Announcement

**jt4545** · 06-09-2010, 11:34 AM

Good luck and thanks

**Tnbreakers** · 06-09-2010, 11:51 AM

Gl!

**StarDust Bum** · 06-09-2010, 11:59 AM

Good Luck Guys.........

**StarDust Bum** · 06-09-2010, 12:00 PM

Major League Baseball Trendy Talk

While your parents taught you gossip is unhealthy, it is a positive when breaking down baseball betting. For those that participate in sports betting, having knowledge that can give you the edge, well it’s invaluable. Review the best information anywhere on four meaningful baseball contests tonight.

Florida at Philadelphia 7:05 E

Both these NL East clubs busted out scoring slumps last night as they totaled 18 runs on 26 hits, with Philadelphia (31-26, -5.4 units) winning 10-8. Because of tonight’s pitching matchup, they could both go right back into batting slumps. Roy Halladay (8-3, 2.03 ERA) goes for the Phillies and Josh Johnson (6-2, 2.10) for Florida (28-31, -5.5).

Sportsbook.com has the Phillies as -160 money line home favorites and as good as Doc Halladay is, Johnson isn’t too shabby with the Marlins 41-18 when he starts and 13-5 when he is underdog of +150 or less. With the way the Phils have been hitting lately, Halladay probably feels like he’s back in Toronto and is 5-9 (-11.8 Units) against the ML after giving up two or less earned runs in his last two outings over the last two seasons. (Team's Record)

It’s not all doom and gloom for Philadelphia as they are 29-15 vs. an NL starting pitcher whose WHIP is 1.250 or better and the floundering Fish (four straight losses) are 1-11 versus a NL starting pitcher whose ERA is 3.50 or lower this season.

San Diego at N.Y. Mets 7:10 E

The Padres (34-24, +13.3) got a rare taste of their own medicine, falling 2-1 in extra innings to New York (31-27, +4.1). Even with last night’s defeat, San Diego is uncanny 9-3 when a total of four or less runs are scored this year. Mat Latos (5-4, 3.26) has the unfortunate luck of drawing another top line pitcher in tonight’s action. Latos has been matched against Halladay, Tim Hudson, Felix Hernandez, Josh Johnson, Yovani Gallardo and Jonathan Sanchez (three times) and has to look at Johan Santana (4-2, 2.76 ERA) this evening.

Santana has thrown 15 straight scoreless innings and has a 0.74 ERA over his last five starts and his teammates are thriving at Citi Field. The Mets are 23-9 at home and are riding their second nine-game winning streak in the Big Apple. New York is 7-0 at home after three or more consecutive wins this season and is a -150 ML favorite. Santana is his career is 104-33 as a favorite of -150 or more. (Team's Record) San Diego will attempt to counter and is 9-3 after four or more consecutive road games in 2010.

L.A. Angels at Oakland 10:05 E

Though it seldom gets much play nationally, the Angels (32-29, +2.2) and Athletics (31-29, +3.7) is one of the more heated division rivalries in baseball. The teams have split the first two of a four game series and Oakland will attempt to retake second place on the AL West behind Dallas Braden (4-5, 3.77), who hasn’t won since tossing a perfect game on Mother’s Day. Braden is 0-3 with a 4.45 ERA since May 9th; however oddsmakers still have the left-hander and the A’s as -128 favorites. Braden is 5-13 (-12.1 Units) against the ML as a home favorite of -110 or higher. (A's Record)

The Halos had their six-game winning stopped last night with 10-1 thumping and hand the ball to Joe Saunders (4-6, 4.78), who could be spokesperson for a yoyo company with his up and down performances. Saunders and the Angels are 13-4 in road tests vs. AL teams scoring 4.7 or less runs a game since 2008 and the port-sider is 10-4 vs. his rival. Even with last night’s loss, the Angels are 14-6 at McAfee Coliseum the past three seasons.

St. Louis at L.A. Dodgers 10:10 E

Manager Tony LaRussa tried to play the percentages, essentially giving away the first game of the series in Los Angeles with his pitching choices and coming back with Chris Carpenter and Adam Wainwright (8-3, 2.05 ERA) the next two games. His plan was foiled as Hiroki Kuroda and two relievers combined for a six-hitter in the Dodgers 1-0 shutout victory. St. Louis (33-26, -5) hasn’t been great this year, however they have avoided long losing streaks, but our in danger of losing four in a row for the first time since June 5-9, 2009.

Having Wainwright to pitch will be a big plus, as he is 3-1 with a 1.20 ERA and 36 strikeouts in 30 innings over his last four overall outings and has a 1.23 ERA in three starts against the Dodgers (35-24, +4.8). With the Cardinals a -105 betting option, they and Wainwright are 14-3 when the money line is +125 to -125 over the last two seasons.

