Aiming for first three-game win streak, Stars host Sharks

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12/29/2008 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Dallas Stars will get another chance at their first three-game winning streak of the season when they host the mighty San Jose Sharks for tonight's Pacific Division clash at American Airlines Center.

In addition to winning back-to-back games, the Stars have been victorious in four of their last five contests. Dallas has also recorded at least a point in five straight games, going 4-0-1 over that stretch.

The Sharks, meanwhile, are tied for the NHL lead with 58 points and are 23 points ahead of Dallas for first place in the Pacific.

San Jose is 2-0 against the Stars this year and won the last meeting by a 6-2 score when they rolled to a win in Dallas on November 28. The Sharks have won three of four and five of the last eight encounters between the clubs and have also taken five of six in Dallas.

However, the Stars did get the better of San Jose in the playoffs last year as Dallas eliminated the Sharks in six games during the Western Conference semifinals.

The Stars earned their most-recent victory over another Pacific rival, posting Saturday's overtime victory against visiting Anaheim. Mike Modano ripped a one-timer past Jean-Sebastien Giguere with 1:26 remaining in OT to give Dallas the 4-3 decision over the Ducks.

Mike Ribeiro recorded a goal and two assists, while James Neal and Brad Richards each scored and added a helper for Dallas, which was coming off an 8-2 victory over Toronto. Marty Turco was shaky in net, but made 19 saves to pick up the win.

Richards and Ribeiro each extended point streaks to five games with the former notching four goals and six assists during the run and the latter posting two goals and seven helpers.

Saturday's win marked the opener of a three-game homestand for the Stars, who are 8-5-3 as the host this year. Dallas will complete the residency against New Jersey on New Year's Eve.

The Sharks had a two-game winning streak halted their last time out, as they dropped a shootout decision Saturday in St. Louis. Brad Winchester scored the equalizer in the third period and tallied the game-winner in the shootout, as the Blues edged San Jose, 3-2, notching their first win over the Sharks since the 2006-07 season.

San Jose last lost to the Blues on January 20, 2007 and had beaten St. Louis seven straight times prior to Saturday's setback. The Sharks also had won seven in a row in the Gateway City.

Jonathan Cheechoo and Mike Grier each had a goal and an assist for the Sharks. Joe Thornton added a pair of helpers for San Jose, while Evgeni Nabokov made 26 saves.

The Sharks are playing the middle segment of a three-game road trip that will end New Year's Eve at Minnesota. San Jose has lost three straight as the visiting team and is sporting a 9-4-2 road record this season.

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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.

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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

NFL football gambling

To visit this internet sportsbook go to MySportsbook.com for all your football betting needs.