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02/21/2007 - Denver, CO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Paul Stastny scored two power-play goals during a high-powered first period and Peter Budaj made 33 saves, as the Colorado Avalanche defeated the Calgary Flames, 4-3, at Pepsi Center.
Milan Hejduk tallied a goal and an assist while Marek Svatos' goal early in the third period provided the difference for Colorado, which is now 4-4 in its last eight games overall.
Tony Amonte, Dion Phaneuf and Kristin Huselius scored for Calgary, which finished its consecutive three-game set against the Avalanche 1-2 after a split in the two games in Calgary last Thursday and Saturday. Miikka Kiprusoff allowed four goals on 32 shots for the Flames, who will play in Phoenix on Thursday before a three-game homestand.
The high-octane first period concluded with five total goals and a 3-2 Colorado lead.
Stastny started the scoring 7:19 into the stanza. Marcus Nilson was whistled for hooking and the Avalanche went to work with the extra skater. Near the conclusion of the two-minute minor, Hejduk alertly kept the puck inside the offensive zone at the left point and sent it to Joe Sakic along the near-side half-wall. Sakic then passed to Andrew Brunette along the goal line and Brunette centered it for a successful redirection by Stastny at the top of the crease.
"They had a good power play tonight," said Flames forward Jarome Iginla. "The first period was bad - their power play gave them confidence."
After Amonte's ninth goal tied the contest over two minutes later, another power-play goal gave the Avs a 2-1 lead. Moments after a 5-on-3 advantage expired, Hejduk poked the puck toward the goal mouth from near the left post. With Kiprusoff out of position and Flames defenseman Robyn Regehr without a stick, Stastny was able to put home the loose puck from the opposite post with 6:05 to play.
Calgary, though, answered with a power-play goal of its own. With Brad Richardson in the box, Phaneuf corralled an Edmonton clearing attempt at the right point, drifted along the blue line and, from the centerpoint, released a wrist shot that beat Budaj with the assistance of a screen in front by Iginla at 18:01.
The see-saw battle continued when Hejduk's 22nd goal with 54 seconds remaining in the opening stanza restored the Avs lead. The veteran forward stole the puck from Calgary's Matthew Lombardi in the neutral zone, nicely split two defenders and lit the lamp with a backhander from inside the left circle.
"I tried to just put it on net with a backhand, and I was surprised that it went in," said Hejduk.
The lone goal of the middle session tied the contest. The visitors needed only 15 seconds of power-play time to find the back of the cage after an interference minor was called on Ossi Vaananen. Phaneuf and Iginla played catch along the left side before Iginla's cross-ice pass from along the outer rim of the circle found the stick of Huselius for an easy one-timer from the right side past a sliding Budaj at the 5:34 mark.
Despite a 16-5 shots-on-goal advantage for Calgary in the third period, the only goal of the frame was also the decisive one at 1:24. From his own blue line, Colorado defenseman John-Michael Liles sent a perfect pass through the neutral zone for Svatos, who gained control at the far blue line, skated in on a partial breakaway down the right side and beat Kiprusoff with a wrist shot.
Game Notes
Earlier Tuesday, the Avalanche learned that defenseman Jordan Leopold will be sidelined approximately four weeks with a fractured wrist. Leopold suffered the injury during Colorado's 7-5 victory over these Flames on Saturday...Stastny and Sakic each extended their point-scoring streaks to nine games...The Avs improved to 17-13-3 at home this season...The Flames finished 3-for-5 on the power play, while the Flames were 2-for-6 with the extra skater...Attendance was 17,623.
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BILLS (+10) at Steelers SPORTSBOOK LINES
It's impossible to gauge how a team will react after something like the Steve Everett situation, and it probably doesn't matter. That being said, the Bills are going to lose several games this year where they keep things close but fall short in the end to superior teams. Ben Roethlisberger and company could have a field day against Buffalo's decimated defense, but I like the Bills to cover.
BENGALS (-7) at Browns SPORTSBOOK LINES
All you can ask out of your NFL team is that it has a plan. You may not always agree with it as a fan, but as long as it appears the organization is going in some sort of direction, you have to go with it. Which brings us to the Cleveland Browns. You flip a coin to determine whether Chuck Frye or Derek Anderson should start the preseason opener. You start Frye in Week 1, but pull him in the first half. And then you deal him to the Seahawks for a sixth-round pick? Hmm... the Bengals could get six turnovers again this week.
COLTS (-7) at Titans SPORTSBOOK LINES
Tennessee signed ex-Colts cornerback Nick Harper in the offseason so that should help slow down Peyton Manning. Just ask Jason David and the Saints. Oh wait... One of these weeks, I'm going to learn to not pick against Tennessee, which has won seven of its last eight games. But it's not happening against Indy.
