Columbus edges Pens in shootout to stop Pitt's winning streak

Hockey Betting Lines

03/12/2009 - Columbus, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Kristian Huselius scored the first goal of the game and notched the game-winning goal in the shootout to lift the Columbus Blue Jackets to a 4-3 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins at Nationwide Arena.

After the initial four shooters failed to find the net, Huselius' wrister went through the five-hole of Marc-Andre Fleury to give the home team a 1-0 edge in the shootout. It all came down to Evgeni Malkin, but he fired wide left to hand the game to the Blue Jackets.

With the win, Columbus snapped Pittsburgh's seven-game winning streak.

"It was a win that felt like a relief. We played so well for a period of time. Once we caught on to what they were doing, we made an adjustment," said Columbus head coach Ken Hitchcock. "From the six minute mark of the first period through the second period we played great. We did everything we needed to do. We did some great things with the puck, then holy smokes."

Jason Williams and Antoine Vermette tallied a goal and an assist apiece for the Blue Jackets, who have won three consecutive contests. Steve Mason made 38 saves to pick up his 28th win on the year. With the win, the 20-year-old broke Marc Denis' club record set back in 2002-03.

Sergei Gonchar, Pascal Dupuis, and Maxime Talbot scored for the Penguins, who lost for the first time since February 22 in Washington. Malkin and Sidney Crosby had two helpers each in defeat. Fleury turned away 25-of-28 shots.

"They played strong defensively. We didn't get a lot of speed in the first two periods," said Crosby. "We played into their hands turning the puck over a lot. And in the third we put some more pressure on them, got some turnovers and some good goals."

The Blue Jackets drew first blood at the 8:42 mark on Huselius' 19th of the year. Fedor Tyutin, who was stationed at center ice, hit Huselius with a pass at the blueline and Huselius finished the play with a shot from the left circle that slid past the pads of Fleury.

Columbus took their 1-0 lead into the second period after both teams fired 10 shots on goal in the frame.

Williams lit the lamp with 3:01 remaining in the second stanza to give the home team a 2-0 advantage. Fleury tried to pass the disc off to a teammate behind the net, but Vermette stole the puck and hit Williams in front of the net. Williams' backhander flew past the stick-side of Fleury.

Vermette's slap shot from the point sailed past the glove of Fleury at the 1:03 mark of the third period to give the home team a 3-0 lead. But Pittsburgh came charging back with three unanswered goals.

Gonchar got the scoring started for Pittsburgh with a slap shot from the right point with 11:27 to go. Just over a minute later, Dupuis lit the lamp off a rebound from a Malkin wrap-around attempt.

With 8:02 remaining, Malkin stole the disc from behind the net and backhanded a pass to an open Talbot, who lit the lamp with a shot from the left circle to knot the game at three.

"We went backwards with the puck twice and nothing good happens when you have a lead and go backwards with the puck," said Hitchcock. "Both (the second and third) goals we went backwards with the puck and then, game on. They started come at us pretty good, in waves."

The game eventually went to overtime, where the Penguins outshot the Blue Jackets 3-0. But Pittsburgh failed to score in the extra session and the tilt went into a shootout.

Game Notes

Pittsburgh went 1-for-4 on the power play, while Columbus couldn't convert on any of their six power-play opportunities...The Penguins had won six of the nine all-time meetings with the Blue Jackets.

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American Idol Betting Odds: Season 6  

The online gambling websites are in the process of deciphering each American Idol contestant and his or her chances of winning Season 6 to come up with the early American Idol betting lines.

Tim Dalton of MySportsbook.com has been locked away in a soundproof room coming up with all the latest tallies, we are told. "American Idol has become one of the most significant betting events of the year," claims Jack Black of MySportsbook.com.  "Last year, millions were bet during the season across the globe, not just in America.

It's tough early on since we really do not have a glimpse as to how well each of these individuals will perform solo on a week-to-week basis.  It's like Week 1 of the NFL.  Pre-season means nada!

We do know the 24 finalists however.

Sanjaya Malakar is the young man whose sister failed to make it into the Top 24.  He's very low key but - unless he totally flubs - will probably win over the young girlie vote for a few weeks anyway.  He's too young to go all the way, according to Payton O'Brien. 

Brandon Rogers - Who?

Phil Stacy is the military guy who missed his daughter's birth because of the Memphis audition.  He should go a good distance.

Chris Sligh - He's got the humor and in many ways he's the Anti-American Idol much like last year's winner Taylor Hicks was.  And this is why he'll probably get pretty far in this competition.  He's chubby, white with a big curly afro....but more importantly, a great voice!  People love "real", not "real cute" to go all the way. 

"Blake Lewis should go far because of his uniqueness and looks.  He's the boy next store with a twist - he beat boxes.  But on top of this, he's a great singer, and I adore him," Payton O'Brien relayed.

A talented beat-boxer Blake Lewis was a hit during the group sing in Hollywood but Simon explained that this is a singing contest just before he told him he was “in.”

Paul Kim has caught our own roving reporter, Jenny Woo's eyes. 

"I love the fact that there is a Korean American on the show and he is bound to get more Asians tuning into the show," Woo said from her Miami Beach estate.  "There has never been a major presence of Asian-Americans on American Idol in the past.  He's a hottie with a nice voice so that should help to take him far.  Expect heavy betting action from the Asian community."

Sundance Head - He's not perfect, but he's got the personality that will take him through a few weeks, plus he's got the lineage (son of Roy Head - whose 1965 single, "Treat Her Right," hit No. 5 in the charts) 

And the others:

Rudy Cardinas
AJ Tabaldo - the 5th time is the charm
Nicolas Pedro
Chris Richardson
Jared Cotter

The girls

"Melinda Doolittle has one of the best voices," says MySportsbook.com Reporter and an acclaimed dancer in her own right, Destiney Lewis.  "It is great to see a back up singer step out like she has.  The girl needs to gain more confidence but that can also be a positive.  I think she will go far."

Alena Alexander - Those tears (she never seems to stop bawling) should get her far.

"Single mom Lakisha Jones I suspect will be a pretty big favorite entering Week 1 of the competition," says Destiny Williams.  Jones is an excellent singer and down to earth.  "She'll have a wide appeal," echoed O'Brien.

Nicole Trellis - Seems to exert confidence.

Amy Krebs - a powerful singer.

Antonella Barba
Gina Glocksen
Hailey Scanardo
Jordan Sparks
Stephanie Edwards
Leslie Hunt
Sabrina Sloan

MySportsbook.com is offering a 20% signup bonus with an initial deposit (i.e. open your American Idol betting account with $300, receive another $60 in which to bet with). 

Last two contestants will be?

1 Male/1 Female +100 (a $10 bet pays $10 plus your initial $10)

2 Males +170 (a $10 bet pays $17 plus your initial $17)

2 Females +130 (a $10 bet pays $13 plus your initial $10)

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