The Blue Crew is in the midst of its longest homestand of the year (13 games) and have won seven of first nine and they own the finest record in the big leagues since May 9 at 22-7. Clayton Kershaw (5-3, 3.06) toes the rubber for L.A., with his club 37-15 at Dodger Stadium with a money line of -100 to -150 since last year.

**StarDust Bum** · 06-09-2010, 12:01 PM

Milwaukee betting choice to zip past Big Z

Carlos Zambrano said he was a little rusty when he made his return to the Chicago Cubs rotation last week. Back to his usual schedule, he’ll try to benefit from pitching in perhaps his favorite opposing ballpark Wednesday night. Zambrano will attempt to win his fifth straight decision at Miller Park and help his team bounce back from a disappointing series-opening loss to the Milwaukee Brewers.

Zambrano had five days off between his final relief appearance and his first start in more than a month Friday night in Houston. The $91.5 million right-hander was moved to the bullpen after going 1-2 with a 7.45 ERA in his first four starts of the season. He was 0-1 with a 4.15 ERA over 13 relief appearances, the last on May 29.

The time off didn’t seem to help Zambrano (1-4, 6.14 ERA) in his return to the rotation. He made 34 of his 84 pitches in the first inning and allowed three runs, six hits and three walks in 4 1/3 innings as the Cubs (26-32, -14.4 units) fell 3-1 to the Astros.

“It’s a little tough to be consistent with the strike zone (after a layoff),” he told the Cubs’ official website. “Not even (Carlos) Silva, who is a strike machine or Greg Maddux could be consistent. If Maddux went to the bullpen and tried to pitch in seven, eight days, I think he would have some location problems.”

Over the past three years, Zambrano has had few problems staying in control at Miller Park. He’s 4-0 with a 1.96 ERA in his last five starts there, including his no-hitter against Houston on Sept. 14, 2008, in a game relocated because of hurricane damage in Texas. In addition, Big Z and the Cubs are 44-21 in road games against division opponents in his career.

Zambrano, however, has a 7.20 ERA in his last two overall starts against the Brewers - both at Wrigley Field. He gave up four runs over five innings against Milwaukee on April 15 but did not get saddled with the decision in Chicago’s 8-6 defeat.

Until the opener of this series, that was the Cubs’ only loss in six games against their NL Central rivals.

Former Chicago prospect Casey McGehee gave the Brewers another victory against the Cubs with a two-run, two-out single in the ninth inning Tuesday night. The 3-2 win was Milwaukee’s seventh in 21 home games against Chicago since June 5, 2007. “Going into a lead in the ninth inning, you feel good about it with your closer, but it didn’t happen,” Cubs manager Lou Piniella said. The loss gave Chicago a 12-19 record against the NL Central in 2010.

Milwaukee (24-34, -11.3) hasn’t won back-to-back home games over Chicago in one season since 2006, and Randy Wolf (4-5, 4.66) will try to deliver that with another strong outing against the Cubs, losers in six of eight overall.

The left-hander is 5-7 with a 4.22 ERA in 17 career starts versus Chicago but has gone 3-1 with a 2.10 ERA in his last four. Wolf, though, is 2-4 with a 5.71 ERA in his last seven overall starts after giving up five runs over 6 2/3 innings in Friday’s 8-0 loss in St. Louis. Over the past three seasons, Wolf has been much better at home with his different teams at 29-12.

This ESPN contest has Milwaukee as a -110 money line favorite at Sportsbook.com with total Un9. Besides performing poorly against their neighbors to the south, the Brewers are 9-19 when the money line is +125 to -125 this season. The Brew Crew is 23-7 UNDER at home after batting .240 or worse over a 15-game span. The Cubs have been quite beatable against losing teams with 10-22 record and with their lack of offense is 11-1 UNDER after a one run loss this year.

This Central Division affair is set to begin after 8:00 Eastern.

**StarDust Bum** · 06-09-2010, 12:02 PM

Philadelphia small favorite to force Game 7

Even the best of players will have an off day. Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant haven’t always dominated every finals game they played in and Sidney Crosby and Steve Yzerman were not always the best player on the ice game after game in the Stanley Cup finals they played in. After four marvelous outings against Chicago, the Flyers defenseman Chris Pronger had one of those games.

Pronger, who’s been dishing legal and illegal hits for years, was pounded a few different times by Blackhawks’ players in Game 5 and ended up -5 for his time on the ice in the 7-4 defeat.

