10/09/2008 - Springfield, MA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The American Hockey League began its 73rd season on Wednesday as the Providence Bruins earned a 4-3 shootout win over the visiting Lowell Devils and the defending Eastern Conference champion Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins fell to the Hershey Bears, 8-4, at home.
There will be 26 more games through the weekend as the league's 29 teams start down the road to the 2009 Calder Cup championship. The 2008 Calder Cup champion Chicago Wolves kick off their title defense on Saturday when they visit the Houston Aeros while the Iowa Chops make their AHL debut as the top affiliate of the Anaheim Ducks when Peoria visits the Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines on Friday.
The regular season features a total of 1,160 games leading up to the start of the 2009 Calder Cup Playoffs in April. In January, the 2009 AHL All-Star Classic will be held at the DCU Center in Worcester, Mass.
There will be a number of rule changes for the 2008-09 season, with the most notable being one-minute penalties in overtime. That change was made at the request of National Hockey League general managers as a test for North America's top-flight ice hockey league. Carry-over time on minor penalties from the third period will be halved in overtime.
Other new rules include a roster increase to a maximum of 18 skaters and two goaltenders; calls for a double-minor penalty - rather than a major - in the event of a high-sticking infraction that causes injury; and an automatic minor penalty when any player in his defending zone who shoots the puck directly out of the playing surface, except where there is no glass; among others.
<< Lions' Kitna misses another practice
Allen Park, MI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Detroit Lions quarterback Jon Kitna missed a
second straight practice on Thursday with a bad back, leaving his status for
Sunday's upcoming showdown with the Minnesota Vikings up in the air.
Kitna had to
<< Green takes Texas Open lead with 62
San Antonio, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Nathan Green was flawless until he hit into
a bunker at the par-three 17th and walked off with a bogey.
His slim chances of shooting a 59 in the past, the 33-year-old Australian
settled for an eight-
<< 'Quakes announce partnership with Premiership club
San Jose, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The San Jose Earthquakes have established a
partnership with the English Premier League's Tottenham Hotspur Football Club,
the Major League Soccer club announced at a press conference at the Fairmont
Hotel i
<< Jags' Walker, Nelson, Meier did not practice
Jacksonville, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver
Mike Walker, safety Reggie Nelson and defensive tackle Rob Meier did not
participate in Thursday's practice.
Walker has knee troubles and has not taken th
Three share lead in Texas >>
Midland, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Spencer Levin, Tom Gillis and Reid Edstrom each
opened with rounds of six-under-par 66 Thursday to share the lead after the
first round of the WNB Golf Classic.
Aron Price, the Livermore Valley Wine Champio
Toronto spoils Detroit's title celebration >>
Detroit, MI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Nikolai Kulemin's first NHL goal was the game-
winner, as Toronto held on for a 3-2 triumph over Detroit in the regular-
season opener for both clubs at Joe Louis Arena.
Pavel Kubina and Dominic Moore al
Redman, Hjorth share Longs Drugs lead >>
Danville, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Michele Redman and Maria Hjorth both opened
with rounds of six-under-par 66 on Thursday to share the lead after one round
of the Longs Drugs Challenge at Blackhawk Country Club.
In-Kyung Kim and Mikaela Pa
Phillies storm back to edge LA in NLCS opener >>
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Chase Utley and Pat Burrell each hit a
homer in the sixth inning, as the Philadelphia Phillies came back to edge the
Los Angeles Dodgers, 3-2, in Game 1 of the National League Championship
Series.
It's less than a month until the NHL hockey betting season opens at MySportsbook.com and preparations are underway for another battle in the race to hoist Lord Stanley's mug in 2007.
As cup crazy fans prepare to place their bets, one online sportsbook ,MySportsbook.com, is offering hockey betting lines on the 2007/2007 Stanley Cup , who will bring it home this upcoming season.
Despite a poor showing in last season's playoffs and the loss of Steve Yzerman to retirement, the Detroit Red Wings are early favourites at this online sportsbook with wagering odds of 6-1. The Wings will look to offensive powerhouse Pavel Datsyuk and newly appointed captain Nicklas Lidstrom to lead one of the league's most prominent franchises.
Always a threat are the Ottawa Senators, with newly acquired goaltender Martin Gerber from the Stanley Cup champion ,Carolina Hurricanes. The Sens are second best in the rankings at a 7-1 bet, and odds makers at this sportsbook are optimistic that the Ottawa squad will fare better than last season's Eastern Conference semi-final upset to the Buffalo Sabres.
Also worth noting are the defending Stanley Cup champs Carolina Hurricanes, a 10-1 bet to repeat. Behind the Canes are the New Jersey Devils, Calgary Flames, Buffalo Sabres, Philadelphia Flyers, and Anaheim Mighty Ducks all sit at 12-1. In the basement are the Washington Capitals, Chicago Blackhawks, and St. Louis Blues who all have 100-1 odds to win.
To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your hockey betting needs.
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