Kessel set to debut in Leafs' clash with Lightning

Hockey Betting Lines

11/03/2009 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Toronto Maple Leafs will see their biggest offseason addition on the ice for the first time this season tonight when they welcome the Tampa Bay Lightning for a battle at Air Canada Centre.

The Maple Leafs pulled off a trade with Boston for Phil Kessel in mid- September and knew he was expected to miss at least the first month of the season after undergoing shoulder surgery in May. The young forward was cleared to play earlier today and participated in the morning skate for Toronto. It will be Kessel's first game action since the Bruins were knocked out by Carolina in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semifinals.

Kessel, who is just 22 years old, set career highs in goals (36) and points (60) for the Bruins last year. Toronto gave up a first-round pick in both 2010 and 2011 in addition to its second-round pick in 2010 to land Kessel's services.

Kessel's debut comes at a good time for the Leafs, who have been playing better lately despite the fact they still have just one win on the season. The Maple Leafs earned their first win of the year last Monday by downing Anaheim, 6-3, and then suffered three straight OT losses, concluding with Saturday's shootout setback in Montreal.

Mike Cammalleri notched the winning score in the shootout as Montreal blew a two-goal third-period lead but rebounded to top Toronto, 5-4, at Bell Centre. The loss to the Canadiens ended a five-game road trip for the Leafs, who went 1-1-3 on the trek.

Alexei Ponikarovsky tallied twice for the Maple Leafs. Tomas Kaberle recorded a goal and three assists while Lee Stempniak also scored in regulation. Vesa Toskala stopped 35 shots in the loss for Toronto, which suffered through its first one-win October since 1985.

Kaberle has notched a point in five straight games and has two goals and 11 assists during that tear. He leads all NHL defenseman this season with 17 points (2 goals, 15 assists).

The Leafs have a winless 0-4-1 record at home this year and last won at the ACC when they beat Ottawa to close out the 2008-09 regular season.

The Lightning, meanwhile, have dropped two straight, three of four and five of their last seven. They are still second in the Southeast Division, but are eight points behind first-place Washington.

Tampa was handed a blowout loss Monday evening in Philadelphia as Jeff Carter and Mike Richards both finished with two goals and an assist to lift the Flyers to a 6-2 win at the Wachovia Center.

Mike Smith got the start in net for the Lightning and allowed five goals on 18 shots through nearly 27 minutes of play. Former Flyer Antero Niittymaki made 12 saves the rest of the way.

Jeff Halpern and Steven Stamkos had the goals for Tampa Bay. Stamkos has scored a goal in six straight games for the Lightning and has eight tallies and three assists during an eight-game point streak. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2008 draft has 11 goals in 12 games this year after notching just two markers through his first 12 contests during his rookie campaign in 2008-09.

Tonight's test marks the second stop on a four-game road trip for the Bolts, who are winless away from Tampa this year, posting an 0-4-1 mark as the guest.

Tampa Bay took three of four from the Maple Leafs last season and has taken five of seven overall in the series. The Lightning have won their last two games in Toronto, but has still dropped 11 out of 14 on the road against the Leafs.

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Pro Football Odds : NFC SOUTH BETTING ODDS

NFL Sports Betting

NFL betting action is back! At MySportsbook, all of the pro football odds are posted for the NFC North. Check out how we see the four teams in this cloudy division stacking up this year in the chase for the playoffs! Green Bay Packers (+125) - With QB Aaron Rodgers leading the offense and DC Dom Capers working his magic on defense, the Packers are a real force to be reckoned with.

Virtually nothing changed on this offense for Green Bay from last year to this year, save for the addition of rookie OT Brian Bulaga to the bunch. Expect more huge numbers from the Pack, and a relatively favorable schedule should get them over the hump and into the playoffs once again this season. My NFL Betting Predictions: 11-5, 1st place in NFC North Minnesota Vikings (+130) - There are still too many unknowns about the Vikes this year. There is a huge difference between QB Brett Favre and either Tarvaris Jackson or Sage Rosenfels under center. Plus, is Favre comes back, is he really going to be able to keep his pick total under double digits again? Depth at running back looked like it might have been an issue with RB Chester Taylor fleeing in free agency, but drafting RB Toby Gerhart should pick up the difference. This defense is still suitable, but with a first place schedule, making the playoffs is going to be very tough regardless of whether #4 comes back or not.

There is a huge difference between QB Brett Favre and either Tarvaris Jackson or Sage Rosenfels under center. Plus, is Favre comes back, is he really going to be able to keep his pick total under double digits again? Depth at running back looked like it might have been an issue with RB Chester Taylor fleeing in free agency, but drafting RB Toby Gerhart should pick up the difference. This defense is still suitable, but with a first place schedule, making the playoffs is going to be very tough regardless of whether #4 comes back or not. Play this weekly NFL Football Contestto see if you can win.

Chicago Bears (+350) - The Bears are probably a bit of an overhyped team once again this year.No, we don't think it is plausible for QB Jay Cutler to have as bad of a season as he did last year, and we do think the additions of RB Chester Taylor and DE Julius Peppers are going to help immensely, but there's still something in the water in the Windy City that we aren't so sure about. Maybe Chicago finds its way to .500... but then again, maybe it doesn't. If Favre comes back, Cutler might be the worst quarterback in this division this year.

Detroit Lions (+1500) - The Lions are probably once again going to be the whipping boys for the rest of the teams in the NFC North, but they aren't just going to roll over and die once again. There is some real talent amassing on this team offensively, as the combination of QB Matt Stafford, RB Jahvid Best, WR Calvin Johnson, and TE Brandon Pettigrew should put a bunch of points on the board if the offensive line can even remotely hold up. The questions really lie on defense, where it feels like DT Ndamukong Suh is going to be trying to stop opposing teams all by himself. This year should show some marked improvement in the Motor City.

The Patriots will make NFL betting fans a lot of money this season, get in early and enjoy the cash.

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