john1981cr
Joined: 16 Aug 2006
Posts: 111
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| Tell a Friend Posted: Wed Dec 13, 2006 8:14 pm Post subject: Wednesday's NHL Spotlight Game |
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By Rich Carlson
Inspin.com/WagerWeb.com Contributing Writer
Anaheim Ducks (24-3-6) at Atlanta Thrashers (18-8-5), 7 p.m. ET
Current WagerWeb.com Odds: Spread Money Line Total Goals
Anaheim -1 1/2 +230 - 115 Over 5 1/2 -135
Atlanta +1 1/2 -270 - 105 Under 5 1/2 +115
Two of the NHL’s division leaders face off Wednesday evening when the Anaheim Ducks travel to Philips Arena to play the Atlanta Thrashers. The Ducks have tallied an NHL-best 54 points this season are 8 points ahead of the San Jose Sharks in the Pacific Division. The Thrashers have the second-highest point total in the Eastern Conference (41 points) and are 7 points clear of Carolina in the Southeast Division standings.
Anaheim boasts the second-ranked offense in the NHL as the Ducks score a stellar 3.61 goals per game. RW Teemu Selanne leads the team with 17 goals and is one of only three players in the league to have more than 40 points this season. The Ducks have found some new goal-scorers this season in LW Chris Kunitz (16 goals) and C Ryan Getzlaf (14 goals). G Jean-Sebastien Giguere has been brilliant all season and leads the NHL with 20 victories. With the league’s second-ranked offense and the fifth-ranked defense (2.27 goals allowed per game), the Ducks are considered by WagerWeb.com as the second favorite (+550) to win the Stanley Cup.
The Thrashers are led by scoring machine Marian Hossa, who leads the NHL with 22 goals. LW Ilya Kovalchuk has also been dominant on the offensive end of the ice with 18 goals and 16 assists. G Kari Lehtonen has been solid between the pipes with a 13-6 record, 2.89 goals against average and .906 save percentage. Atlanta must shore up its defensive efforts a bit (No. 18-ranked defense – 2.94 GAA; No. 23-ranked penalty kill – 80.7% success) if it wants to make a serious run through the playoffs.
This will be the first matchup between the Ducks and Thrashers this season.
Injury report
Anaheim: G Ilya Bryzgalov (groin) is listed as questionable for tonight’s game.
Atlanta: D Garnet Exelby (illness) is on injured reserve and will be out until at least mid-December; LW Brad Larsen (upper body) will not play in tonight’s game; RW Scott Mellanby (illness) is listed as questionable for tonight’s game; C Steve Rucchin (soreness) is listed as probable for tonight’s game; D Andy Sutton (foot) is on injured reserve and will be out until at last early February.
Key betting information
Anaheim is 9-1-0 in its last 10 games and has an 11-1-2 road record
Atlanta is 6-2-2 in its last 10 games and has an 8-4-2 home record
Anaheim’s No. 2-ranked offense (3.61 goals per game) vs. Atlanta’s No. 18-ranked defense (2.94 goals allowed average)
Atlanta’s No. 4-ranked offense (3.29 goals per game) vs. Anaheim’s No. 5-ranked defense (2.27 goals allowed average)
Anaheim’s No. 1-ranked power play (22.7% scored) vs. Atlanta’s No. 23-ranked penalty-killing unit (80.7% success)
Atlanta’s No. 9-ranked power play (18.4% scored) vs. Anaheim’s No. 7-ranked penalty-killing unit (86.7% success)
News & notes
Philadelphia Flyers LW Geoff Sanderson and C Mike Richards both underwent abdominal surgery on Tuesday and will be out of action for 3-6 weeks.
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