Senators edge Sabres in rematch of fight-filled contest

Hockey Betting Lines

02/25/2007 - Ottawa, ON (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jason Spezza's second goal of the game was the difference, as the Ottawa Senators edged the Buffalo Sabres, 6-5, in a high- scoring but sedate affair between these two bitter division rivals at Scotiabank Place.

Dany Heatley picked up a goal and two assists for the Senators, who won for the sixth time in seven games. Daniel Alfredsson recorded a goal and an assist, Wade Redden, Dany Heatley and Mike Fisher all posted a pair of helpers, and both Chris Kelly and Christoph Schubert lit the lamp.

Ray Emery looked shaky at times, but picked up the win by making 31 saves.

Henrik Tallinder recorded his first two-goal NHL game for the Sabres, who lost for just the second time in their last eight. Thomas Vanek had a goal and an assist, Drew Stafford and Daniel Briere notched a pair of assists each, while Jason Pominville and Derek Roy also tallied.

Martin Biron stopped 12-of-16 shots before exiting the game. Ryan Miller was saddled with the loss despite giving up two goals on 21 shots in relief.

Having seen the Sabres erase a three-goal deficit, Ottawa took a 6-5 lead with a lucky bounce while on the man-advantage with 4:07 left in regulation, when Miller whiffed when trying to bat down a dump-in behind his net. The puck ticked off Heatley and caromed right to Spezza, who slammed the disc into the open cage.

Miller did not get to the bench for an extra attacker until 42 seconds remained, and the Sabres could not fire off a quality chance until just before the buzzer.

Down by two with 20 minutes to play, the Sabres worked to get within 4-3 as Pominville managed to push the puck, trapped beneath Emery's blocker, over the goal line at the 38 second mark. The goal was made possible by Briere's fall through the crease which allowed the puck to squirt loose.

However, Alfredsson responded to restore Ottawa's two-goal lead at 2:34 by sliding the puck through Miller from the left side of the crease.

Still scrapping, the Sabres made it 5-4 at 7:11 when Briere tapped home a puck that Vanek managed to push through Emery on a stuffer try from the right side.

The comeback was complete when Tallinder's point shot with 8:25 to go sailed past a screened Emery, but the Sabres could not overcome Miller's gaffe and the Senators skated away with a win to split the home-and-home series.

Playing without Chris Drury, who is sidelined indefinitely after suffering concussion-like symptoms due to Chris Neil's hit on Thursday, Buffalo started the contest on an up note.

Tallinder put the Sabres up 1-0, finishing a give-and-go 2:27 into the contest. Stafford stripped a Senator in the offensive zone and dished to Tallinder, got it back in the slot, and whipped it back to the Swede who hit a wide-open net.

Spezza answered with 5:16 left in the period, rifling home a shot off Heatley's lead pass while Neil served a slashing penalty.

Vanek was awarded a penalty shot 2:09 into the second, but his bid to tie the game on the free shot went well wide of the cage.

With 6:12 played in second, after Heatley slipped a low wrister through Biron's five-hole from the left faceoff dot for a power-play goal, it was 2-1 Ottawa, and things heated up as Roy threw a punch at Sens' forward Mike Comrie after the goal.

Cooler heads prevailed, and it was 3-1 Ottawa at 7:13. Fisher led a 4-on-2 rush off a Buffalo turnover, dished to Alfredsson who faked a shot in the slot, then fed Schubert on the left side, and he lifted the puck over the fallen Sabres netminder.

Kelly upped the lead to 4-1 on a four-on-four situation as he collected Vanek's neutral-zone turnover, skated in, and sent a rising backhander under the crossbar. The goal, coming at 8:03, spelled the end of Biron's night in favor of Miller.

Buffalo received a gift courtesy of some spotty puckhandling by Emery. On the power play, the combative goaltender misplayed a clearing try right to Vanek, who immediately dished to Roy in front to make it a 4-2 contest with 4:27 left. The two-goal lead would stand for the Senators until a spirited third period.

Game Notes

Ottawa won the season series, 5-2-1...136 penalty minutes were assessed in Thursday's contest, and 21 penalties resulting in 54 minutes were called on Saturday as NHL discipline czar Colin Campbell was in attendance...Senators forward Brian McGrattan dressed for the game, his first action in 10 contests, and tussled with Sabres forward Andrew Peters 3:44 into the second period...Ottawa scored twice in seven power-play chances, while Buffalo hit the net once in seven tries.

