Luongo strong as Canucks top Avs

Hockey Betting Lines

02/16/2012 - Vancouver, BC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Roberto Luongo made 29 saves to lift the Vancouver Canucks to a 3-1 win over the Colorado Avalanche on Wednesday.

David Booth, Alexandre Burrows and Jannik Hansen all scored for the Canucks, who have won five of six.

"It was nice to get this one in regulation because after the second period I was sure that was going to overtime or a shootout," said Luongo. "We know that come the playoffs these are the types of game that we're going to be in."

Erik Johnson scored the lone goal of the game for the Avalanche, who have dropped their past two.

Jean-Sebastien Giguere started the game in net for Colorado, but left late in the first period with a groin injury after giving up a goal on nine shots. Semyon Varlamov let in one goal on 21 shots the rest of the way.

"We had a slow start, but I thought we picked up our game in the second period," said Colorado head coach Joe Sacco. "It's disappointing to not win because I thought we played a solid game, just didn't capitalize on our chances."

It took just 13 seconds for Vancouver to grab the lead in this one as a rush play saw Mason Raymond lose control of the puck along the right wing, but it slid to the slot and Booth was able to backhand it home.

The score remained that way until halfway through the second period when Milan Hejduk sent a pass from the left circle to the right where Johnson was wide open for the easy wrister into the net.

The game-winning goal came with 6:29 to play. Colorado tried to clear it up the boards, but it bounced off of Ryan Kesler. Chris Higgins grabbed the puck and passed it over to the left circle where Hansen one-timed it home.

Burrows sealed the win with an empty-netter, his 20th of the year.

Game Notes

Burrows has reached 20 goals in four straight seasons...Vancouver has won all four games against Colorado this season, scoring 15 times while giving up just three goals...Vancouver hosts Toronto on Saturday...Colorado plays in Edmonton on Friday.

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Super Bowl XLIV Odds

Super Bowl XLIII isn't even a week old yet and oddsmakers have already released Super Bowl XLIV odds.

Despite the Pittsburgh Steelers winning Super Bowl 43, the New England Patriots are 8/1 favorites to win Super Bowl 44.

Bet Super Bowl XLIV Future Odds

With their 27-23 victory over the Arizona Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII, the Steelers became the latest NFL champion. But believe it or not, oddsmakers from online sports book MySportsbook.com don't have the Steelers the favorites to win Super Bowl XLIV next season.

That honor belongs to the New England Patriots, who are 8/1 favorites to win despite not even qualify for the postseason in 2008. The Pats also have a major decision to make regarding what to do with Matt Cassel, who played well in Tom Brady's (knee surgery) absence last year but is also a free agent this offseason.

Ironically, the Steelers aren't even oddsmakers second choice to win Super Bowl 44, as the Dallas Cowboys are listed right behind the Patriots at 9/1 despite not making the playoffs themselves. Clearly oddsmakers think the public will hop back on the Cowboys' bandwagon considering the immense talent they have and the opening of a brand new stadium.

After Dallas, then comes Pittsburgh at 10/1, but they share those odds with the New York Giants, who won Super Bowl XLII. The Indianapolis Colts and San Diego Chargers round out the top six teams at 12/1, while the Baltimore Ravens (14/1), Tennessee Titans (16/1), Carolina Panthers (18/1) and Philadelphia Eagles (18/1) complete the top 10.

The NFC Champion Arizona Cardinals got no love from oddsmakers as they were established as a 30/1 long shot to win next year's Super Bowl. They share those same odds with the Chicago Bears and Tampa Bay Buccaneers – two teams that didn't even qualify for the postseason. Other long shots are the Kansas City Chiefs (100/1), Detroit Lions (100/1), St. Louis Rams (75/1) and Oakland Raiders (75/1).

To see a complete list of all the team's odds to win Super Bowl XLIV, check below.

NFL TEAM FUTURE ODDS TO WIN SUPER BOWL XLIV

New England Patriots 8/1

Dallas Cowboys 9/1

New York Giants 10/1

Pittsburgh Steelers 10/1

Indianapolis Colts 12/1

San Diego Chargers 12/1

Baltimore Ravens 14/1

Tennessee Titans 16/1

Carolina Panthers 18/1

Philadelphia Eagles 18/1

New Orleans Saints 20/1

Atlanta Falcons 25/1

Denver Broncos 25/1

Green Bay Packers 25/1

Jacksonville Jaguars 25/1

Minnesota Vikings 25/1

New York Jets 25/1

Arizona Cardinals 30/1

Chicago BearS 30/1

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 30/1

Buffalo Bills 35/1

Houston TexaNS 35/1

Miami Dolphins 35/1

Washington Redskins 35/1

Seattle SeahawkS 50/1

Cleveland Browns 55/1

Cincinnati Bengals 60/1

San Francisco 49ers 60/1

Oakland Raiders 75/1

St. Louis Rams 75/1

Detroit Lions 100/1

Kansas City Chiefs 100/1

Odds as of: 2/2/09

Bet Super Bowl XLIV Future Odds

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