Devils return home for battle with rival Rangers

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03/10/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Three straight road games out west following the Olympic break seemed to have caught up with the Devils in their most recent contest.

New Jersey now returns home for the first time in nearly a month this evening when it plays host to a New York Rangers club that is struggling on offense itself as of late.

The Devils return to the Prudential Center to play their first home game since February 12 because of the Winter Olympics. They lost in Carolina in their last game before the break, then went 1-2-0 on the swing's final three games. The trip was capped on Sunday with a 2-0 loss to Edmonton.

Martin Brodeur made 33 saves, but New Jersey's offense failed to get any of its 22 shots past the Oilers' Jeff Deslauriers.

"When you give up 35, 40 shots to a team and you get 20, you should be better than that," Devils head coach Jacques Lemaire said.

Ilya Kovalchuk, who has three goals and five assists in nine games with the Devils since being acquired in a trade with Atlanta, led the team with five shots as New Jersey was shut out for the first time since February 2.

A return home could help. The Devils play two straight and four of their next five at home, where they are 20-9-1 this season. New Jersey also needs to rebound quickly as it has fallen five points back of first-place Pittsburgh in the Atlantic Division.

New York, meanwhile, seemed to have put its season-long scoring troubles behind them after posting a total of eight goals in its first two games after the break. However, the Rangers were blanked, 2-0, by Washington on Saturday before suffering a 2-0 overtime setback to Buffalo the following day.

The Rangers are three points back of the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference after Sunday's loss. Brandon Dubinsky scored with 1:23 left to play in overtime, his third goal in four games, snapping New York's goal drought at 149 minutes and 30 seconds. That goal also forced overtime, but Henrik Lundqvist, who made 35 saves, allowed the game-winner 2:22 into overtime.

"We needed the two points, we got one," said Rangers head coach John Tortorella, whose club is 0-1-2 following a three-game win streak. "We have to keep on fighting. That is all we can do. There are a lot of questions about offense."

The Rangers and Devils have split four meetings this year, though they haven't met in the Garden State since a 3-2 New York win on October 5. The Devils then took the next two in the series on the road before the Rangers rebounded with a 3-1 home win on February 6.

Marian Gaborik scored his team-leading 35th goal in that game, but has zero points in his last three games since that meeting. He has also missed a total of four games since then due to injury.

Lundqvist made 41 saves for the Rangers, while Brodeur had 22.

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Football Betting: Defensive Rookie of the Year Awards

Oddsmakers have released the odds for the 2009 AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award and Seattle Seahawks linebacker Aaron Curry has been made the opening favorite.

Bet on NFL Football

Seattle took Curry with the fourth overall pick in April's NFL draft and plan on inserting him into its starting lineup right away. The Hawks traded linebacker Julian Peterson in the offseason, so Curry is expected to have a significant role in Seattle's defense next year and that's one of the primary reasons he is the favorite to win the NFL ROY Award.

Oddsmakers from online sportsbook MySportsbook.com have made Curry a 5/1 favorite to win this year's NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award. Given that he was the best defensive prospect in this year's draft and how he'll have plenty of opportunities to make plays in '09, Curry offers a ton of value at 5/1.

Another thing working for Curry is the position he plays. A linebacker has won the defensive ROY award six straight times and eight of the last nine years. Jerod Mayo, Patrick Willis, DeMeco Ryans, Shawne Merriman, Jonathan Vilma, Terrell Suggs, Kendrell Bell and Brian Urlacher were the most recent linebackers to take home the award.

Following Curry at 5/1 are Tyson Jackson (Chiefs) at 7/1, James Laurinaitas (Rams) at 8/1, Brian Orakpo (Redskins) at 10/1, Rey Maualuga (Bengals) at 10/1 and Jerry Peria (Falcons) at 10/1.

All the players mentioned above are expected to start for their respective teams, but Jackson and Peria are going to have a tough time being recognized on a national level given they're both defensive linemen. D-linemen rarely put up the numbers that it takes to win an individual award like the ROY.

A couple of players with some value are Clay Matthews (Packers) at 12/1 and Larry English (Chargers) at 15/1. Matthews is expected to start at outside linebacker in Green Bay's new 3-4 defense and could rack up a ton of tackles. English, who was an impressive player at Northern Illinois, is expected to be a situational pass rusher for the Chargers and could rack up a ton of sacks.

For complete odds on the 2009 AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award, see below. And for complete odds for the 2009 AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Award, click the link provided.

2009 AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award

Robert Ayers (DEN) 12/1

Ron Brace (NE) 25/1

Everette Brown (CAR) 16/1

Darius Butler (NE) 40/1

Patrick Chung (NE) 30/1

Aaron Curry (SEA) 5/1

Brian Cushing (HOU) 12/1

Vontae Davis (MIA) 30/1

Louis Delmas (DET) 30/1

Larry English (SD) 15/1

Evander Hood (PIT) 25/1

Tyson Jackson (KC) 7/1

Malcolm Jenkins (NO) 25/1

Paul Kruger (BAL) 50/1

James Laurinaitas (STL) 8/1

Sen'Derrick Marks (TEN) 20/1

Clay Matthews (GB) 12/1

Aaron Maybin (BUF) 15/1

Rey Maualuga (CIN) 10/1

Roy Miller (TB) 20/1

Michael Mitchell (OAK) 45/1

Fili Moala (IND) 30/1

Brian Orakpo (WAS) 10/1

Jerry Peria (ATL) 10/1

B J Raji (GB) 7/1

Clint Sintim (NYG) 35/1

Alphonso Smith (DEN) 40/1

David Verkune (CLE) 20/1

Jason Williams (DAL) 30/1

Field (Any Other Player) 6/1

NFL football gambling

To visit this internet sportsbook go to MySportsbook.com for all your football betting needs.