Credit Chicago coach Joel Quenneville for creative line switches that appeared desperate before the game and brilliant after it. Quenneville broke up his top scoring line of line of Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane and Dustin Byfuglien after they had totaled one goal and three assists in the first four contests of the Finals, mostly facing Pronger when on the attack.
Each player was placed on a different line and Pronger and the entire Flyers defense was thrown off. The 6’6 blue-liner was singled out since he had been such a pain to Chicago, being on the ice for six of the Blackhawks goals and in the penalty box for the other. Philly is 4-10 after playing a game where nine or more total goals were scored this season.

Pronger has logged the most ice time of any player in the series and having two days off should refresh him, plus Philadelphia is 24-7 at home since the midpoint of the regular season. Flyers coach Peter Laviolette will work to combat his club’s off night and remind them the home team has won every contest in the series thus far, so by just playing Philadelphia hockey, they can extend series one more game.

After Chicago’s overwhelming performance, the sports bettor has to use his polyhistoric references and realize though the Hawks won the last game, realistically, neither team has the momentum.

Chicago as least psychologically feels good having laid out Pronger a few times and possibly shaken the confidence of goalie Michael Leighton, who reportedly is not a sure thing to start in goal for this encounter. Expect to see Leighton between the pipes since he is 6-0 at the Wachovia Center and his teammates are 9-1.

The Blackhawks are 19-3 off a home win scoring four or more goals this season and are starting to feel like they might have found something. “I think we've been looking for that throughout the whole series,” Kane said. “With him (Pronger) on the ice, he's a big guy, but we feel we can get around him and make some good plays.

Though Pronger has been a huge part of the discussion between games, his coach adds perspective. “I think if we look just for Chris Pronger to do it, everybody will be in trouble," Laviolette said. "We are a team that, by all accounts, we win together, and usually it's a team effort. And when we lose, well, we do it as a team. Everybody could have been a little bit better last night. I'm sure Chris will have a big game and lead the way, but others -- we need to make sure that we have all hands on deck."

This all leads to Philly being a -120 money line favorite at Sportsbook.com and they’ve won their last five when handing out -150 or less. Don’t expect Chicago to go quietly since they are 11-2 as underdogs in previous 13 tries and with total Ov5.5, the Hawks are 6-0 OVER in road games after both teams scored four goals or more this year. The Flyers will look to batten down the hatches and are 11-3 UNDER after permitting five goals or more.

NBC and the CBC will have Game 6 at 8:00 Eastern as Philadelphia tries to extend home winning streak over Chicago to 11, dating back to March of 1998.

**The Orange Chef** · 06-09-2010, 01:08 PM

good posts dude

**StarDust Bum** · 06-09-2010, 06:29 PM

Diamond Trends - Wednesday

Angels at Athletics – The Angels are 0-5 since May 03, 2010 on the road when they are off a loss in which they never led for a net profit of $500 when playing against. The Athletics are 6-0 since April 14, 2009 at home after a win in which they drew 1 or fewer walks and it is not the first game of a series for a net profit of $645.

Cubs at Brewers – The Cubs are 0-6 since August 12, 2009 after a loss in which they were tied at the end of 6 innings and it is not the first game of a series for a net profit of $805 when playing against. The Cubs are 6-0 since April 08, 2010 after a loss in which they had a higher team-left-on-base than their opponent as a dog for a net profit of $710.

Braves at Diamondbacks – The Diamondbacks are 0-5 since April 17, 2010 after a loss in which their opponent left 18+ men on base and it is not the first game of a series for a net profit of $540 when playing against.

Cardinals at Dodgers – The Dodgers are 6-0 since October 08, 2009 vs a team that has lost at least their last three games and it is not the first game of a series for a net profit of $650. The Cardinals are 5-0 since May 20, 2010 after a loss and it is the last game of the series for a net profit of $515

Red Sox at Indians – The Red Sox are 6-0 since April 27, 2010 after a one run win for a net profit of $600. The Indians are 0-9 since April 12, 2010 at home when they are off a loss in which they held the lead for a net profit of $935 when playing against.

Padres at Mets – The Padres are 5-0 since September 08, 2009 on the road after a loss in which they had 6 or fewer hits and it is not the first game of a series for a net profit of $675. The Padres are 6-0 since April 06, 2010 after a loss in which they drew 1 or fewer walks and it is not the first game of a series for a net profit of $745.

Pirates at Nationals – The Nationals are 0-8 since April 18, 2010 vs a team that has lost at least their last two games and it is not the first game of a series for a net profit of $800 when playing against. The Nationals are 0-6 since April 18, 2010 after a win in which they allowed 6 or fewer hits for a net profit of $600 when playing against.

Yankees at Orioles – The Orioles are 0-8 since April 07, 2010 after a loss in which they allowed 12+ hits and it is not the first game of a series for a net profit of $800 when playing against.

