Smith, Coyotes blank reeling Blackhawks
Hockey Betting Lines
02/12/2012 - Glendale, AZ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Mike Smith stood tall between the pipes, making 38 saves to backstop the surging Phoenix Coyotes to a 3-0 victory over the struggling Chicago Blackhawks Saturday night.
Smith recorded his third shutout of the season for the Coyotes, who pushed their winning streak to a season-high five games.
"My teammates did a great job in front of me tonight," Smith said.
Chicago is trending in the opposite direction. The Blackhawks suffered their eighth consecutive loss and 10th straight on the road. They fell to 0-5-1 on a season-long nine-game road swing.
"We need something to give in and make us feel good about ourselves," said Chicago captain Jonathan Toews.
Ray Emery stopped 24 shots in defeat.
Radim Vrbata opened the scoring 3:14 into the contest with his team-leading 26th goal of the season.
Vrbata gathered a loose puck in the Chicago zone after a failed clearing attempt and accepted Ray Whitney's return feed. The crafty winger skated behind the enemy cage and sent a wraparound that Blackhawks defenseman Sami Lepisto directed into his own net.
Boyd Gordon doubled the Coyotes' advantage 2:44 later. Gilbert Brule missed the net on a one-timer, but the puck slid right to Gordon and he scored from the right side of the net.
Brule also picked up the primary assist on Kyle Chipchura's tally at the 12:59 mark of the middle stanza.
Smith posted 16 saves in the third period to preserve his 14th career shutout.
Game Notes
The Coyotes inducted former alternate captain Jeremy Roenick into the team's Ring of Honor in a pre-game ceremony on Saturday night...Whitney has two goals and 10 assists during an eight-game point streak...Phoenix earned its fourth consecutive win at home...The Coyotes won the season series, 3-1.
Nashville, TN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Doron Lamb scored 16 and his three-pointer with under four minutes left gave Kentucky the lead for good, as the top- ranked Wildcats beat Vanderbilt, 69-63, for their 17th straight win. Anthony Davis
<< Richardson's hot shooting leads Orlando over Milwaukee
Milwaukee, WI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jason Richardson made 9-of-11 from long
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Orlando Magic with 31 points as they defeated Milwaukee, 99-94, at the Bradley
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Dallas, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Delonte West scored six of his 10 points in the
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Portland Trail Blazers at American Airlines Center.
Dirk Nowitzki scored a team-h
<< Lin pushes Knicks past T'Wolves
Minneapolis, MN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The legend of "Linsanity" grew a bit larger
on Saturday as Jeremy Lin scored 20 points, including a game-winning free
throw with the game tied to lead the Knicks over the Timberwolves 100-98 at
Target
<< Blues top Avs in OT
St. Louis, MO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Blues continue to pile up the wins and
points on home ice.
Carlo Colaiacovo scored the first goal since the opening period with 1:42 to
play in overtime, sending St. Louis to a 3-2 victory over
Arlington, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Texas Rangers and catcher Mike Napoli have reportedly agreed on a one-year contract for the 2012 season, thus avoiding arbitration. The Dallas Morning News reported Napoli will make $9.4
Saint Mary's stays perfect at home >>
Moraga, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Rob Jones scored 25 points and pulled down 12
rebounds, as 16th-ranked Saint Mary's remained unbeaten at home by topping
Santa Clara, 82-67, at McKeon Pavilion.
Coming off a Thursday loss at Gonzaga, the
Iginla lifts Flames over Canucks in shootout >>
Calgary, AB (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Stymied late in regulation, Jarome Iginla made
good on his opportunity in the shootout, netting the decisive goal to lift the
Calgary Flames to a 3-2 victory over the Vancouver Canucks at the Saddledome.
Iginl
Suns ease past Kings >>
Sacramento, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jared Dudley had 20 points and 10 rebounds
as the Phoenix Suns eased past the Sacramento Kings, 98-84, at Power Balance
Pavilion.
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Victoria, Australia (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jessica Korda first gained control
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Problem with Bears?
Chicago, IL - New Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler and star linebacker Brian Urlacher shot down reports of a rift, saying they're simply not true.
"There's nothing between us," Cutler said Thursday, when he reported to training camp. "I just want to put that to rest. There never has been anything between us."
Urlacher added: "I never said what I was quoted as saying and that's it. I have a lot of respect for Jay. I think Jay knows that."
Former Bears receiver Bobby Wade caused a stir when he told Minneapolis radio station KFAN-AM that Urlacher used a profanity while questioning Cutler's manhood during a conversation in Las Vegas last weekend. Wade, who now plays for the Vikings, said Urlacher used a profane version of the word "wimp" during the interview that had to be edited out.
go radio station WSCR-AM also reported that Urlacher had to be restrained from confronting Cutler during organized team activities.
"I wouldn't go face-to-face with Brian, anyway," Cutler said. "No, that's never happened. I've hung out with Brian away from the facility numerous times and we've always gotten along."
Urlacher, noting he was limited by a groin injury, denied the reports in an interview with the Chicago Tribune and did it again when he reported to camp.
"I didn't practice this summer, so I don't know how I would fight the guy if I didn't practice," Urlacher said. "We have no problems. I'm excited about football starting. I'm excited to have him as our quarterback."
Why would Wade say that?
"I don't know," Urlacher said. "Maybe he's jealous because we have a good quarterback now."
Cutler said the first he heard of any friction was when he got a call from Urlacher to clear the air. Urlacher, however, said he had already taken several calls from teammates wondering if the reports were true when Cutler phoned.
"He called me and I said, What's up (expletive), what are you doing?'" a grinning Urlacher said, uttering the same word he allegedly used with Wade. "It's so dumb to me that this even got to this point, but it did and then here we are."
better place after going 9-7 and missing the playoffs for the second straight year. They have a franchise quarterback for the first time in decades after acquiring Cutler in an offseason trade with Denver. But there are questions about his attitude following a fallout with Broncos management and new coach Josh McDaniels.
His critics include former Bears coach Mike Ditka and former Indianapolis and Tampa Bay coach Tony Dungy, one of Smith's mentors. Smith, however, said Cutler has been a model teammate so far while denying any animosity with Urlacher.
"There's no issue with Jay and Brian, except Brian and Jay are both excited about being teammates for our club this year," coach Lovie Smith said. "No more than that. We can't spend a whole lot of time on something that isn't true. I have talked to the players. Whenever something comes out, you have to address it, but it's a non-issue."
In some ways, Cutler is getting a second chance in Chicago, an opportunity to repair his reputation.
Smith said another quarterback - Michael Vick - deserves one, although he doesn't see it happening with the Bears, who lack an experienced backup. The former Atlanta Falcons star, who served a 23-month sentence for running a dogfighting ring, said Thursday he is getting close to signing with a pro football team.
"A second chance, like everyone in society who has paid their debt to society," Smith said. "He deserves a second chance. As far as we're concerned, we like this team that we have right now."
Particularly the new quarterback.
"Me and Brian have been on a good relationship since I've been here, and I expect it to continue that way," Cutler said.
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