Skinner, Hurricanes begin trip in Anaheim

Hockey Betting Lines

02/08/2012 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Hurricanes forward Jeff Skinner is starting to find his groove again after missing time with a head injury. Hopefully the club's cross country road trip won't derail his momentum.

Carolina begins its three-game journey tonight in Anaheim, where it will take on a Ducks team that has wins in 10 of its past 14 games.

Last year's winner of the Calder Trophy as the league's top rookie, the 19- year-old has 15 goals through 38 games this year after logging 31 as a freshman in 82 games a season ago. He missed over a month of action beginning in early December because of a concussion and has potted three goals in eight games since his return on Jan. 15.

All three of those have come over his past five trips to the ice and he scored the game-winner in Saturday's 2-1 victory over the visiting Kings, banging home a rebound of a Jussi Jokinen shot at the 3:02 mark of the third.

"It's tough coming back after sitting out 16 games and then jumping back midseason. It's not something I've ever done before so it's tough to really prepare for it," said Skinner. "Obviously there's going to be a little bit of time when things are frustrating and you're not in that sort of flow that you usually have, but I'm feeling a little bit better and more comfortable."

That's good news for the Hurricanes, who have won three of four and are 4-1-2 in their past seven games. But, they are still last in the Eastern Conference with 49 points.

Cam Ward figures to get the bulk of the work on this three-game swing that begins in Anaheim, moves to Colorado and then concludes in Montreal on Monday. After posting a 47-save shutout at Boston last Thursday, Ward made 24 saves versus the Kings for his 20th victory of the campaign.

Carolina's victory over Los Angeles made it 8-2-1 in its past 11 at home, but the club is only 6-13-6 as the guest this season.

Forward Anthony Stewart is expected to play for the 'Canes tonight after clearing waivers on Tuesday. He has six goals and 13 points through 50 games this year, though his plus-4 rating is tied for tops on the team.

The Ducks close out a four-game homestand this evening and had lost the first two of the residency, including an overtime defeat to Columbus on Friday prior to Monday's 3-2 shootout win over Calgary. The victory leaves the 13th-place Ducks 10 points behind a playoff spot in the West with 48 points.

After getting regulation goals from Bobby Ryan and Matt Beleskey, Niklas Hagman notched the winner in the eighth round of the shootout, scoring off fellow Finn and former teammate Miikka Kiprusoff. Jonas Hiller, meanwhile, came up with 24 saves through overtime and stopped six of eight in the shootout. That includes each of the final three skaters he faced as Anaheim moved to 2-4 in shootouts this year and won its first since Oct. 8 versus the Rangers in Stockholm, Sweden.

"We really needed those two points and really wanted it. It wasn't an easy game. I think both teams played really hard. You could see out there that both teams really wanted those points and it was about time we finally won a shootout," said Hiller.

Anaheim improved to 10-2-2 in its past 14 games and will look to avenge last season's 4-2 road loss to Carolina. The Hurricanes snapped a two-game skid to the Ducks thanks to a hat trick from Eric Staal and 43 saves by Ward.

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Dallas Cowboys Super Bowl Odds

Will he or won't he?  Now that the Dallas Cowboys have a new head coach in Wade Phillips, the big question will be: Does Terrell Owens stay with the team.

Jerry Jones continues to suggest that Terrell Owens will remain with the team.

"I've said that he's back, he's here, he's under contract," Jones said. "In the interviews I've just been through (to hire a new coach), it was very clear to me how highly he's thought of and how much of an impact he had on our offensive success."

Just to be sure though, Terrell Owens cleared out his locker and removed his name plate.

Terrell Owens was among the Cowboys most productive players this past season, catching 85 passes for 1,180 yards and a league-best 13 touchdowns.

But T.O. is due a $3 million roster bonus in June, then a $5 million salary this season. Cutting him before then would save a lot of money and headaches.

Aside from the questions surrounding Terrell Owens, the oddsmakers at MySportsbook.com have concerns over starting quarterback Tony Romo's state of mind and whether he will remain a starting quarterback.  It is also not known how players will adjust to new head coach, Wade Phillips.

Here are the football odds as seen at MySportsbook.com and subject to change after February 10, 2007 if not locked in prior to that date.
Arizona Cardinals 60-1


Atlanta Falcons 50-1


Baltimore Ravens 15-1


Buffalo Bills 50-1


Carolina Panthers 18-1


Chicago Bears 10-1


Cincinnati Bengals 15-1


Cleveland Browns 100-1


Dallas Cowboys 15-1


Denver Broncos 15-1


Detroit Lions 100-1


Green Bay Packers 50-1


Houston Texans 100-1


Indianapolis Colts 6-1


Jacksonville Jaguars 30-1


Kansas City Chiefs 30-1


Miami Dolphins 40-1


Minnesota Vikings 75-1


New England Patriots 10-1


New Orleans Saints 18-1


New York Giants 20-1


New York Jets 30-1


Oakland Raiders 100-1


Philadelphia Eagles 18-1


Pittsburgh Steelers 10-1


Saint Louis Rams 60-1


San Diego Chargers 6-1


San Francisco 49ers 75-1


Seattle Seahawks 20-1


Tampa Bay Buccanneers 75-1


Tennessee Titans 40-1


Washington Redskins 50-1

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your Sportsbook credit cards needs.