Marlins at Phillies – The Marlins are 5-0 since May 27, 2009 on the road after a loss in which their opponent left 18+ men on base and it is not the first game of a series for a net profit of $675

Mariners at Rangers – The Mariners are 0-5 since May 06, 2010 after a loss in which they had 6 or fewer hits and it is not the first game of a series for a net profit of $535 when playing against.

Blue Jays at Rays – The Blue Jays are 0-7 since May 21, 2009 on the road after a loss in which they were shut out in the first 6 innings and it is not the first game of a series for a net profit of $780 when playing against. The Rays are 0-6 since April 08, 2010 at home after a win in which they left 18+ men on base for a net profit of $1000 when playing against.

Astros at Rockies – The Astros are 3-0 since May 11, 2010 on the road when they are off a win in which they came back from a deficit for a net profit of $625.

Royals at Twins – The Twins are 8-0 since April 17, 2010 at home after a win in which they allowed 1 or fewer walks for a net profit of $800. The Twins are 7-0 since April 17, 2010 at home after a win in which they allowed 1 or fewer walks and it is not the first game of a series for a net profit of $700.

Tigers at White Sox – The Tigers are 0-5 since April 07, 2010 on the road after scoring 6+ runs for a net profit of $560 when playing against.

**StarDust Bum** · 06-09-2010, 06:29 PM

Wednesday Tips

The Wednesday baseball card showcases quality pitching matchups, with three of the early games pitting teams that are both above .500. Elsewhere, an expected pitcher's duel takes place in Philadelphia trying to duplicate the scene of a perfect game from 11 days ago.

Marlins at Phillies - 7:05 PM EST

The last time Roy Halladay faced Florida, he tossed the 20th perfect game in Major League baseball history. Halladay outdueled Josh Johnson in a 1-0 affair, with the lone run scored being an unearned run on a Cameron Maybin error. These two aces take the mound at Citizens Bank Park, as both teams look to create some consistency at the plate.

Halladay (8-3, 2.03 ERA) has lived up to the billing since being dealt to Philadelphia in December from Toronto. For the exception of two bad starts, Halladay has delivered quality starts in 10 of 12 outings, allowing two earned runs or less in 10 trips to the mound. The former Cy Young Award winner struck out 11 in the perfect game at Florida on May 29, the fifth complete game this season for Halladay.

For the exception of Colorado's Ubaldo Jimenez, Johnson (6-2, 2.10 ERA) has been the hottest pitcher in the National League of late. The Marlins' ace has allowed one earned run in his last four starts, a span of 27 innings (3-1). Johnson hasn't had much luck against the Phillies, besides being on the wrong end of Halladay's perfect game. Florida is 1-4 in Johnson's previous five starts against the Phillies, dating back to 2009. However, the Fish are 3-1 in Johnson's last four outings at Citizens Bank Park.

The road team is 4-2 in six meetings this season, with five of the games finishing 'under' the total. In the last 19 matchups, the away club has claimed 14 meetings, including an 8-2 mark by Florida.

Padres at Mets - 7:10 PM EST

Another matchup of a veteran ace against a young fireballer takes place at Citi Field as Johan Santana and Mat Latos toe the rubber. The Padres have won seven of the last 10 meetings since 2009, including two of three this season.

The Mets own a 22-9 home record, as New York is 5-1 in Santana's (4-2, 2.76 ERA) six starts at Citi Field. The ace has made just one home start in his last five trips to the mound, picking up a win as an underdog against CC Sabathia and the Yankees. Santana last took the mound at Petco Park against the Padres, tossing seven scoreless innings and scattering five hits. The southpaw didn't figure in the decision as Francisco Rodriguez blew the save in the ninth inning and the Mets ultimately lost, 5-1 in extra-innings.

Latos (5-4, 3.26 ERA) will be tested against another top-end starter in Santana, as the San Diego righty has been opposed by Halladay, Johnson, and Felix Hernandez this season on the road. The 22-year old has allowed four hits or less in five of his last six starts, including road victories at Seattle, San Francisco, and Houston. Latos beat the Mets last August at home, 3-1, yielding four hits and one earned run in six innings of work.

After starting the season at 10-1 in Game 2's, the Padres are just 3-5 the last eight Game 2's of a series. The Mets have cashed the 'under' in five of the previous six home contests.

Giants at Reds - 7:10 PM EST

Two teams that are looking to make the move among the National League's best continue their series at the Great American Ballpark. San Francisco took the opener on Monday with a 6-5 victory, the third straight one-run game in this series.

