Predators aim to extend series win streak over Kings

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03/14/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - There is a chance that the Predators could visit the Kings in the postseason's opening round depending on how the Western Conference shakes down. Los Angeles would prefer that didn't happen.

Currently seeded seventh in the West, Nashville will try for its seventh straight win over Los Angeles this afternoon at Staples Center.

The Predators have 79 points on the season, one more than the eighth-seeded Red Wings and two up on the ninth-seeded Flames. Nashville is also just three points behind the Avalanche and six back of the Kings, who are currently fifth in the standings.

Los Angeles would like to avoid a first-round meeting with Nashville, which has won its two meetings with the Kings this year to run its overall winning streak in the series to six games. The Preds have also won four straight at Staples Center, where they haven't lost since October 23, 2007.

Nashville, which will try to avoid its first overall loss to Los Angeles since March 13, 2008, wraps a four-game road trip tonight. The Predators improved to 2-1-0 on that trip with Friday's 1-0 win over Anaheim.

Shea Weber scored a first-period goal while Nashville skated with a five-on- three advantage off assists from Jason Arnott and Ryan Suter, who has a goal and five helpers over his last seven games. Pekka Rinne made it stand up with 31 saves for his fourth shutout of the season in what was his 100th NHL games.

"He's been a great goalie ever since he's been here and obviously the organization wants him for the long run," said Weber about Rinne, who owns 11 career shutouts. "They showed that by signing him [to a two-year extension on Feb. 24]. Obviously, he's rewarding them with some good play."

Rinne could again draw the start today seeing as he is a perfect 3-0-0 with a 2.62 goals-against average in three lifetime meetings with the Kings.

The Kings will try to solve the Predators today in the opener of a four-game homestand. Los Angeles has won six of its last eight at home and returns to Staples Center after Friday's 2-1 shootout victory in Dallas.

With starter Jonathan Quick away from the team after his wife gave birth to the couple's first child Friday morning, 21-year-old Jonathan Bernier was recalled from Manchester of the American Hockey League and posted 29 saves. Bernier was making just his fifth career start and first since Oct. 2007. He earned the second win of his career and first since winning his NHL debut on Sep. 29, 2007.

"He's a very talented young man," Kings head coach Terry Murray said on his team's Web site of Bernier, "and he has worked hard this year to get his game to a good level and having good success. The opportunity and the preparation came together here tonight, and I really liked what I saw."

Despite that, Quick is expected return to the net today aiming for his first career win versus the Predators. He is 0-2-1 with a 3.31 GAA lifetime against them.

Fredrik Modin scored his third goal in five games since being acquired by the Kings from Columbus before the trade deadline, while Jarret Stoll had the game-winner in the shootout's sixth round.

Los Angeles, which won 34 games last year, reached the 40-win plateau for the first time since 2005-06 and tied a club record by winning its 21st road game.

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After all the trouble that’s ensued since Braylon Edwards allegedly punched one of LeBron James’ homeboys in the face at a club, the Cleveland Browns have sent away their last remaining player of worth to the New York Jets. This is a great move for Dirty Sanchez and all, but it’s even better for the Knicks. Now Donnie Walsh can say, “You get to haunt Braylon Edwards with your posse if you sign here!” next summer.

Putting that aside for a moment, the move is a clear indication that the new-look Jets are gunning for the Super Bowl this year. I don’t think that New York thought that Dirty Sanchez was going to be such a rock star. With a 75.2 passer rating that was killed against the Jets, Sanchez is doing an admirable job of managing games and putting the Jets in a position to win. The defense has been the major story in New York thus far, but the acquisition of Braylon Edwards makes this offense loaded with talent that can dent any defense…as long as Dirty Sanchez continues his meteoric rise.

Thus far, Edwards has been a non-factor in the NFL piling up just 139 receiving yards on 10 catches. He has yet to find the endzone, and with the Browns mired in the most unsexy quarterback controversy of all time (Anderson vs. Quinn...yawn), there going nowhere fast. Edwards is two seasons removed from a career year which saw him catch 80 passes for 1,289 yards and 16 touchdowns when the Browns were the spread killing monsters of 2007. In 2008, injuries slowed the receiver down to just 873 yards and three touchdowns though he played in all 16 games.

So that being said, we really don’t know if Braylon Edwards is just a flash in the pan, or a legit threat. At 6-foot-3 and 215 pounds, he is a prototypical receiver. But he’s also shown a strange, and unwarranted, talent for dropping passes. Lining up opposite Jericho Cotchery, a speed demon with 23 catches, 356 yards and a single touchdown, may give Braylon the open looks he needs. A change of scenery may also rejuvenate the star receiver.

In return, the Browns will receive Chansi Stuckey, online football betting a special teams player you’ve never heard of and a pair of draft picks. That’s a tall order for a guy whose only real value right now is in his name, and it shows no promise to the Browns that they can rebuild around those acquisitions. Braylon was the only reason to hope for the Browns to go 3-14 SU this year. Without him, they don’t have a single guy on offense that can scare any team.

For the Jets, it’s a response to the pounding that they took at the hand of the Saints. Thomas Jones and Leon Washington have averaged around 4.0 yards per carry each on the ground, but striking a fair balance between the passing and rushing attacks in New York has been a struggle. You have to believe that the trio of Dustin Keller, Jericho Cotchery and Braylon Edwards will give Sanchez the weapons he needs to unleash through the air. Theoretically, that would open up holes for the rushing game. But the proposed public option health care plan works in theory too. We need to see the proof in the pudding before we start loading up mega bucks on the New York Jets to take the AFC.

The one wrinkle in this whole thing is that Braylon could very well be suspended by the league for disciplinary action due to his “brawl” with LeBron’s friend. If that’s the case, the Jets may have to bench him for a few games leaving them with a somewhat depleted receiving corps for a few games. Also, this is a guy who gets in fights with people at clubs. New York may not be the best place for him. Just sayin’.

The Jets have a long week before they meet the Miami Dolphins on Monday Night Football Betting in a virtual pick ‘em game. Braylon’s excess baggage may be a distraction, and his curiously low production may be what we should be expecting of him overall, but for the Jets, taking a chance to strike gold is well worth it. At the end of the year, they can simply just blame it on their rookie quarterback.

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