Higgins, Ryder lead Habs over Caps

Hockey Betting Lines

02/21/2007 - Montreal, QC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Chris Higgins and Michael Ryder netted two goals each to guide the Montreal Canadiens past the Washington Capitals, 5-3, at the Bell Centre.

Garth Murray added an empty-net goal in the closing seconds and Jaroslav Halak picked up his second win in as many career starts in net by turning away 15 shots for the Canadiens, who have now won two in a row since losing six straight. This is the first time in a month that the Canadiens have posted back-to-back wins.

Jamie Heward finished with a goal and two assists while Brent Johnson came up with 27 saves for Washington, which has dropped four straight.

Montreal stormed out of the gates to assume a 3-0 advantage after 20 minutes of play.

All three were power-play markers, including Higgins' goal from the right side of the net 7:33 into the contest to open the scoring. Ryder made it a two- goal game with 5:12 left in the first, as his one-timer navigated through traffic in front before beating Johnson.

Less than a minute later, Higgins redirected a Saku Koivu feed in front to finish the surge.

Washington, though, opened the second frame with a pair of goals to cut the deficit to one. The first came at the 2:06 mark on a hard slap shot from Heward that deflected off Brian Sutherby and in. Heward then made it 3-2 with another slapper 30 ticks later, this one caroming off a Montreal player before slipping into the back of the net.

The Capitals were in good position to tie the game after Montreal was whistled for a double-minor with 4:27 left in the second period. Ryder, though, broke out on a short-handed charge, split a pair of defenders and then fired a snap shot past Johnson to build a 4-2 edge.

Alexander Semin again made it a one-goal game with only 34 seconds left in the second with a pretty flip shot over the shoulder of Halak.

Halak and company, however, pitched a shutout from there and Murray punched in an empty-net tally in the final minute to seal the win.

Game Notes

Murray hadn't scored in his last 43 games...Halak made 31 saves in his NHL debut Sunday to guide Montreal to a 3-2 win in Columbus. He was called into action after Cristobal Huet suffered a hamstring tear in Montreal's 5-2 loss at New Jersey on Wednesday. Huet had surgery to repair the tear on Sunday and will be out indefinitely...This marked the end of a three-game road trip for Washington, which is just 9-16-5 away from D.C. this year and has lost seven straight and 13 of its last 14 as the visitor.

Wwwnyra Hockey Betting News

<< Nebraska falls to Iowa State
Ames, IA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Megan Ronhovde scored 15 points and pulled down eight rebounds, as Iowa State defeated 25th-ranked Nebraska, 64-53, at Hilton Coliseum. Lyndsey Medders poured in 13 points and had nine boards for the Cyclones (

<< Crawford, Curry propel Knicks over Magic
New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jamal Crawford and Eddy Curry each scored 20 points to lead the New York Knicks over the Orlando Magic, 100-94, at Madison Square Garden. Quentin Richardson added 15 points and David Lee had 14 points and

<< No. 18 Bowling Green rolls over Kent State
Kent, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Amber Flynn poured in 21 points and led six players in double figures, as 18th-ranked Bowling Green defeated Kent State, 89-66, at the M.A.C. Center. Kate Achter scored 14 points, Carin Horne chipped

<< Rutgers women rout Providence
Piscataway, NJ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Matee Ajavon scored 23 points and Epiphanny Prince added 14 to lead 21st-ranked Rutgers to a 69-34 pounding of Providence. Heather Zurich tallied 10 points for the Scarlet Knights (18-7, 11-3 Big East

<< Arenas leads Wizards over T'Wolves
Washington, DC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Gilbert Arenas poured in 38 points, and Washington never trailed in a 112-100 triumph over the Minnesota Timberwolves. Arenas was a miserable 1-of-8 from three-point range, but made up for the shor

Devils edge Rangers in chippy affair >>
East Rutherford, NJ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Zach Parise scored the game-winning goal in the third period and Martin Brodeur made 35 saves, as the New Jersey Devils edged the New York Rangers, 2-1, in the start of a home-and-home series.

Senators shoot past Oilers >>
Ottawa, ON (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Dean McAmmond was credited with the game-winning goal in the shootout and the Ottawa Senators escaped a late rally to defeat the Edmonton Oilers, 4-3, at Scotiabank Place. Dany Heatley, Mike Fisher and Dan

Lightning top Panthers in shootout >>
Tampa, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Martin St. Louis scored the game-winner in the shootout and added a goal in regulation to lead the Tampa Bay Lightning to a 3-2 win over the Florida Panthers at St. Pete Times Forum. With the shootout tied

Koivu lifts Wild over Stars in shootout >>
St. Paul, MN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Mikko Koivu scored the lone goal of the shootout, as the Minnesota Wild nipped the Dallas Stars, 2-1, at XCel Energy Center. Brian Rolston scored in regulation for the Wild, who won for the fourth t

Parker and Spurs knock off Denver >>
San Antonio, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Tony Parker led a balanced San Antonio attack with 17 points, as the Spurs routed the Denver Nuggets, 95-80, for their third straight win. Manu Ginobili added 14 points and Tim Duncan scored 12 f

Terrell Owens could return for Cowboys next game
A bye week will allow Terrell Owens broken hand to recover just in time for the next game the Dallas Cowboys are slated to play, according to reports. MySportsbook.com, an football sportsbook, has posted football betting lines on TO playing.

Owens broke the bone leading to his right ring finger Sunday night and had a plate surgically attached to it Monday. Although Owens' hand was swollen and aching Wednesday, Dallas Cowboys coach Bill Parcells said he's optimistic the receiver will be back at work next week and catching passes a week from Sunday against the Tennessee Titans.

MySportsbook.com online sportsbook listed Terrell Owens with odds of 7-2 (or $7 paid out for every $2 bet) to return back for the game against Tennessee.

"I certainly wouldn't rule it out now," Parcells said, referring to Terrell Owens immediate return. "Maybe five days from now I might, but I wouldn't rule it out now. ... I know we're looking to try to get him moving around pretty good in the next day or so. So we'll see where we are."

Owens did not speak with reporters Wednesday, but said Sunday he'd be out two to four weeks. A return against the Titans would be 13 days after the surgery. The Cowboys were listed as an early -7 1/2 favorite vs. the Tennessee Titans for Week 4 at MySportsbook.com

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your Sportsbook accepts Mastercard needs.