Maple Leafs aim to stay hot versus Thrashers

Hockey Betting Lines

12/22/2008 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Toronto Maple Leafs will aim for their fifth win in six games when they head south to face the Atlanta Thrashers at Philips Arena.

The Maple Leafs picked up an impressive two points Saturday in Pittsburgh, as they pounded the Penguins, 7-3.

Nik Antropov had a goal and two assists to lead Toronto to the easy win at Mellon Arena. The Leafs led 3-1 after the first period and held a 5-1 advantage after 40 minutes of play.

Pavel Kubina and Alex Ponikarovsky each had a goal and an assist for the Maple Leafs.

Vesa Toskala made 20 saves in the win and improved to 13-9-5 this season.

The Finnish backstop has an excellent career mark against the Thrashers, going 5-0-1 with a 1.81 goals against average and ,926 save percentage in six games.

Toronto is capping a three-game road trip tonight and is 7-8-2 as the visiting team this season. The Leafs have lost three of their last five games away from the Air Canada Centre.

The Thrashers have won two of their last three games, but are just 3-7-2 in their last 12 games overall.

Atlanta earned a victory its last time out, defeating the visiting Tampa Bay Lightning by a 4-3 score on Saturday.

Kari Lehtonen was the star for the Thrashers as he made his first appearance in almost two months and stopped 36 shots. Lehtonen had been battling a back injury and hadn't played a game since October 30.

Joseph Crabb, Todd White, Eric Perrin and Slava Kozlov each had a goal for the Thrashers.

White has recorded a point in five straight games and has three goals and four helpers during the stretch.

The Thrashers, who have lost seven of their last eight home tests, are wrapping a three-game homestand tonight. Atlanta is just 6-8-2 as the host this year.

Atlanta has won five of the last eight meetings with the Maple Leafs, including a 6-3 victory in Toronto on November 25. However, Toronto has won two straight and seven of its last nine in Atlanta.

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Academy Award Betting Odds for Best Picture Offer Great Value

If there is any category that is not an obvious win for any one nominee in this year's Academy Awards, it would be for Best Picture.  Sure the Departed is a 5/7 favorite, but that's hardly anything when we look at Helen Mirren and her "out-of-reach" 1 to 40 odds (which means you would win a whopping $1 for every $40 bet).

For value, take a look at MySportsbook.com Oscars betting odds on my personal favorite, The Queen - a remarkable 12 to 1 long shot.  The film hasn't won any pre-awards for Best Picture (compared to The Departed and Little Miss Sunshine), but there is a tremendous following and it is a strong enough film to warrant a surprise win.

TV Guide advises Oscar watchers should be cautioned not to discount the  drama "Babel" with its strong social themes about overcoming communication gaps among people of different cultures.

"While 'Babel' lost several guild awards to 'Sunshine' and 'Departed,'  it still enjoys loyal support, and historically Oscar voters favor dramas with social messages over comedies like 'Sunshine' and violent crime movies like 'Departed'."

"It hasn't done well in the guilds, which means there isn't much industry support," said Tom O'Neil of awards site TheEnvelope.com, "But several critics are expecting it to win, and that gets my attention." Babel had 7 to 2 odds at press time.

Who is to say independently produced Little Miss Sunshine won't be this year's Crash.  Last year, Crash won for Best Motion Picture, shocking those who bet on gay cowboy flick, Brokeback Mountain, as the favorite to win. 

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