Ovechkin's hat trick keys Caps' OT comeback over Pens
Hockey Betting Lines
02/07/2010 - Washington, DC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Mike Knuble scored on the power-play with 2:11 remaining in overtime, and Alex Ovechkin recorded a hat trick, as the Washington Capitals fought back from a three-goal deficit to edge Pittsburgh, 5-4, and extend their franchise-record winning streak to 14 games.
Eric Fehr also tallied for the Capitals, while Washington goaltender Jose Theodore made 31 saves.
The last club to win 14 in a row were the Penguins when they set an NHL record with 17 consecutive victories from March 9-April 10, 1993.
Sidney Crosby and Jordan Staal each scored twice for Pittsburgh, which didn't arrive to the team hotel until 2:15 a.m. (et.) because of the blizzard that struck the Nation's Capital.
Marc-Andre Fleury allowed five goals on 34 shots to take the loss.
Staal scored two goals in an 84-second span in the second period to give Pittsburgh a 4-1 cushion. His second tally came off a nifty setup by Evgeni Malkin at 13:07.
Fehr put a backhander on net and buried his own rebound to make it a two-goal game with 2:48 remaining in the middle stanza.
The Penguins lost to the Canadiens on Saturday and were forced to take a flight from Montreal to Newark, New Jersey and then endure a five-hour bus ride to Washington because of the crippling storm.
The difficult circumstances might have caught up to the club as the Caps rallied in the third period.
Ovechkin swatted a rebound after deflecting a Tom Poti shot at 6:51 and completed the trifecta a little over four minutes later. Ovechkin, who now boasts a league-leading 42 goals, took a drop pass from Knuble after a Nicklas Backstrom faceoff win and snapped the puck behind a stunned Pittsburgh netminder.
Penguins defenseman Brooks Orpik caught Washington forward Alexander Semin with a high stick at 2:26 of the extra session and Ovechkin unloaded a shot from the left wing that hit the post before Knuble pushed in the rebound.
Crosby staked the visitors to a 2-0 lead before the game was 10 minutes old.
The Pittsburgh captain picked off Tyler Sloan, who went for the stretch pass from his own zone, and beat Theodore on the backhand at 6:59. Crosby converted a power play exactly three minutes later.
Ovechkin scored on a breakaway to put Washington on the board at the 9:01 mark of the second period.
Game Notes
Backstrom and Malkin both had two assists...The Caps haven't lost since a 7-4 setback at Tampa Bay on January 12...Theodore has won 10 consecutive starts...Left winger Chris Kunitz returned to the lineup for Pittsburgh. He missed 15 games after undergoing abdominal surgery.
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Football Betting: Defensive Rookie of the Year Awards
Oddsmakers have released the odds for the 2009 AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award and Seattle Seahawks linebacker Aaron Curry has been made the opening favorite.
Seattle took Curry with the fourth overall pick in April's NFL draft and plan on inserting him into its starting lineup right away. The Hawks traded linebacker Julian Peterson in the offseason, so Curry is expected to have a significant role in Seattle's defense next year and that's one of the primary reasons he is the favorite to win the NFL ROY Award.
Oddsmakers from online sportsbook MySportsbook.com have made Curry a 5/1 favorite to win this year's NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award. Given that he was the best defensive prospect in this year's draft and how he'll have plenty of opportunities to make plays in '09, Curry offers a ton of value at 5/1.
Another thing working for Curry is the position he plays. A linebacker has won the defensive ROY award six straight times and eight of the last nine years. Jerod Mayo, Patrick Willis, DeMeco Ryans, Shawne Merriman, Jonathan Vilma, Terrell Suggs, Kendrell Bell and Brian Urlacher were the most recent linebackers to take home the award.
Following Curry at 5/1 are Tyson Jackson (Chiefs) at 7/1, James Laurinaitas (Rams) at 8/1, Brian Orakpo (Redskins) at 10/1, Rey Maualuga (Bengals) at 10/1 and Jerry Peria (Falcons) at 10/1.
All the players mentioned above are expected to start for their respective teams, but Jackson and Peria are going to have a tough time being recognized on a national level given they're both defensive linemen. D-linemen rarely put up the numbers that it takes to win an individual award like the ROY.
A couple of players with some value are Clay Matthews (Packers) at 12/1 and Larry English (Chargers) at 15/1. Matthews is expected to start at outside linebacker in Green Bay's new 3-4 defense and could rack up a ton of tackles. English, who was an impressive player at Northern Illinois, is expected to be a situational pass rusher for the Chargers and could rack up a ton of sacks.
For complete odds on the 2009 AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award, see below. And for complete odds for the 2009 AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Award, click the link provided.
2009 AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award
Robert Ayers (DEN) 12/1
Ron Brace (NE) 25/1
Everette Brown (CAR) 16/1
Darius Butler (NE) 40/1
Patrick Chung (NE) 30/1
Aaron Curry (SEA) 5/1
Brian Cushing (HOU) 12/1
Vontae Davis (MIA) 30/1
Louis Delmas (DET) 30/1
Larry English (SD) 15/1
Evander Hood (PIT) 25/1
Tyson Jackson (KC) 7/1
Malcolm Jenkins (NO) 25/1
Paul Kruger (BAL) 50/1
James Laurinaitas (STL) 8/1
Sen'Derrick Marks (TEN) 20/1
Clay Matthews (GB) 12/1
Aaron Maybin (BUF) 15/1
Rey Maualuga (CIN) 10/1
Roy Miller (TB) 20/1
Michael Mitchell (OAK) 45/1
Fili Moala (IND) 30/1
Brian Orakpo (WAS) 10/1
Jerry Peria (ATL) 10/1
B J Raji (GB) 7/1
Clint Sintim (NYG) 35/1
Alphonso Smith (DEN) 40/1
David Verkune (CLE) 20/1
Jason Williams (DAL) 30/1
Field (Any Other Player) 6/1
To visit this internet sportsbook go to MySportsbook.com for all your football betting needs.