Crosby, Pens win battle of young stars

Hockey Betting Lines

02/18/2007 - Pittsburgh, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - In a battle of two of the game's top young stars, it was Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins getting the best of this installment, downing Alexander Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals 3-2 at Mellon Arena.

Crosby finished with only an assist and Ovechkin went without a point for a bit of an anticlimactic outcome to the anticipated duel.

Instead it was Mark Recchi, Evgeni Malkin and Maxime Talbot scoring for the red-hot Penguins, who have registered a point in 16 straight games and have won six in a row. Jocelyn Thibault made 29 saves in victory.

Richard Zednik and Alexander Semin had the goals for Washington, which has dropped three straight. Brent Johnson finished with 23 stops.

The home team established a 1-0 lead 5:59 into the contest, as Sergei Gonchar's shot from the point was redirected by Recchi in front before slipping past Johnson for the power-play tally.

Washington scored in similar fashion just over a minute later to even the contest. With his team on the attack, Jeff Schultz ripped a shot from the point that caromed off Zednik and in with 12:56 to play in the opening frame.

Pittsburgh, though, countered with two unanswered goals to gain command.

With time running down in the second stanza, Malkin flew behind the net and then dished the puck to Gonchar, who fed it right back to Malkin in the right circle. The rookie center finished off the sequence with a one-timer to give his team a 2-1 advantage.

The Penguins made it a two-goal game 1:10 into the third on a one-timer by Talbot from the left circle.

The Capitals had a great chance to climb within one when Semin drew a penalty shot with 5:56 to play after being taken down from behind, but his backhand attempt rang off the post.

He made amends with 44 seconds remaining and his goalie pulled, when the left winger tucked a shot through the five-hole from the slot to make it 3-2. Thibault, though, was able to keep the Capitals off the board the rest of the way.

Game Notes

The Penguins have been dominant at home as of late. The team has won eight in a row at the Igloo and own an 18-8-4 record as the host this season...Ovechkin edged out Crosby for last year's Calder Trophy honoring the NHL's top rookie...Pittsburgh has taken all three meetings with Washington this season and has won seven of the last eight games in this series.

Icvholdings Hockey Betting News

<< Lens loses ground on Lyon
Monaco, France (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - With a scoreless draw at Monaco on Sunday, Lens lost ground on French Ligue 1 leaders Lyon. The team now sits 13 points behind the leaders who seem to well on their way to their sixth consecutive league

<< Hossa leads Rangers past Blackhawks
New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Marcel Hossa's late first-period goal was the difference, as the New York Rangers edged the Chicago Blackhawks, 2-1, at Madison Square Garden. Martin Straka also tallied for the Rangers, who have won

<< Streak snapped; Watson wins in Florida
Lutz, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Tom Watson entered Sunday's final round of the Outback Steakhouse Pro-Am two strokes behind co-leaders Wayne Levi and Andy Bean. Watson was also staring at an 0-for-93 career record in Florida. That's righ

<< Stewart leads '500' after 150 laps
Daytona Beach, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Despite falling all the way back to 40th place on lap 82, Tony Stewart is leading the 2007 Daytona 500 after 150 of 200 scheduled laps. The No.20 Home Depot Chevrolet is 0.165 seconds ahead of second-place K

<< Gearlds, Boilermakers top Badgers
Madison, WI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Katie Gearlds poured in 41 points on 13-of-20 shooting to lead Purdue past Wisconsin, 69-60, on Sunday. FahKara Malone notched 10 points and seven assists for the Boilermakers (23-5, 12-2 Big Ten), who won thei

Barca falls to Valencia, now tied with Sevilla at top >>
Valencia, Spain (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Valencia vaulted into the top three with a 2-1 home win against leaders Barcelona on Sunday in Spanish La Liga action. Goals by Miguel Angulo and David Silva just after the break gave the home squad

Tu tops Harkleroad in Memphis >>
Memphis, TN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Meilen Tu defeated Ashley Harkleroad in a battle between two Americans in the first round of the Regions Morgan Keegan Championships. Tu took care of Harkleroad in straight sets 6-4, 6-3 in just over a

Harvick edges Martin to win 2007 Daytona 500 >>
Daytona Beach, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Kevin Harvick won the 2007 Daytona 500. The No.29 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet driver took the checkered flag just ahead of second-place Mark Martin as a caution flag came to end the race. The

No. 15 Baylor beats Texas >>
Waco, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Latara Darrett scored 17 points, as No. 15 Baylor beat Texas, 71-56, on Sunday. Angela Tisdale scored 12 points for the Lady Bears (23-4, 10-3 Big 12), who won their fourth straight. Bernice Mosby and Jhas

No. 11 Georgia downs Auburn >>
Auburn, AL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Janese Hardrick scored 20 points to lead No. 11 Georgia past Auburn, 62-55, on Sunday. Tasha Humphrey netted 14 points for Georgia (23-5, 10-3 Southeastern), which won its fourth straight. Christy Marshall ad

MySportsbook.com offers Blackjack contest and $10,000.00 in Free Prize money!

Every month MySportsbook.com's casino host, Jack Black, gives away $10,000.00 in free casino prize money. To Enter - All you have to do is play at least 10 hands (total) of Blackjack on one of the specified dates of the blackjack contest. The online casino host randomly hands out free bonuses ranging from $50 - $500, and one lucky player who will receive a free $2,500.00 bonus.

"We have been running this monthly free blackjack contest to our active mebers for 5 years now, and the players just love it," says Jack Black, online casino host at MySportsbook.com. "And why wouldn't they love a free chance to win some extra online blackjack cash."

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your Sportsbook accepts Mastercard needs.