Canadiens snap Flyers' five-game win streak

Hockey Betting Lines

12/18/2008 - Montreal, QC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Sergei Kostitsyn, Steve Begin and Guillaume Latendresse each posted a goal and an assist, as the Montreal Canadiens knocked off the Philadelphia Flyers, 5-2, at the Bell Centre.

Alex Kovalev and Matt D'Agostini also lit the lamp for the Canadiens, who snapped a three-game losing streak. Robert Lang recorded two assists, while Jaroslav Halak made 29 saves.

Arron Asham registered a goal and an assist for the Flyers, who had won five games in a row, one shy of their season-high (November 15-26). Antero Niittymaki allowed five goals on 31 shots in defeat.

Montreal went in front on a 4-on-4 situation. Maxim Lapierre dished a perfect cross-ice pass to D'Agostini, who was streaking a step behind the Flyers defense down the left side of the rink. On the breakaway, D'Agostini was able to beat Niittymaki between the legs for the goal six minutes into the game.

The Canadiens, who came into the game with one power play goal in their last six games, made it 2-0 on Kostitsyn's slap shot from the slot on the man advantage at the 10:33 mark of the first.

Begin made it 3-0 in favor of the hosts on a tip-in with 4:34 to go in the opening frame.

Asham brought the Flyers within two, though, taking a Scottie Upshall pass in the slot and blasting it past Halak just 32 seconds later. Philadelphia had a chance in the waning seconds of the period to make it a one-goal game, but Upshall hit the post on a shot that clearly beat Halak on the glove side.

Kovalev restored a three-goal edge for the Canadiens at the 6:20 mark of the middle stanza. The Russian veteran waited at the opposing blue line, gathered an outlet pass from Begin, skated in alone and ripped a shot past Niittymaki on the stick side for his seventh goal of the season and 900th career point.

Braydon Coburn lit the lamp for Philadelphia with 6:32 left in the third period, but Latendresse's power-play marker in the waning moments sealed the victory for the Canadiens.

Game Notes

Kovalev has 27 career goals against Philadelphia, the most of any active player...Montreal defenseman Mike Komisarek returned from a 16-game absence with a shoulder injury and notched an assist...Martin Biron sat out his second straight game with the flu and Scott Munroe served as the backup to Niittymaki, who had won his previous five starts...Glen Metropolit had two helpers for Philadelphia...Montreal went 2-for-6 on the power play, while the Flyers finished 0-for-2...Flyers captain Mike Richards' eight-game point streak was snapped.

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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.

Bet on NFL Football

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.