup. The former Atlanta Falcons star, who served a 23-month sentence for running a dogfighting ring, said Thursday he is getting close to signing with a pro football team.
"A second chance, like everyone in society who has paid their debt to society," Smith said. "He deserves a second chance. As far as we're concerned, we like this team that we have right now."
Particularly the new quarterback.
"Me and Brian have been on a good relationship since I've been here, and I expect it to continue that way," Cutler said.
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Albert Pujols to be This Year's Home Run Champ Says Online Sportsbook
Barry Bonds is a 50-1 long shot to be this year's home run champ odds. The favorite to be this year's home run champ is none other than Albert Pujols, however.
Now that Barry Bonds is signed and in Giants camp, it is on to his pursuit of all of sports most prestigious records: the all-time home run mark. Bonds sits just 21 homers shy of tying Hank Aaron for the career mark at 755. Word out of Giants’ camp is that Bonds is the healthiest he has been in a few years. Bonds is just two seasons removed from his injury riddled 2005 campaign where he played in only 14 games and hit only 5 home runs. He did come back last year and had a solid season hitting .270 with 26 bombs. All eyes will be on Bonds this spring and summer not only because of his home run chase but his highly publicized steroid abuse allegations. If and when Bonds breaks the record, he surely will not get the positive attention one should for breaking a record that was once thought of as “unbreakable”. Despite Bonds decent season last year, he is just 50-1 at MySportsbook.com to lead the MLB in long balls this season.
Not surprisingly, the favorites to go deep the most times this season are Albert Pujols 5-1, Ryan Howard 6-1, David Ortiz 8-1 and Alex Rodriguez 12-1. With 49 homers, Pujols finished second in the National League behind Howard (58). Pujols is considered the favorite due to the consistent power numbers that he has posted since breaking into the league in 2001. Also one must consider the fact that he played in 16 fewer games then Howard did due to an injury. Howard smashed 58 homers in his first complete season of big league play en route to the National League MVP odds award. He silenced his critics by successfully hitting left-handed pitching. Howard also displayed the ability to use his power to the opposite field. Two attributes which should keep Howard amongst the league leaders in long balls for years to come. From the American League representatives, David Ortiz leads the field. Ortiz was second in the majors last year with 54 home runs. Except for 1999 when he only played in 10 games, Ortiz has improved on his home run numbers each year he has been in the majors (1997).
Be sure to log onto online sports betting site MySportsbook.com to check out the odds for who will lead the MLB in home runs this season. Below is just a sample of the players listed. With the highest credit card rates in the industry, MySportsbook.com is the place to bet on baseball this summer.
World Series odds
Adam Dunn 15-1
Albert Pujols 5-1
Alex Rodriguez 12-1
Alfonso Soriano 15-1
Andruw Jones 25-1
Barry Bonds 50-1
Carlos Delgado 40-1
David Ortiz 8-1
Jermaine Dye 40-1
Ken Griffey Jr. 100-1
Lance Berkman 40-1
Manny Ramirez 20-1
Richie Sexson 40-1
Ryan Howard 6-1
Travis Hafner 20-1
Vladimir Guerrero 40-1
To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com - this sportsbook accepts credit cards.
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