Kings continue homestand against Blue Jackets

Hockey Betting Lines

02/01/2012 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The All-Star break interrupted the Kings' four-game homestand and Los Angeles will try to complete the residency on a positive note when they host the lowly Columbus Blue Jackets tonight at the Staples Center.

The Kings lost the first two tests on their homestand before posting a 4-1 victory over Ottawa on Jan. 23. That victory improved LA to 14-11-4 as the host this year and allowed the Kings to enter the break just two points behind San Jose for first place in the Pacific Division. The Kings are now four behind the Sharks, but they're also seeded seventh in the West and hold a three-point lead over eighth-seeded Minnesota.

Jonathan Quick -- the Kings' lone representative at Sunday's All-Star Game in Ottawa -- turned aside 27 shots to help lift his club to the win over the Senators. Quick also stopped 10-of-13 shots while playing for Team Alfredsson in the third period of a 12-9 All-Star loss to Team Chara.

Following tonight's test, the Kings will head out on a six-game road trip that is set to begin Friday in St. Louis.

The Blue Jackets are last in the NHL with 32 points and have recorded just 13 wins this season. One of those victories came less than a month ago in Los Angeles, as Columbus posted a 1-0 decision at the Staples Center on Jan. 7. It was the second victory in the last three trips to the City of Angeles for the Blue Jackets, but the Kings have still won seven of the past nine meetings overall.

Columbus turned in a poor effort in its first game following the break, as it was slammed Tuesday in San Jose by a 6-0 score. It was the fifth straight loss for the Blue Jackets, who posted a dismal 3-8-1 record in January.

Joe Thornton had two goals and an assist for the Sharks in the rout and Antti Niemi made 30 saves for his fourth shutout of the season. Steve Mason made 37 saves for the Blue Jackets, who are 11 points in back of Edmonton for the 14th seed in the West.

"They are a very good team and we made things harder on ourselves tonight just [with] poor puck management and poor decisions," said Blue Jackets interim head coach Todd Richards.

The Blue Jackets are 0-3-1 so far on a six-game road trip that is set to end Friday in Anaheim. Columbus is just 5-18-3 as the visiting team this season.

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Football Betting Lines

The 2009 AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year odds have been released and Denver Broncos' running back Knowshon Moreno has been made the opening favorite.

Bet NFL Sports Lines

Moreno was selected in the first round of April's NFL draft and is expected to carry the rushing load for the Broncos this season. And with Jay Cutler now in Chicago, Moreno might be expected to be Denver's entire offense.

Betting Lines from sports betting lines have made Moreno a 5/2 favorite to win this year's Offensive Rookie of the Year Award. Fellow running back Chris “Beanie” Wells (Arizona Cardinals) is right behind Moreno at 7/2, while Donald Brown (Indianapolis Colts) and receiver Michael Crabtree (San Francisco 49ers) are 5/1 to win. Quarterbacks Mark Sanchez (New York Jets) and Matthew Stafford (Detroit Lions) are 7/1 and 8/1, respectively.

A couple of players who present some value are Josh Freeman, Shonn Green and Darrius Heyward-Bey.

Freeman needs to beat out Byron Leftwich to become the starting quarterback of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers but if he does, he has a lot or raw talent and could use the weapons around him (i.e. Kellen Winslow Jr. and Antonio Bryant) to be very successful in his first season.

Green enters a crowded backfield in New York, but considering both Thomas Jones and Leon Washington are unhappy about their contract situations and might holdout, the former Iowa product could become the Jets' primary back.

Everyone was shocked when Al Davis took Heyward-Bey with the eighth overall pick in April's draft, but the kid has a tremendous amount of talent and if quarterback JaMarcus Russell takes the next step this year, the former Maryland product could blossom. Plus, Heyward-Bey will be looking to prove the people wrong who said Oakland should have taken Michael Crabtree with the No. 8 pick.

And if you're looking for a deep sleeper, check out Pat White at 30/1. He enters the Miami Dolphins vaunted “Wild Cat” offense and could be a big time playmaker.

For complete odds on the 2009 AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year odds, see below.

2009 AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Odds to Win

Ramses Barden (NYG) 40/1

Andre Brown (NYG) 20/1

Donald Brown (IND) 5/1

Kenny Britt (TEN) 20/1

Glenn Coffee (SFO) 30/1

Chase Coffman (CIN) 50/1

Michael Crabtree (SFO) 5/1

Josh Freeman (TB) 14/1

Shonn Green (NYJ) 14/1

Percy Harvin (MIN) 10/1

Darrius Heyward-Bay (OAK) 18/1

Juaquan Iglesias (CHI) 30/1

Cornelius Ingram (PHI) 50/1

Rashad Jennings (JAC) 30/1

Johnny Knox (CHI) 40/1

Jeremy Maclin (PHI) 18/1

Mohamed Massaquoi (CLE) 30/1

LeSean McCoy (PHI) 12/1

Knowshon Moreno (DEN) 5/2

Hakeem Nicks (NYG) 18/1

Brandon Pettigrew (DET) 30/1

Brian Robiskie (CLE) 20/1

Mark Sanchez (NYJ) 7/1

Matthew Stafford (DET) 8/1

Jason Smith (STL) 40/1

Mike Thomas (JAC) 25/1

Patrick Turner (MIA) 50/1

Mike Wallace (PIT) 50/1

Chris Wells (ARI) 7/2

Pat White (MIA) 30/1

Field (Any Other Player) 9/1

Betting Line

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