TEXANS (+6.5) at Panthers SPORTSBOOK LINES
Houston's Mario Williams, the first pick in the '06 draft, has more touchdowns than Reggie Bush after one week. Somehow I don't see that lasting. Meanwhile, Carolina bottled up what was expected to be a pretty high-octane offense in St. Louis in Week 1. Could this be the Panthers' defense everyone expected last year? Maybe. This feels like a 20-16 Carolina win.
RAMS (-3) vs. 49ers SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Absolutely love this game. Everyone's favorite pick for this year's surprise team -- the 49ers -- laid an egg on Monday night (not that anyone was watching with the game ending in the middle of the night for those of us on the East Coast). St. Louis wasn't much better, delivering a lackluster effort against the Panthers that included two Steven Jackson fumbles and panic from his fantasy owners. Jackson rebounds this week, and the Rams get their first win.
PACKERS (+1.5) at Giants SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Do you really trust this guy to win an NFL game if Eli Manning can't go? I say no. I'd feel alot better about this Packers team if it had any semblance of a running game, but I still think Green Bay's defense is good enough to give it a 2-0 start.
JAGUARS (-10) vs. Falcons SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Does it scare me to pick Jacksonville to cover a double-digit spread after it scored just 10 points last week against the Titans? Absolutely. But can I bring myself to pick Atlanta under any circumstances? No. Check out this poll on ajc.com. It asks what Atlanta's most urgent deficiency is: offense, defense, specials teams or all of the above. "All of the above" has 57 percent of the votes. Ouch.
SAINTS (-3) at Buccaneers SPORTSBOOKS LINES
I'm picking way too many road teams this week. Oh well. New Orleans has had some time to reflect on its lackluster showing in the opener, and the Buccanneers just aren't a very good football team. Anyone else surprised Tampa Bay hasn't made a move to sign Byron Leftwich? I thought that's what they do.
VIKINGS (+3) at Lions SPORTS BETTING LINES
Run the ball and stop the run. Minnesota can do both, and that will keep them in a lot of games this season. Even though it was only one week, Adrian Peterson looks like he was a steal at No. 7 in last year's draft. Not only will he produce, but Peterson delivers excitement to what otherwise would be one of the league's most boring teams.
DOLPHINS (+3.5) vs. Cowboys SPORTS BETTING LINES
Lost in the Tony Romo lovefest is just how bad the Cowboys' defense was last week. I know they're banged up, but Dallas' 'D' allowed 438 yards to the Giants' offense, and backup running back Derrick Ward averaged 6.8 yards per carry. Meanwhile, Cam Cameron's decision to split carries between Ronnie Brown and Jesse Chatman sounds about as can't-miss as Larry David's plan to show up to Marty Funkhouser's party a night late. Still, gotta go with Miami to cover at home.
SEAHAWKS (-2.5) at Cardinals SPORTS BETTING LINES
I'm probably missing something, but this game seems too easy. Arizona blew Monday night's game against the 49ers in typical Cardinals fashion, and the Seahawks beat Tampa Bay by two touchdowns. Love Seattle in this one.
BRONCOS (-9.5) vs. Raiders SPORTS BETTING LINES
Special teams was a major story line in Week 1. Take a look at the Broncos. They had to rush on to the field to get a Jason Elam field goal as time expired against the Bills. Denver drove into Buffalo territory on eight of 10 drives but came away with just a pair of field goals and a touchdown. Look for more scoring from the Broncos this week against an Oakland defense that gave up 36 points to Detroit in Week 1.
BEARS (-12) vs. Chiefs SPORTS BETTING LINES
Everyone talks about Rex Grossman when dissecting the Bears' offense, but Chicago's quarterback got no help in last week's loss to the Chargers. Meanwhile, Kansas City confirmed what we all thought while watching Hard Knocks: The Chiefs are going to stink this year. It could be a rough first month for Larry Johnson fantasy owners. Kansas City's RB was limited to 43 yards on 10 carries in Week 1, and the Chiefs face the Bears, Vikings and Chargers the next three weeks, all formidable run defenses.
RAVENS (-10) vs. Jets SPORTS BETTING LINES
A big dose of Willis McGahee and a usual sound defensive effort will give the Ravens their first win. According to Football Outsiders, no team in the NFL rushed only three defenders on pass plays last year more than the Jets. And according to my special Jets correspondent Ben Stauber, New York did the same in Week 1. Whoever starts at quarterback for the Ravens should have all day to throw.
PATRIOTS (-3) vs. Chargers
Friends and I were discussing how Bill Belichick goes about paying his $500,000 fine for cheating. Does he just write one check to the NFL? Do you need some sort of clearance to make such a monstrous financial transaction? I guess I shouldn't complain about the security deposit I have to put down on my new apartment. Anyway, two of the league's best teams square off in what should be a good one Sunday night. The Patriots always respond well just when you think they're in trouble. And their offensive attack was the story in Week 1.
Note: Monday night game will be picked Monday. Lines used are from football betting.
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