The 29-year-old Hilbert returns to the Islanders after spending the 2009-10
season with the Minnesota Wild organization. He spent the majority of the
campaign with the club's American Hockey League affiliate in Houston,
compiling nine goals and 16 assists in 33 games.
Hilbert was a member of the Islanders from 2006-09, totaling 27 goals and 71
points in 218 games. He has also played for Boston, Chicago and Pittsburgh
since entering the league with the Bruins in 2001-02.
The Islanders also agreed to terms with center Rob Hisey on a one-year, two-
way contract. Hisey played in both the AHL and Central Hockey League last
season.
<< Blue Jackets sign Guite
Columbus, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Columbus Blue Jackets signed forward Ben
Guite to a one-year contract on Wednesday.
Guite, 32, was held scoreless in six games with Nashville in 2009-10. He
posted eight goals and 21 points in
<< He's Back! Favre returns for 20th season
Minneapolis, MN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Brett Favre officially announced his return
to the Minnesota Vikings for the 2010 season, his 20th as a professional in
the NFL.
Favre has been on the brink of retirement for several years, but has ch
<< Seahawks trade Lawrence Jackson to Lions
Renton, WA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Seattle Seahawks have traded defensive end
Lawrence Jackson to the Detroit Lions in exchange for an undisclosed pick in
the 2011 NFL Draft.
Jackson was selected by the Seahawks with the 28th overall p
<< Report: Cubs and Braves working on deal for Derrek Lee
Chicago, IL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Cubs and Braves are reportedly working
toward a deal that would send first baseman Derrek Lee to Atlanta.
Lee has been bothered by a lower back issue and was not in the lineup for
Wednesday's game
<< Manning not sure if he'll play Saturday
Albany, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning is
unsure if he will play in Saturday's preseason game against Pittsburgh after
leaving Monday's contest against the Jets with a cut on his forehead that
require
Giants disable P Ray >>
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The San Francisco Giants have placed
reliever Chris Ray on the 15-day disabled list with a right intercostal strain
and activated left-hander Jeremy Affeldt from the 15-day DL.
Ray was charged for fo
Mavs re-sign veteran Tim Thomas >>
Dallas, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Dallas Mavericks re-signed veteran forward
Tim Thomas on Wednesday to an undisclosed contract.
The Mavs are the versatile journeyman's seventh NBA team spanning a 13-year
career in the league, having
Rays sweep AL West-leading Rangers, keep AL East race hot >>
St. Petersburg, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Evan Longoria went 3-for-4 with a solo
homer, two run-scoring doubles and knocked in four, as the Tampa Bay Rays
completed a three-game sweep of the American League West Division-leading
Texas R
Dolphins add G Thomas >>
Miami, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Miami Dolphins have signed veteran guard
Randy Thomas.
A veteran of 11 NFL seasons, Thomas has played with the New York Jets
(1999-2002) and Washington (2003-09). The Mississippi State pro
Cain, Brewers hold on to down reeling Cards >>
St. Louis, MO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Lorenzo Cain doubled, tripled, drove in one
and scored twice to back 8 1/3 solid innings from Randy Wolf, as the Milwaukee
Brewers held on for a 3-2 win over the St. Louis Cardinals, earning a sweep of
a brief
NFL Football Betting Online
Is there such a thing as a trap game in the NFL?
I once asked that question to Pete Korner, who at the time was office manager and a senior linesmaker for Las Vegas Sports Consultants.
Korner almost ripped my head off. There is no such thing as a trap game, he loudly berated me. It’s a myth. The numbers are made using power ratings, he said.
There are trap games, though. They just might not be what you think. The perception is of a good team, say Philadelphia, laying a small number against New Orleans.
Using the highly-respected power ranking from The Gold Sheet, you’d find the Eagles with a power rating of 4 and the Saints at 8. When you factor the game being played in New Orleans, you could see why the line opened so short at less than a field goal.
For some, this makes it enticing to take the Eagles. That’s not a real trap game, though.
A real trap game, says professional gambler Dave Malinsky, is thinking you’re getting value betting a bad team, which brings us to the Oakland Raiders-Denver Broncos matchup.
The Raiders are +15 in this long-standing division rivalry. Denver is on a short week having dispatched Baltimore Monday. However, the Raiders haven’t covered the spread their last 10 games.
Many bettors don’t trust the Raiders to give a full effort. Few think much of Art Shell and his Oakland’s coaching staff.
So oddsmakers have to do something to make Oakland attractive if they hope to get equal action.
Now Malinsky is a value shopper. But he won’t touch the Raiders even getting more than two touchdowns.
“I try to eliminate the undisciplined, unfocused teams because they’re the ones most likely to suffer the bad beats,” he said.
Near the top of Malinsky’s list of stay-away teams is the Miami Dolphins, who have yet to cover a spread this season.
“Whatever you think of Nick Saban, you have to look at the penalties and turnovers,” Malinsky said.
It’s easy to point out the Dolphins failed to get the money this past week against New England because Olindo Mare missed a field goal and had another field goal blocked. But even though the Dolphins outgained the Patriots, 283-213, they committed eight penalties.
Bad teams not only cost themselves victories, but pointspread covers as well. The Arizona Cardinals and Green Bay Packers are two more examples.
The Cardinals couldn’t have been in a better position this past Sunday, up 14-0 at home against a mediocre Kansas City Chiefs squad. But they couldn’t hold it. The Packers got a push against St. Louis, but also could have won losing by three when Brett Favre fumbled at the St. Louis 11-yard line with 44 seconds left.
“The Packers were in a position to beat Philadelphia, too,” Malinsky said. “But they couldn’t even cover double digits.
“These teams just make mistakes and it costs you … they always will look good from a value standpoint. They really will. But that’s the trap.”
Houston and Tennessee rank among the six-worst teams. Malinsky wouldn’t be afraid to take either of these teams, however, if the price were high enough.
The Texans are bad, Malinsky said, but they have some discipline. The Titans showed they could not only come up with an outstanding game plan, but execute it as well, losing by one to the Colts on the road as an 18 ?-point underdog this past Sunday.
“Jeff Fisher is a worker,” Malinsky said of the Titans coach. “I’m not sure how hard Art Shell wants to work when he gets out of bed.”
Fisher, though, could be out as Tennessee coach after this season. Is he still worth backing in the right spot, with the right price, as a lame duck coach?
“It’s in his nature to keep working hard and not worry about any possible lame duck status,” Malinsky said. “He’s coaching for his resume.”
Note: Monday night game will be picked Monday. Lines used are from football betting lines.