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Eastern Conference Playoff Betting Trends

We all know by now that the “public” loves to put their money on the FAVORITES and the OVERS.  Just by taking a quick glance at Sportsbook.com’s “Betting Trends” it appears as is this tendency will continue as far as the Eastern Conference games are concerned.  For the inaugural games of the first round, 69% of the early money is on Toronto -4.5; 59% of bettors prefer Chicago -4.5; 84% are backing Detroit -9; and 56% think Cleveland -11.5 is the way to go.  As far as TOTALS are concerned, the only UNDER the “public” is backing is the Cleveland/ Washington game in which 83% are pounding the UNDER (190).  Remember, there is no better way to predict a possible line change than by monitoring MySportsbook.com’s “Betting Trends”.   By determining who the “public” is backing, you can get the most ideal line for your bet.  For example, if you are siding with the public you better place your bet before the line moves in the wrong direction.  On the other side of the coin, if you prefer the team that the “public” is betting against; you might be able to get and extra ½ or even more by placing your bet a bit later.  Under the “Betting Trends” section, Sportsbook.com also provides plenty of statistical data and trends in order for the bettor to make the most informed pick.  Below are some extremely important trends for the first round opponents of the Eastern Conference match-ups, more can be found at MySportsbook.com

New Jersey Nets vs. Toronto Raptors

Toronto was the most reliable covering team this season with a 48-33-1 ATS record but covered the OVER only 41.5% of the time.
The last 20 times these teams have played, the TOTAL has gone UNDER 16 times.
Versus Eastern Conference teams, Toronto is 33-19 ATS including 17-9 at home.
 New Jersey has covered four games in a row while Toronto has failed to cover their last four games.
When playing a team with a winning record during the second half of the season, New Jersey was just 5-13 ATS this season.
After scoring 105 points or more, Toronto has covered the OVER only 28% of the time this season. 
 
Miami Heat @ Chicago Bulls

Miami has failed to cover their last 7 games whereas Chicago has covered 6 out of their last 8 games.
Miami has covered the UNDER in four of their last five games whereas Chicago has covered the UNDER in five out of their last six.
When playing on Saturdays, Miami covered 80% of their games this season.
Away from home, Chicago is just 16-25 ATS this season.
At home, Miami covered the UNDER about 66% of the time whereas Chicago covered the UNDER about 61% of the time.
The last 13 times these teams have played each other, Chicago has covered 9 times.
In Miami’s last 11 road games, the UNDER covered 9 times. 
 
Orlando Magic @ Detroit Pistons

Detroit has covered 5 out of their last 6 games.
Away from home, Detroit is 28-13 ATS but just 14-26-1 ATS at home.
At home, Orlando covered the UNDER 64% of the time while Detroit covered the UNDER in 63% of their away games.
The last five times these teams have played in Detroit, the OVER covered each time.
Versus Eastern Conference teams, Detroit is 8-17-1 ATS at home but 17-9 ATS away.
Detroit covered the spread 5 out of the last 6 times they played Orlando.
After a Division game, Orlando covered the UNDER 87% of the time this season. 
 
Washington Wizards @ Cleveland Cavaliers

In a home game where the TOTAL is between 190 and 194.5 points, Cleveland is 9-1 ATS this season.
Washington has covered the UNDER in their last 6 games and in 8 of their last 9 games.
The last 6 times these teams have played each other, the UNDER covered each time.
When playing on 3 or more days of rest, Washington is just 18-37 ATS since 1996.
Since 1996, Washington is 28-16 ATS versus Cleveland including 11-5 over the last 3 seasons.
In their last 7 road games, Washington is 6-1 ATS.
Versus Eastern Conference teams at home, Washington is just 6-18-2 ATS. 
 
For even more betting trends for not just the NBA but for all of the major sports, log on to Sportsbook.com and click on “Trends”.  With only two months left in the NBA betting season it is important to be as well informed as possible in order to maximize your profit.  Also for all of you poker players, check out MySportsbook.com’s “WSOP Low Bid Auction”. You could be on your way to Vegas to play against the world’s best poker players for under a buck.

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