Blackhawks host Thrashers in Windy City

Hockey Betting Lines

10/27/2007 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Chicago Blackhawks are getting outstanding play from a pair of rookies, and hope that trend continues tonight when they welcome the Atlanta Thrashers to the United Center.

Though Chicago has lost two in a row, its 5-5-0 start can largely be credited to young guns Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane. The 19-year-old Toews, the third overall pick in 2006, is currently riding an eight-game point streak that has seen the center total four goals and four assists in that span.

That includes the lone goal in Thursday's 3-1 loss to Boston. Nikolai Khabibulin allowed all three goals on 18 shots in the loss.

Kane, 18, was held off the stat sheet in that game, but is still Chicago's leading scorer on the season with three goals and 10 assists, giving the 2007 first overall selection 13 points on the season.

Chicago forward David Koci left Thursday's game in the first period after having his nose again broken in a fight with Boston's Zdeno Chara. He did not return for the remainder of the contest and was placed on injured reserve -- along with Andrei Zyuzin (glute) -- after the game.

In addition, Brent Sopel (groin) is questionable for tonight's game.

The Blackhawks, who are 3-3 as the home team this season, will play their next two games at Dallas and St. Louis.

The Thrashers are in the midst of a seven-game road swing, and fell to 1-2 on the trip after Thursday's 3-0 loss to Nashville. Dan Ellis made 20 saves for the Predators.

Johan Hedberg stopped 31 shots for the Thrashers, who have gone 2-2-0 since management fired former head coach Bob Hartley and replaced him on an interim basis with general manager Don Waddell.

Hedberg is starting in place of Kari Lehtonen, who is on injured reserve with a groin injury and is expected to miss 4-6 weeks due to the ailment.

Ilya Kovalchuk recorded three points in a win over Toronto on Tuesday, but was held off the stat sheet against Nashville. He leads the Thrashers with nine points (5 goals, 4 assists) on the season.

This marks the first meeting between the two clubs in Chicago since the Blackhawks recorded a shutout victory over the Thrashers on November 7, 2002. Atlanta is 0-2 all-time in Chicago.

Chicago has also won five of its seven lifetime meetings with Atlanta.

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Big East Conference odds

Work left to do: Villanova, Syracuse, DePaul, West Virginia, Providence

Notre Dame and Louisville appear to have done enough to make the move, so we'll make them locks. The Cardinals, despite a modest RPI, are trending way up and have clinched at least a tie for third in the Big East, which should be more than enough with their pair of big road wins. Villanova got back to .500 and gets back to more solid footing. Syracuse got a very important road win and crippled a fellow contender in the process. West Virginia's fate could be in its hands Tuesday at Pitt.

Work left to do:

Villanova [18-9 (7-7), RPI: 21, SOS: 5] Pounded Rutgers to get back to .500. If Cats can get their last two (at UConn, vs. Syracuse), that should be enough with strong computer numbers and a host of wins away from The Pavilion. The Cats have beaten Texas and swept the Big 5 (never easy in Philly), but have a couple of losses to bubble teams (Xavier, Drexel), too. I still think they'll be OK, possibly even at 8-8.

Syracuse [20-8 (9-5), RPI: 53, SOS: 62] History says 10 wins will be plenty, but it might be hard for the Orange to get that last one with a final two vs. G'town, which is trying to win the league title, and at Villanova, which will be desperate for a W. The relative lack of nonconference heft and the weak computer numbers are still concerns, but the Orange have won four in a row and got a very, very big win at Providence on Saturday.

DePaul [16-12 (8-7), RPI: 54, SOS: 18] Beat Cincy and should get past South Florida to get to 9-7, but then what? They have beaten Kansas and Cal (right after the DeVon Hardin injury) earlier this season, but also have lost to Bradley and Purdue, among others. They'll likely need a couple of BE tourney wins, too, but we'll see ...

West Virginia [19-7 (8-6), RPI: 58, SOS: 125] The game at Pitt on Tuesday night could decide the Mountaineers' fate (barring a deep tournament run). They can still get to 9-7 in the Big East without it by beating Cincinnati, but the nine wins would be against UConn, Villanova, St. John's, South Florida, DePaul, Rutgers, Seton Hall twice and the Bearcats. Beating bubble foes is fine, but where's the beef? Outside of beating PG-less UCLA in nonconference play (still a top quality win), there's not a lot to fall back on (besides maybe NC State). WVU vs. Syracuse would be an interesting debate, as the teams don't play in the Big East regular season. WVU has the best win, but Cuse has played the much better schedule.

Providence [17-10 (7-7), RPI: 70, SOS: 33] The Friars likely saw their at-large hopes die at home in the four-point loss to Syracuse, barring an unexpected run to the Big East semis or more. The RPI, bad already, won't be helped by playing St. John's and South Florida in the final two league games.

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Barry Bonds Watch: Giants Slugger Says He'll Be Back

With only 21 home runs standing between him and Hank Aaron, Barry Bonds is indeed planning on coming back for more in 2007. At least, that's what his agent told the Los Angeles Times.

"Barry's going to play in 2007," Jeff Borris of Beverly Hills Sports Council told the Times on Tuesday. "I've had many discussions with Barry and he's going to play. My intentions are to see to it he's in a big-league uniform next season. Those are my marching orders."

Contract negotiations could get started as early as next week. Let's see which team has the deeper pockets. Will MLB baseball betting lines despite allegations of steroid use? Bet On It at www.MySportsbook.com .

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