Crazy Eights: Canucks try to extend home streak, halt skid to Avs

Hockey Betting Lines

03/15/2009 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Canucks are on a very impressive home winning streak, but that run figures to be tested this evening. Vancouver will try to end an eight-game losing streak to the Colorado Avalanche in tonight's battle at GM Place.

It wasn't that long ago that the Canucks lost a franchise-record nine games in a row on home ice, culminating with an overtime setback to Minnesota on January 31. However, Vancouver hasn't lost at GM Place since, winning eight in a row on home ice to improve to 19-11-4 as the host this year.

Vancouver, though, hasn't notched a victory over Colorado since a home overtime win on November 9 of 2007, getting outscored 31-16 over its eight- game skid to the Northwest Division-rival Avs. That streak includes four straight setbacks at home in the series for the Canucks.

Their inability to defeat the Avs could hinder their playoff chances as well. The Canucks are fifth overall in the Western Conference, but just six points separate them from Edmonton and Nashville, which are tied for eighth in the standings.

Vancouver plays Colorado four times over its final 15 games including tonight.

Henrik Sedin scored twice during the third period of Friday's 4-2 win over Los Angeles that extended the Canucks' home win streak. Alex Burrows and Mats Sundin each lit the lamp in the first period in helping Vancouver improve to 13-3-1 over its last 17 contests.

Burrows has scored in three straight games and has six goals in his last six contests. However, he has scored just once in 20 career games versus the Avs.

Roberto Luongo made 24 saves in guiding Vancouver to a victory in the opener of a four-game homestand.

Colorado appears to have regrouped from its recent six-game losing streak, winning three of four since the slide. That includes Saturday's 3-2 overtime win versus Edmonton that saw John-Michael Liles end things with a goal just 42 seconds into the extra frame.

Liles also recorded assists on power-play goals by Darcy Tucker and Paul Stastny for his second three-point game of the season. Stastny's goal, meanwhile, was his first in nine games since returning from a fractured right forearm.

Peter Budaj made 18 saves for the Avalanche, who improved to 13-21-1 on the road this year and will end a three-game swing on Tuesday in Minnesota.

Cody McCormick will serve the final test of his two-game suspension handed down for a high-sticking incident versus the Wild on Thursday. He received a double minor penalty on the play.

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In what should be an outstanding Saturday of March Madness betting action, the top four teams in the South and West Regions square off in what should be extremely close match-ups. Three of the four teams are coming off extremely close games on Thursday evening, only UCLA won semi comfortably over Pitt 64-55.

Ohio State is coming off their second game in a row where in all reality they should have lost. Of course that doesn’t matter now since the name of the game is “survive and advance” but as the tournament continues, they can’t afford to keep getting down to their opponents early. Kansas also avoided a scare by holding off a scrappy Southern Illinois squad. In the third thrilling game of the evening Memphis pulled off the minor upset (+3.5) despite being the higher seed to Texas A&M.

Although the spreads are fairly small for Saturday’s games, MySportsbook.com continue to bet against the underdogs. Despite OSU’s two scares, 86% of the “betting public” feels the Buckeyes (-1.5) have what it takes to make the Final Four. In fact, so much of the early money is on OSU that the line has already moved from -1 to -1.5. In the second game of the doubleheader, Kansas and their high-powered offense are 2 point favorites as they take on UCLA and their effective defense. About 63% of the early money thus far is once again backing the favorites. If those percentages stay that high, don’t be surprised if this line moves as well. If you like Kansas (-2) you might want to jump on it early.

Memphis vs. Ohio State

Both squads were involved in thrillers on Thursday evening and should come out fired up. OSU can ill afford to get behind early like they did versus their previous two opponents (Xavier, Tennessee). Greg Oden needs to stay out of foul trouble; the Buckeyes are a completely different team when he is on the court. Memphis definitely has the athleticism and length to match-up with OSU. Of Memphis’ five leading minute earners, the shortest of the bunch is 6’5”. Each team has a very effective defense; Memphis surrenders 62.3 PPG whereas the Buckeyes give up only 61 PPG. With those type of numbers, it isn’t surprising that Memphis covered the UNDER almost 69% of the time this season. As a favorite, OSU has covered the UNDER almost 66% of the time over the last three seasons. The major concern for Memphis which is magnifies this time of the year is their brutal foul shooting (62%). This season, OSU is 17-11 ATS versus teams with a winning record and 7-2 ATS in all tournament games. Memphis has been an extremely reliable cover in tournament play in recent years with a 23-8 ATS record over the last three seasons.

UCLA vs. Kansas

In the second game of Saturday’s doubleheader, UCLA will play in a role which they are very unfamiliar with that of the underdog. Only twice this season have they been getting points from the handicappers and both times they covered. Over the last three seasons UCLA is a reliable 23-7 ATS in this unfamiliar role. UCLA has not fared well against Big 12 opponents recently going 1-7 ATS since 1997. Giving up only 59.6 PPG, UCLA will definitely look to do what they do best: keep this game as low scoring as possible. Their defense has been especially tough during the tournament. UCLA opponents have been able to muster up only 48.7 PPG while shooting a combined 34.5% from the field. UCLA definitely has a challenge at hand with a Kansas team that is capable of putting points on the board in bunches. As a team, they average 79 PPG and shoot an impressive 49.6% from the field and 39.4% from beyond the arc. During the tournament Kansas has been “lights out” from the field having shot 56.2%.

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