After seeing Barry Zito and Matt Cain in the first two games of this series, the Reds will face Giants' lefty Jonathan Sanchez (4-4, 2.63 ERA) on Wednesday. Sanchez played his college ball in Columbus at Ohio Dominican University where he pitched four no-hitters at the NAIA level. The southpaw has already racked up a no-no on this level when he tossed a no-hitter against San Diego last July. Sanchez picked up his first road win of the season his last time out at Pittsburgh, allowing four unearned runs in 6.1 innings of a 6-4 victory.

The Reds counter with Aaron Harang (4-5, 5.43 ERA), who has struggled to be consistent this season. Harang has compiled only one quality start in his last five outings, while allowing four earned runs in four innings of a 4-2 loss at Washington his last start. The righty has been afforded solid run support at home, receiving at least seven runs in three of his last four outings in Cincinnati (3-1). The Reds beat the Giants twice in Harang's two starts last season, delivering seven innings each in a pair of underdog wins.

The Reds are 7-4 to the 'over' their last 11 home games, while the Giants have put together four straight 'overs' on the road following three consecutive 'unders' on the highway.

Blue Jays at Rays - 7:10 PM EST

Tampa Bay's lead in the AL East has shrunk to 5 ½ games over fourth-place Toronto (with New York and Boston in between), as the two teams continue their set at Tropicana Field. The Rays are 5-2 this season against the Jays, including last night's home victory.

David Price (8-2, 2.29 ERA) is living up to the billing as an ace with a fantastic start to the season. The southpaw shut down Toronto his last time out, scattering nine hits and two unearned runs in eight innings of a 7-3 victory. The Rays are 5-0 in Price's five career starts against the Jays, while allowing four runs combined in four of the victories. Two of Price's losses at home have come as substantial favorites, falling to the Royals and White Sox as $2.20 'chalk' or higher.

Shaun Marcum (5-2, 2.77 ERA) was on the losing end of that 7-3 loss to Price and the Rays back on June 2, despite going 8.1 innings and tossing 112 pitches. That defeat snapped a six-game winning streak by Toronto when Marcum starts dating back to the start of May. The righty's numbers on the road have been solid (2-0, 3.03 ERA), with the Jays going 4-1 in Marcum's starts on the highway.

The Jays have had their share of struggles against left-handed pitchers, batting .198 this season, but are 4-4 the last eight games versus southpaw starters.

**StarDust Bum** · 06-09-2010, 06:31 PM

Flyers need 1 more rally

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - The Flyers need one more rally.

If not, they might want to scamper off the ice after Game 6 because it will be Chicago hoisting the Stanley Cup for the first time since 1961.

First, a break with the Blackhawks holding a 3-2 series lead.

Flyers coach Peter Laviolette told the Flyers to stay home Monday. Relax and regroup. Save the work for Tuesday.

Laviolette sent his team away with a message: Wednesday's Game 6 is only the next chapter before Game 7.

The Flyers believe they aren't finished with their postseason stuffed with thrilling comebacks.

``I have no question that we'll respond,'' Laviolette said Monday.

This Flyers team has mastered the art of the comeback, starting all the way back on the last day of the regular season when a shootout win clinched a playoff spot. It became the third team in NHL history to win a series after losing the first three games when it eliminated Boston in the Eastern Conference semifinals, and evened the Stanley Cup at 2-all after losing the first two games at Chicago.

The Flyers have one more edge that's bigger than Chicago's tallest skyscraper. Game 6 is in Philly - huge in a series where the home team has won every game and where the Flyers are a sizzling 9-1 this postseason.

They couldn't wait to escape Chicago after Sunday night's 7-4 loss.

``They came out harder,'' Flyers goalie Michael Leighton said. ``For some reason, we weren't ready to play and it cost us the game.''

It might cost Leighton his starting spot.

Laviolette has decided which goalie will start Game 6 of the Stanley Cup finals. He just won't say if it's Leighton or Brian Boucher.

Leighton has started every game for the Flyers since Game 6 of the Eastern Conference semifinals. He's been yanked twice during the Stanley Cup finals - in Game 1 and Game 5. Boucher took over at the start of the second period Sunday night with the Flyers trailing 3-0.

Leighton is 8-2 with a 2.34 goals against average, and three shutouts in the East finals. Boucher is 6-6 with a 2.47 GAA and lost his job when he was hurt against the Bruins.

Laviolette said Monday he didn't reveal his starting goalie because he hasn't talked to his players yet.

``Whatever is best for the team and whatever is going to give us the best chance to win one hockey game,'' he said.

Leighton or Boucher. Boucher or Leighton.

The Flyers goalie doesn't really matter much to the Blackhawks. Neither does Game 6's locale because the Blackhawks would be back in control if the series shifted back to Chicago for a Game 7 on Friday.

