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**moondog22** · 10-21-2010, 05:31 PM

good luck Bum

**StarDust Bum** · 10-21-2010, 06:34 PM

NHL Odds: Maple Leafs host slumping Rangers

The Toronto Maple Leafs began the season with four straight wins before suffering a 2-1 overtime loss in Monday’s home game against the Islanders. The Leafs hope to get back on the winning track Thursday when they host a New York Rangers team that is in the midst of a three-game losing skid.

The Leafs still have yet to lose during regulation play, and their 4-0-1 ledger is still tops in the Eastern Conference. That’s quite a statement considering the club finished in the Eastern Conference basement last season.

Nevertheless, the Leafs had their perfect start soiled Monday as 170 home favorites when Islanders forward John Tavares scored with 1:34 left in the extra session.

The combined three goals slipped ‘under’ the 5 ½-goal closing total, which enabled the ‘under’ to improve to 9-2 on the NHL betting charts in Toronto’s last 11 home encounters.

However, the ‘over’ had cashed in Toronto’s last three games prior to the low-scoring Islanders contest. The Leafs had begun the season by notching three goals or more in their first four games.

Toronto was 1-for-3 on the power play and also allowed the Islanders one goal in three opportunities with the man advantage. That keeps Toronto’s streak alive of scoring one power play goal in four straight outings. The Leafs have yielded just two power play goals in 18 chances during their first five games.

The overtime loss was particularly painful considering the Maple Leafs outshot the Islanders, 30-20. Phil Kessel, who tied the contest with 2:05 left in regulation, leads the Leafs with seven points.

Though Jean-Sebastien Giguere stopped 18-of-20 shots in a losing effort, the Toronto netminder still has a fine 3-0-1 ledger with a 1.96 GAA and .911 save percentage.

The Rangers began the season with a 6-3 victory at Buffalo as 130 road underdogs, but haven’t won since. The Rangers dropped their third straight outing Monday as 128 home favorites when Colorado handed them a 3-1 setback. Ironically, the Rangers closed in the favorite role during all three losses.

The combined four goals in the Colorado game ducked ‘under’ the 5 ½-goal closing total, which snapped a string of three straight ‘over’ games. The New Yorkers have now yielded three goals or more in each of their first four encounters.

The Rangers’ penalty killing unit continues to be a problem, as Colorado notched two power play goals in three chances. The Rangers have now allowed six of their 16 total goals when the opposition has had the man advantage. Opponents are now 6-for-20 against the Rangers on the power play.

Henrik Lundquist stopped 31-of-34 shots in the net for the Rangers and saw his record fall to 1-2-1. The 28-year-old now has a bloated 3.75 GAA and an .892 save percentage.

The Rangers and Leafs already played once this season (Oct. 15) with the Leafs registering a 4-3 overtime victory as 120 road underdogs. The combined seven goals leaped ‘over’ the 5 ½-goal closing total.

Toronto outshot the Rangers 38-24 and did not allow the Rangers to score during five chances with the man advantage. The Leafs were 1-for-7 during their own power play chances.

The Rangers led that game after the first period, 1-0, thanks to a goal by Michal Rozsival at the 7:58 mark. However, the Leafs answered with three even-strength goals during the first eight minutes of the second stanza by Clark MacArthur, Michael Komisarek and Phil Kessel.

New York’s Brian Boyle notched two even-strength goals in the third period to send the game into overtime. But Kessel scored the game-winner for the Leafs while the Rangers were short-handed.

The game featured some fairly jagged play, evidenced by the four roughing minor penalties, two five-minute fighting penalties and one unsportsmanlike penalty.

The Rangers travel to Boston for a Saturday contest against the Bruins before returning to Madison Square Garden for three straight home games against the Devils, Flames and Hurricanes.

Toronto also hits the road Saturday for a contest against the Philadelphia Flyers.

**Kaptain** · 10-21-2010, 07:11 PM

give em hell BUM

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