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Maple Leafs-Blues PreviewHockey Betting Lines02/06/2007 - Andrew Raycroft may have struggled with the pressure of playing in Toronto early this season. His play like that of the rest of his team, has picked up considerably of late. Raycroft and the Maple Leafs seek a season-high fifth straight victory Tuesday when they face the St. Louis Blues for the first time in more than three years. Raycroft, acquired from Boston on June 24 for goaltending prospect Tuukka Rask, allowed four goals or more in half of his first 10 starts with Toronto (26-21-6) and had an unimpressive 3.12 goals-against average in October. His early season performance more resembled the netminder that had a 3.71 GAA in 30 games with the Bruins last season than the one that won the Calder Trophy as the league's top rookie in 2003-04. A week off during the All-Star break appears to have been beneficial for Raycroft, who is 4-0 with a 1.22 GAA since then. He made 30 saves in regulation and overtime before denying the final four shootout attempts he faced in a 3-2 victory at Ottawa on Saturday. "We're not winning solely because of Andrew but we couldn't win without him,'' Toronto coach Paul Maurice told the team's official Web site. Captain Mats Sundin scored once in regulation and again in the shootout as the Leafs matched their four-game win streak from Nov. 4-11. Making Toronto's recent play even more impressive is the caliber of forwards currently missing from their lineup. Darcy Tucker, among the league leaders with 13 power-play goals, hasn't played since Jan. 1 due to a left foot injury. Kyle Wellwood, sixth on the team with 31 points, has missed six weeks following hernia surgery and Michael Peca has been sidelined since Dec. 22 with a broken right leg. "We've just had the attitude that we have no choice and we can't dwell on the guys who are not in the lineup," Jeff O'Neill said. "Every line is different with the skill level, but every line is on the same page as far as the plan goes. We have a group confidence now. We know what is going to happen out there." This will the Leafs' first meeting with the Blues since a 3-2 overtime loss on Dec. 9, 2003. Toronto hasn't played at St. Louis since Nov. 9, 2002. Manny Legace turned away 22 shots as St. Louis (21-24-8) halted a three-game skid Saturday with a 2-0 victory over visiting Dallas. Blues coach Andy Murray started his top goalie after Legace allowed four goals in each of his last two games. "I put Manny back in tonight because I think he felt like he had a subpar performance in Detroit," Murray said. "It's a real testament to him, that he stepped up and got it done." Although they remain a longshot for the playoffs, the Blues already have matched their win total from last season. Keith Tkachuk's third-period goal came on the power play, a rarity of late for St. Louis. The Blues has scored only once in their last 22 man-advantage opportunities entering Saturday. "For us to get a power-play goal when we struggled as we did in Detroit, is great," Murray said. "It was a typical Keith Tkachuk goal scored about two feet from the net." The Blues are 5-0-1 in their last six meetings with the Maple Leafs.Copyright © 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.
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After snapping a pair of season-high losing streaks, the Boston Bruins look to continue their success against the Washington Capitals on Tuesday.The Bruins (23-24-4) halted a seven-game road losing streak and a five-game overall skid Saturday when Z
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Evidence testing still under way in punter stabbing case >>
GREELEY, Colo. (AP) -Investigators are still running tests on evidence gathered in the case of a former Northern Colorado backup punter accused of stabbing the starter, attorneys said Tuesday.A judge had planned to set a trial date for Mitch Cozad,
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MySportsbook.com and Kentucky Derby Offer Bonuses Well, not quite $1 million, but MySportsbook.com is offering a 75% rebate for Kentucky Derby lines. Check out the exclusive horse racing bonus for all the details. According to MySportsbook.com, the favorites for Saturday’s Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky are: Curlin (+250); Street Sense (+500); Scat Daddy (+700); Circular Quay (+750); and Nobiz Like Shobiz (+800). Derby organizers announced this week that there will be a $1-million bonus at the 2007 Kentucky Derby odds if the first-place horse wins by more than 6 1/2 lengths – the margin of Barbaro's victory last year. The bonus would be divided Saturday among the winning trainer, jockey, owner and a charity, with each receiving 25 percent. The designated charity is the Barbaro Memorial Fund. ''It's certainly creative, it's certainly fun and it has something for the horsemen, which we always want to embrace,'' Churchill Downs president and chief executive Robert Evans said at a news conference. ''What's really cool is it will force us to remember Barbaro.'' Arkansas Derby winner Curlin – unbeaten in three career races – tries to overcome both those obstacles in Saturday's 133rd Derby. ''We're not running against history,'' trainer Steve Asmussen said Monday. ''We're running against who they load up.'' Six other horses have run in the Derby without benefit of 2-year-old races and with three or fewer starts. The best any of them managed was a sixth-place finish by Showing Up last year. ”He exudes confidence and he's got a great presence about him,'' the trainer said. ''I feel great about the position we're in. He's not worried about anything, why should you be?'' For complete odds on the Kentucky Derby, visit MySportsbook.com. Mysportsbook.com online sportsbook accepts Visa and Mastercard credit cards.
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