The Blackhawks are just one win away from a celebratory swig out of one of sports most signature trophies for the first time since Bobby Hull and Stan Mikita won it all in 1961. Michael Jordan donned a Jonathan Toews jersey to root on the Blackhawks on Sunday night, and the United Center was rocking again like when Air Jordan was flying and dunking his way through the city.

In the 20 previous Stanley Cup finals that were tied 2-2, the Game 5 winner has won the series 14 times.

Throw in the perfect home records in the finals and the Blackhawks have to like their championship chances.

``One win away is still big,'' Blackhawks center Dave Bolland said. ``Going into their barn, they had a great crowd there, just like here. We can't hold anything back or wait for anything.''

Coach Joel Quenneville, whose Game 5 line shakeups paid off, commended his team for its focus and expects the same in Philly.

``I don't think we want to change off of those levels,'' he said. ``We're going on the road. We don't want to change our approach, play the same way. Same emotion.''

The Blackhawks just might want to watch where they poke their sticks. Laviolette was still upset a day after Chicago defenseman Duncan Keith swung his stick right under Danny Briere's right eye. Briere left the ice bloodied and Duncan kept playing without a penalty called against him.

``At first glance, I almost thought it was intentional,'' Laviolette said. ``The puck wasn't even around. Looking at it again, it should have been a 4-minute (major) penalty. You have to be in control out there.''

The Flyers need a stronger effort from defenseman Chris Pronger after he was on the ice for six of Chicago's seven goals in Game 5 and had one of the worst playoff games of his career (minus-5).

Laviolette refused to single out Pronger, Leighton or any other Flyer for marked improvement in Game 6. He knows they all have to play better to have a shot at keeping the Stanley Cup from being hoisted by Chicago in a postgame celebration.

``If any team gets it, this team gets it because we've been here so many times,'' Laviolette said. ``Again, to have our back against the wall, we'll be comfortable with this. I have no question that our team will respond in a manner in which it should so that we can be successful.''

**StarDust Bum** · 06-09-2010, 06:31 PM

Blackhawks want to clinch in Philly

PHILADELPHIA (AP) -Scrubbed and polished, the Stanley Cup will be in the arena for Game 6. The Philadelphia Flyers hope it will stay in its case.

The Chicago Blackhawks would love to leave Philadelphia with a new carry-on for the plane.

Beat the Flyers in Game 6 on Wednesday, and the Blackhawks will win their first championship since the days of Bobby Hull and Stan Mikita in 1961, ending the longest active drought in the NHL.

``That's the dream,'' Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews said Tuesday. ``That's the one thing you keep telling yourself, in your heart you know you're going to do it some day.''

Toews and his teammates know the Stanley Cup will be the guest of honor in Philadelphia. No celebrity, no dignitary will mean more than the nearly 3 feet and 35 pounds of one of sports' great trophies. A victory by Chicago would turn it into the world's largest champagne flute.

``The more time you spend away from the rink, the easier it is to think about how close you are to winning the Cup,'' Toews said.

Holding the Stanley Cup high and giving it a celebratory shake is the dream of every hockey player. It could come true faster than most for the 22-year-old Toews, already the star and captain in just his third NHL season.

Toews, who leads the Blackhawks with 28 points this postseason, drew inspiration from Pittsburgh's championship run last season. He saw Sidney Crosby, then only 21, hoist the trophy as the youngest captain to ever win the Stanley Cup.

Toews can't beat Crosby in the age category. But he could join Crosby and have his name forever etched on hockey's ultimate prize.

``I think that's when it really first set in that I felt our team, and myself personally, never felt closer thinking that this is an opportunity - this is something that can really become a reality,'' Toews said. ``It's been a long year, but I think we all knew all along that we can make it this far.''

Ah, yes. That Detroit-Pittsburgh final. Turns out, a year later it's just as inspirational to the Flyers as it's been to Toews.

In that series, the Penguins lost the first two games on the road, were pounded in Game 5, and trailed 3-2 in the series before storming back to win the championship.

Sound familiar, Philly?

The Flyers opened the finals with two straight losses in Chicago, won Games 3 and 4 at home and were pounded 7-4 back in Chicago in Game 5. They're trying to get back to Chicago for a Game 7 on Friday.

Flyers coach Peter Laviolette has earned rave reviews from his team for his passionate pregame talks. His job is as much motivational speaker as it is breaking down gameplans. He'll reference the 2009 finals and say, ``We can do this.''

Wiping out the Flyers at home will be tough. The home team has won every game this series and the Flyers are 9-1 at home in the postseason.

``We know what we're up against,'' said Pronger, who was on the ice for six of Chicago's seven goals in Game 5 and had one of the worst playoff games of his career (minus-5).

