Neal notches hat trick as Dallas destroys Toronto

Hockey Betting Lines

12/23/2008 - Toronto, ON (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Rookie James Neal recorded his first career hat trick, as the Dallas Stars crushed the Toronto Maple Leafs, 8-2, at Air Canada Centre.

Steve Ott, Mike Ribeiro and Fabian Brunnstrom each finished with a goal and an assist for the Stars, who set a season high in goals scored. Marty Turco made 20 saves for Dallas, which has won three of four overall.

Jason Blake and Mikhail Grabovski tallied for Toronto, which had won two in a row but set a season-high in goals allowed. Vesa Toskala started in net for the Maple Leafs, but allowed seven goals on 27 shots and was removed in favor of Curtis Joseph, who stopped 9-of-10 shots.

Neal recorded Dallas' first and seventh goals, and with time winding down in the third period, skated on the left side of the ice on a Dallas power play. His wrister from the left circle beat Joseph, completing the hat trick and the Dallas blowout with 1:26 to play,

Neal got the Stars started early in the first, when he banged home a rebound 3:23 into the game. About 5 1/2 minutes later, Ribeiro fired a pass from near the right boards to the left side of the crease for Ott, who redirected the puck into the net for a 2-0 Stars lead.

Brunnstrom scored at the 10:45 mark, and Brad Richards' power-play tally with 5:48 left made it a 4-0 game. The four-goal period was a season-high for the Stars.

Krys Barch increased the Stars' lead 3:45 into the middle frame when he sent in a puck bouncing around in front of the crease, and with 9:45 left in the second, Ribeiro backhanded the puck past Toskala.

Just 1:20 after Ribeiro's goal, Neal scored off another rebound to make it a 7-0 contest, at which point Toskala was pulled.

Blake got Toronto on the scoreboard with 4:27 left in the middle stanza, and almost 9 1/2 minutes into the third period Grabovski netted his 12th goal of the season.

Game Notes

It was the 13th time this season Toronto has allowed a 2-0 lead to the opposing team...Dallas' Mike Modano had an assist, his 766th career, tying him with Mats Sundin for third on the all-time assist leaderboard...Ribeiro's tally was the 100th of his career.

Genxcasino Hockey Betting News

<< McCamey and Illini upset No. 25 Missouri
St. Louis, MO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Demetri McCamey scored 18 of his 20 points in a strong first half, as Illinois shocked 25th-ranked Missouri, 75-59, at the Scottrade Center. Trent Meacham picked up 23 points and Mike Davis added 13 and

<< Comeback Caps: Morrisonn scores in OT as Washington shocks Rangers
New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Shaone Morrisonn scored 59 seconds into overtime, as the Washington Capitals rallied from a four-goal deficit to stun the New York Rangers, 5-4, in a battle of division leaders at Madison Square Garden.

<< Red Wings handle Blues
Detroit, MI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Pavel Datsyuk had two goals and an assist as the Detroit Red Wings handled the St. Louis Blues, 4-1, at Joe Louis Arena. Tomas Holmstrom and Nicklas Lidstrom each had a goal for the Red Wings, who have w

<< No. 7 Gonzaga suffers rare home loss to Portland State
Spokane, WA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jeremiah Dominguez had 25 points, six rebounds and five assists, leading the Portland State Vikings to a shocking 77-70 upset of seventh-ranked Gonzaga. Dominic Waters and Phil Nelson both chipped in 16 p

<< Celtic Pride: Boston makes history with win over Philly
Boston, MA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Boston Celtics became the first team in NBA history to open the season with a 27-2 record, as Kevin Garnett and Rajon Rondo each tallied 18 points in an emphatic 110-91 victory over Philadelphia, establi

Vokoun notches second straight shutout as Panthers blank Preds >>
Sunrise, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Tomas Vokoun made 27 saves to record his second consecutive shutout and 28th whitewashing of his career, as the surging Florida Panthers blanked the Nashville Predators, 3-0, at the BankAtlantic Center.

Smith, Lightning shut out Pens >>
Pittsburgh, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Mike Smith needed to stop just 15 shots to record his second shutout of the season as Tampa Bay tripped up Pittsburgh, 2-0, at Mellon Arena. Matt Pettinger and Paul Szczechura scored for the Lightni

Jazz F Millsap leaves but returns in loss to Bucks >>
Milwaukee, WI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Utah Jazz forward Paul Millsap returned after appearing to injure his left knee in the first quarter of Utah's 94-86 loss Tuesday to the Milwaukee Bucks. Millsap was helped off the court late in the ope

Stuckey's big night helps Pistons close out Bulls >>
Auburn Hills, MI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Rodney Stuckey poured in a career-high 40 points to lead the Detroit Pistons in a 104-98 victory over the Chicago Bulls. Stuckey also had four steals and four assists for the Pistons, who saw their two-

Redd, Bucks snap losing streak against Jazz >>
Milwaukee, WI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Michael Redd scored a game-high 27 points, as the Milwaukee Bucks held off a fierce Utah Jazz rally to post a 94-86 victory at the Bradley Center. The win snaps an eight-game losing streak to the Jazz; the

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."

Bet on NFL

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.

Bet on NFL

Mysportsbook.com online online sportsbook accepts Visa & Mastercard