Bruins start set with playoff-hopeful Canadiens
Hockey Betting Lines
03/22/2007 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Montreal Canadiens have improved their play recently and hope to continue that trend tonight, when they visit the Boston Bruins at TD Banknorth Garden for the finale of a home-and-home series.
Earlier this month, the Canadiens were mired in a four-game losing streak, but the club has won four of its last five contests since then.
However, the Habs are still fighting for their playoff lives and come into tonight's action tied with Toronto and Carolina for the eighth and final postseason spot in the East. The Hurricanes will also be in action tonight, as they host the Washington Capitals.
The opener of this home-and-home set was on Tuesday evening at Montreal's Bell Centre, where the Canadiens skated away with a close triumph. Guillaume Latendresse scored the lone goal of the contest and Jaroslav Halak notched his first career shutout as the Canadiens edged the Bruins, 1-0.
Halak stopped 30 shots, including 14 in a busy third period for Montreal, which has won back-to-back games.
Tim Thomas finished with 31 saves for Boston, which has lost five of its last seven.
The Bruins were once in the heat of the playoff race, but have now fallen into 13th place in the East with 73 points. They are just seven points behind the trio holding the final postseason berth in the conference, but would have to also get past Florida and the New York Islanders before breaking into the top eight spots.
This evening's contest is the first of two straight at home for the Bruins, who are 18-15-3 as the host this year but have dropped four of their last six in Beantown. However, Montreal is just 15-19-3 as the away club and has been defeated in six of its last seven road tests.
The season series between these two Original Six franchises is tied at three wins apiece, but the Canadiens have take eight of its last 11 matchups with Boston.
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Marlins could start season without No. 2 starter Johnson
JUPITER, Fla. -- The Foorida Marlins are preparing for the likelihood that right-hander
Josh Johnson won't be ready when the season starts April 2.
Grapefruit League action starts Wednesday, but Johnson, penciled in as the No. 2 starter, hasn't even thrown off a mound at full speed since September. He's experienced some soreness in his right forearm.
MySportsbook.com have the Marlins listed with baseball betting lines at +800 to win the NL East this season .
''You guys know the math. If he's not on the hill then he becomes an opening day roster issue,'' manager Fredi Gonzalez said Saturday. ''We're borderline now.''
Johnson, who finished 12-7 with a 3.10 ERA in 2007, was supposed to throw on flat ground Saturday. That was canceled when he woke up with pain.
He played catch on Wednesday with no pain but felt discomfort in a throwing session on Thursday. He's expected to try again Sunday.
''Like we always said from the very beginning, we're going to take it easy on him,'' Gonzalez said. ''He didn't feel right, so we shut him down. We're going to take it back to step one and see where we're at.''
Among the candidates to take Johnson's spot in the rotation are left-hander Chris George and right-handers Yusmeiro Petit and Jose Garcia.
Right-hander Sergio Mitre, who missed most of last season with arm and shoulder problems, also is behind.
With Johnson's status doubtful, Gonzalez said right-hander Ricky Nolasco will stay in the rotation and no longer will be considered a candidate for closer.
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