Then, the Chicago Tribune on Tuesday turned him into Pronger the Pinup with an unflattering picture of him in a skirt beside a bold headline that declares, ``Chrissy Pronger. Looks like Tarzan, skates like Jane.''

``I really couldn't care, to be honest with you,'' Pronger said. ``I'm worried about playing the game.''

The Flyers are sticking with Michael Leighton in goal after he was yanked in Game 5 (also in Game 1). Leighton has an NHL-low 2.34 goals-against average in 13 appearances since taking over for the injured Brian Boucher in Game 5 of the second-round series against Boston. He finished with three shutouts in the Eastern Conference finals.

If the Blackhawks need any added incentive to finish the Flyers in Philly, it's this: Philadelphia won a Game 7 on the road already this postseason (at Boston) and rallied from a 3-0 deficit to win the game.

``We're a confident group here,'' Flyers forward Simon Gagne said. ``We know that coming back for Game 6 at home in front of our fans, we're a tough team to beat.''

**StarDust Bum** · 06-09-2010, 06:32 PM

Leighton likely in for Flyers in Game 6

PHILADELPHIA (AP) -The ever-guarded Peter Laviolette tipped his hand. But make no mistake, this was hardly a slip-up.

Always coy and protective about who will be in his lineup, Laviolette strongly hinted Tuesday that Michael Leighton will be back in goal when the Philadelphia Flyers try to force a Game 7 in the Stanley Cup finals.

``I don't comment on lineups or goaltenders,'' the stern-faced Laviolette said at first on the eve of Wednesday night's Game 6 against the Chicago Blackhawks.

That retort has been standard for Laviolette back to his days as coach of the New York Islanders, the Carolina Hurricanes, and even the 2002 U.S. Olympic hockey team. It doesn't matter if the question is about the starting goalie or if he is considering using five defensemen instead of six for the first time this season as Philadelphia faces elimination yet again.

But Tuesday provided a bit of a twist.

``Our goaltender has the best numbers in the playoffs. I didn't think I had to announce it,'' Laviolette said tersely. ``I'm very confident in Michael. He's played excellent in the playoffs. His home numbers are terrific.''

And there it was. All it took was a quick look at the stat sheet to see that Leighton has an NHL-low 2.34 goals-against average in 13 appearances since taking over for the injured Brian Boucher in Game 5 of the second-round series against Boston.

That league-best number even takes into account his sub-par showing in Game 5 on Sunday night in Chicago when Leighton allowed three goals on 13 shots in the first period.

``You just try to support each other, and that's it,'' said Boucher, whose 2.47 GAA is second best in the playoffs. ``Both of us have to be ready, but in this case just support him and make sure he's feeling good about himself.

``From a personal standpoint, you'd love to be in there, but right now our main goal is worrying about getting a win and getting this thing back to Chicago.''

Boucher gave up three goals on 14 shots in the final two periods of the 7-4 loss that put Philadelphia on the brink of elimination, creating a bit of a question as to who would get the nod for Game 6. Leighton is 6-0 at home in this year's playoffs, yielding only nine goals in those games.

``I talked to Lavie, and he wasn't really disappointed in the way I played. He was disappointed in the way the team played,'' Leighton said of the Game 5 performance. ``He told me, 'We did it to shake up the team.' For me, there are a few things I would change. We went over the video, and there were some good things and some not so good things.

``You've just got to take the positives and erase the negatives and go from there.''

Leighton has made a habit of shaking off rough outings and bouncing back with strong efforts. He did it within Game 7 of the Boston series when he was touched for three goals in the first period, but gave up nothing else as the Flyers rallied for an historic 4-3 win.

Leighton gave up five goals on 38 shots to Montreal in a Game 3 loss in the Eastern Conference finals, but yielded a total of two goals in the next two games as the Flyers finished off the Canadiens in five.

And then, the Blackhawks - the team that selected Leighton in the sixth round of the 1999 draft - lit him up for five goals on 20 shots in the series opener. Laviolette pulled him then, too, but went right back to him for Game 2. Leighton took a tough 2-1 loss in that one before posting back-to-back home wins to get the series even.

``We've seen this story before,'' top defenseman Chris Pronger. ``I think he's the type of guy that can let things like that roll off him and just go out and be focused and be prepared. I'm not too worried about him. I don't think anybody else is, either.''

It appears that Laviolette is the leader of that group, even though he seems to enjoy employing the mind game with his players, opponents and the media.

When asked Tuesday if he had told Leighton or Boucher who would get the Game 6 start, the 2006 Stanley Cup-winning coach said he hadn't. The follow-up question probed when he would let the goalies know.

