11/22/2008 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The San Jose Sharks could have Evgeni Nabokov back in net tonight at HP Pavilion, as they attempt to defeat the Washington Capitals for an 11th straight time while also avoiding their first home loss to the club in over 15 years.
Nabokov has missed the last six games due to a lower-body injury suffered when he made the final save in a shootout win over St. Louis on November 6. However, he returned to practice on Thursday and is probable for this game. San Jose appears to be anticipating his return since they sent backup netminder Thomas Greiss to Worcester of the American Hockey League on Thursday.
The Capitals would be a good opponent for Nabokov to return against, as he is 8-0-0 with a 1.98 goals against average in eight career starts against them. He is 10-2-0 with a 2.71 GAA in 12 starts this season.
In fact, the Sharks have beaten the Capitals in each of the last 10 meetings and are 7-0 with a tie in the last eight meetings in San Jose. Washington hasn't posted a win over the Sharks since February 20, 1999 and hasn't won in San Jose since October 30, 1993.
Brian Boucher started all six games in Nabokov's absence and is 6-1-1 with a 1.87 GAA in eight total starts this year. He stopped 32 shots in Monday's 4-1 win over Nashville.
Devin Setoguchi and Patrick Marleau both registered a goal and an assist versus the Predators, with Jody Shelley and Tomas Plihal also scoring. The Sharks avenged last Tuesday's 4-3 overtime loss at home to the Preds, their lone blemish at HP Pavilion (10-0-1) this year. Setoguchi has four goals and four assists over his last four games.
The Capitals enter this clash after having an eight-game point streak end with a 5-2 loss to the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday. Washington's 6-0-2 stretch was its best since going 10-0 with a pair of ties from January 28- February 24, 2001.
Nicklas Backstrom and Brooks Laich scored for the Capitals, who suffered their first regulation loss since being blanked at Buffalo on November 1. Brent Johnson stopped 28 shots in the loss, while Backstrom ran his points streak to seven games (4 goals, 10 assists).
Alex Ovechkin, meanwhile, had an assist to stretch his points streak to six games. He has totaled six goals and nine helpers over that run, though he fell one game shy of breaking Dennis Maruk's franchise-best five-game multi-point streak set in 1980-81.
The Kings are one of three teams the reigning NHL scoring champ has never tallied against. The Sharks are another, as Ovechkin has zero points in two all-time meetings against them.
Defenseman Mike Green sat out Thursday's game due to a shoulder injury, while Alexander Semin missed his third straight game due to an upper-body injury. Semin was key for Washington during Ovechkin's early-season struggles and leads the Capitals with 13 goals and 27 points.
Sergei Fedorov has also missed the last seven tests because of a sprained ankle, and all three players are questionable for tonight.
Washington, which leads the Southeast Division with 25 points, is 1-1-1 on a five-game road trip that ends on Monday in Minnesota. Overall, it is 4-5-2 as the road team this year.
<< Avalanche visit Kings in LA
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Colorado Avalanche will try to get back on track
tonight, when they take on the Los Angeles Kings in a road test at the Staples
Center.
The Avalanche are probably just glad to be playing a team other than the
Calgary
<< Red Wings try for fifth straight win in road test with Flames
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Detroit Red Wings will try to match their season-high
win streak tonight, when they visit the Calgary Flames and Pengrowth
Saddledome.
The Red Wings have won four straight and have posted at least a point in each
of t
<< Local bragging rights on line as Golden Eagles hosts Panthers
Milwaukee, WI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The 15th-ranked Marquette Golden Eagles are
set to host the Wisconsin-Milwaukee Panthers in non-league action from the
Bradley Center. These teams have met 35 times, and Marquette has never lost to
the Panthers.
<< Morehead State seeks upset of No. 3 Louisville
Louisville, KY. (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The third-ranked Louisville Cardinals are
hosting the Billy Minardi Classic to open their season, and they will take on
the Morehead State Eagles tonight. The winner and loser from this clash will
take on the
Thunderstruck: Carlesimo fired as head coach >>
Oklahoma City, OK (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Oklahoma City Thunder have fired head
coach P.J. Carlesimo after just 13 games and a league-worst 1-12 record.
"This was a very difficult decision to make," said Thunder executive vice
president
Avs place C Guite on IR; recall RW Willsie >>
Los Angeles, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Colorado Avalanche placed center Ben
Guite on injured reserve Saturday, retroactive to November 10, with a rib
injury.
Guite has played in nine games this season, notching two goals and
Chicago finalizes Blanco's loan to Santos >>
Bridgeview, IL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Chicago Fire finalized an agreement for
the loan of Fire midfielder Cuauhtemoc Blanco on Friday to play with Santos of
the Mexican Primera Division for the 2008 Apertura playoffs.
"The Chicago Fire is
U.S. to open final Cup qualifying stage vs. Mexico >>
Johannesburg, South Africa (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The United States men's national
team continues their bid to qualify for their sixth straight World Cup finals
against Mexico on Feb. 11, it was disclosed Saturday when the final round draw
for
Chiefs' Treen Green out for Sunday's game
How long Trent Green will remain sidelined is unknown. Coach Herm Edwards said Monday he will miss a second straight start Sunday when the Chiefs host the San Francisco 49ers.
A two-time Pro Bowler, Green was going into a feet-first hook slide when he was knocked unconscious by a thunderous, head-snapping hit from Cincinnati's Robert Geathers.
Oddsmakers at online sportsbook MySportsbook.com currently have the Chiefs listed as 7-point favorites versus the 49ers.
The 49ers got beat by Philadelphia 38-24 as a 6.5-point underdog last week. The combined score went OVER the posted over/under total (42.5).
Alex Smith completed 27-of-46 passes for 293 yards with a touchdown. Michael Robinson rushed for 29 yards and a pair of touchdowns on five carries.
The Chiefs lost 9-6 to Denver last week as an 11-point underdog. The combined score was well UNDER the posted over/under total (38).
Larry Johnson rushed for 126 yards on 27 carries. Damon Huard completed 17-of-23 passes for 133 yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions.
To visit this online sports book got to MySportsbook.com for all your football betting needs.
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