12/04/2008 - Washington, DC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Alexander Ovechkin had a goal and two assists and Donald Brashear's first goal of the year represented the game- winner as the Washington Capitals defeated the New York Islanders, 5-2, at the Verizon Center.
Eric Fehr's third-period goal gave the Caps some breathing room while Viktor Kozlov and Nicklas Backstrom also scored as Washington snapped a two-game losing streak and improved to 10-1-1 at home this season.
Brent Johnson made 27 saves to pick up the win for the Caps, who were coming off their first home regulation loss of the season. Washington, had picked up wins in six of its previous seven contests prior to its latest 3-5-0 streak and still leads the Southeast Division with 31 points.
Mark Streit and Trent Hunter lit the lamp for the Islanders, who have now lost three of their last four games. Joey MacDonald allowed four goals and was assaulted with 46 shots in the loss.
Thursday's loss marked the beginning of stretch where the Isles are playing five of six and seven of their next nine games on the road. New York is 5-6-1 as the visitor this year and had won three of its last four tests away from Long Island.
The Isles turned the puck over in their own zone and Brashear ended a scrum for the puck in front by swiping in a backhand shot to net his first of the year 6:50 into the third, giving Washington the lead.
The Caps gave themselves some breathing room, netting an insurance goal on the power play with 3:46 left. Ovechkin fired one on net from the high slot with MacDonald leaving the rebound right in front. Brooks Laich swatted back two attempts and the puck scooted out to the left where Fehr swooped in and buried the rebound.
New York pulled the goaltender with 1:11 left but Backstrom scored on the empty net to seal the win.
The Caps started things off with a power play goal in the first. Ovechkin lifted a wrister under the left arm of MacDonald from the left circle to give Washington the lead with 8:29 left in the period.
It was a 2-0 advantage less than two minutes later as the Isles gave the Caps another power-play opportunity that they quickly cashed in. Bryan Helmer let fly a wrister from the right point and Kozlov deflected the disc on the way in for his fifth of the year.
New York got one back inside the final minute of the first, capitalizing on its own power-play chance with Streit's slap per from the high slot finding its way through traffic. MacDonald did well to keep the deficit at one for New York as the Caps peppered the netminder with 17 first-period shots.
The Islanders appeared to even the score about five minutes into the middle stanza when Chris Campoli's dump-in along the left boards took a wild carom off a linesman's skate and past a befuddled Johnson, who had started to skate towards the corner to play the puck. The goal was waived off, though, due to the linesman interfering on the play.
Hunter then did even the score with 6:22 remaining, taking a cross-ice pass from Andy Sutton at the right circle before skating in and firing a shot over the far shoulder of Johnson.
Game Notes
The Isles had won three straight in this series but have still notched wins in seven of the last 10 encounters between the clubs...New York also had a three- game winning streak in Washington come to an end Thursday...New York converted on only 1-of-8 power-play chances while Washington made good on 3-of-5 ...Hunter's goal was his 11th this season...Ovechkin's score was his 14th this season...The Caps recalled forward Keith Aucoin from Hershey of the American Hockey League earlier Thursday and reassigned forward Graham Mink to Hershey. The 30-year-old Aucoin is the current AHL leader in points (36) and assists (27) and has gathered 469 AHL points in 459 career games.
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Devils a 3-2 win over the Philadelphia Flyers at the Wachovia Center.
In the extr
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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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