``Do you know who is starting in the net for Chicago?'' Laviolette asked back. The resounding response in the packed room of reporters was ``Antti Niemi,'' the man who has played all but 25 minutes of the 1,283 logged by the Blackhawks in their 21 postseason games.

``Oh. But nobody has asked?'' Laviolette said.

Seems like a fair question.

**StarDust Bum** · 06-09-2010, 06:33 PM

Chicago goes for the kill

Home ice rarely means much during the Stanley Cup Playoffs, proven this postseason with three road teams winning Game 7s. Yet the home teams have held serve in the first five games of the Stanley Cup Final. The Flyers will no doubt be hoping for that trend to keep going on Wednesday night.

The betting shops are expecting Philadelphia to send this series back to the United Center by installing them as a $1.15 home “chalk” with a total of 5 ½.

What gamblers and Flyer fans have to be wondering is what Peter Laviolette is going to do with his goaltending situation.

Michael Leighton came into this series with a lot of publicity after shutting the Canadiens out three times in the Eastern Conference Finals. In the championship round, however, he has been awful. Leighton was sent to the showers after just 20 minutes of work in Game 5 in Chicago, but not before he let the Blackhawks score three goals on 13 shots. Brian Boucher wasn’t much better in a relief role in stopping 11 of the 14 shots on goal he saw on Sunday night.

This seems like it would be the right spot to bring Boucher back in as the starting netminder, but will Laviolette make that move? Leighton was picked up off of the waiver wire back in December and is looking like one in this series. He has a goals against average of 4.02 and a .867 save percentage. He’s the equivalent of a matador on the ice. As bad as those numbers are, it’s going to be hard for Philly to make that switch between the pipes for concerns of how the team will handle it.

Offensively, the Flyers are doing alright, scoring at least four goals in four of the five games in this series. Simon Gagne found the back of the net on Sunday night for his second lamp-lighter of the Stanley Cup Final. Scott Hartnell has scored three goals against the Blackhawks, one of which coming in Game 5. Danny Briere, however, has failed to score a goal in the last two games but has three helpers to his credit.

What is helping Philly is that they are going up against a goaltender in Chicago’s Antti Niemi that isn’t the second coming of Tony Esposito. Niemi has stopped 88 percent of the shots he has seen from the Flyers to post a GAA of 3.54. Not the best numbers of a backstop on this level, but he has done enough to keep his team in its games in Philadelphia already.

The Blackhawks split up their former top line of Dustin Byfuglien, Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane in order bolster their offense in Game 5. The result was depth on the attack that Philadelphia couldn’t handle on Sunday. This adjustment also saw Byfuglien score his first two goals of the series and let him slap around Pronger.

Joel Quenneville’s changing of the lines also helped Chicago score on two of its four power plays in Game 5. That’s the first time the Blackhawks has multiple special teams goals since lighting up Vancouver for four scores on the advantage on May 7.

Bettors have rode the good offense and lack of goaltending to high scoring profits as the ‘over’ is 4-1 so far.

The gambling public has been able to back the puck line with confidence during the tail end of this series. The favorites (- ½-goals) have covered the spread in the last two games and should have come through in Game 2 if not for a bounce of the iron for Chicago in the final seconds of the match.

Some fun stuff for gamblers to know is that the team that won Game 5 of this series after being tied 2-2 have went on to win 14 of the last 20 championships.

Even more important for the bettors out there to know is that teams have won Game 5 went on to go 1-5 in the last six Game 6s. Plus, the ‘under’ is 5-2-1 in the last seven Game 6s of the Stanley Cup Final.

**StarDust Bum** · 06-09-2010, 06:35 PM

Playoff Results - Stanley Cup Final

Favorites have gone 5-0
Home teams have gone 5-0
The 'over' is 4-1
Favorites that won are 2-3 on the puck line

Home Visitor Time/Final Score ATS OVER/UNDER

Sat May 29, 2010
Blackhawks (-200) Flyers 6-5 FAVORITE OVER 5.5

Mon May 31, 2010
Blackhawks (-185) Flyers 2-1 FAVORITE UNDER 6

Wed June 2, 2010
Flyers (-135) Blackhawks 4-3 (OT) FAVORITE OVER 5.5

Fri June 4, 2010
Flyers (-115) Blackhawks 5-3 FAVORITE OVER 5.5

Sun June 6, 2010
Blackhawks (-185) Flyers 7-4 FAVORITE OVER 5.5

Wed June 9, 2010
Flyers Blackhawks 8:00 p.m. EDT - -

Fri June 11, 2010
Blackhawks Flyers 8:00 p.m. EDT - -

Announcement

The Bum's Wednesday's Best Bets MLB-NHL !

The Bum's Wednesday's Best Bets MLB-NHL !

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment