Washington at Ottawa

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THE STORY: Washington Capitals owner Ted Leonsis hit the nail on the head when he put his team’s latest performance into perspective. “Embarrassing effort, right from the start,” Leonsis wrote on his blog after Monday’s lackluster 5-0 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes. If they’re looking to avoid their sixth loss in seven outings, the Capitals better up their intensity on Wednesday when they visit Canada’s capital city to face the Ottawa Senators. For its part, Ottawa completed a perfect three-game road trip with a decisive 6-0 triumph over the New York Islanders.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, TSN, CSW+

ABOUT THE CAPITALS (29-25-5): A date against the Senators could be a good remedy for what is ailing Washington. The Capitals have won all three meetings thus far this season against Ottawa – and have collected points in 16 of the last 19 contests (13-3-3). For Washington to continue that trend, Alex Ovechkin needs to show up. The captain, who has tallied once during the last five games, scored a goal in the team’s 5-3 win over the Senators on Dec. 7.

ABOUT THE SENATORS (31-22-8): Ottawa owner Eugene Melnyk heaped plenty of praise on Erik Karlsson during a recent interview. Hours later, the All-Star defenseman made Melnyk look good for his comments. After the owner said that Karlsson can “go down in history with the great defensemen of all time,” the blue-liner collected two goals and two assists versus the Islanders. Jason Spezza, who was the NHL’s Third Star of the Week, also tallied twice to extend his current six-game point streak (seven goals, eight assists). Spezza, however, has just one assist in three contests versus Washington this season.

OVERTIME:

1. The Senators’ winning streak has them two points removed from the Northeast Division-leading Boston Bruins.

2. Washington G Tomas Vokoun was pulled after yielding two goals in just over five minutes of action on Monday. Vokoun has not fared well versus Ottawa, winning just five of 16 career decisions. For his part, Michael Neuvirth has won all four career starts against the Senators.

3. Ottawa G Craig Anderson has stopped 98 of 100 shots en route to sandwiching a pair of shutouts around a 42-save performance. Anderson, however, has dropped six of 10 career matches versus the Capitals.

PREDICTION: Senators 5, Capitals 2.  CLICK HERE for 500 Handicappers Package FOR 5$  

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Boston at St. Louis

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THE STORY: The St. Louis Blues have collected points in 21 consecutive games (18-0-3) at Scottrade Center. The stingy Blues will look to continue their dominant ways in the Gateway City on Wednesday when the suddenly sputtering Boston Bruins pay a visit. Coach Claude Julien’s club was shut out for the fourth time this month on Sunday when it couldn’t slip one of its season-high 48 shots past Niklas Backstrom and the Minnesota Wild.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, NESN, FSMW

ABOUT THE BRUINS (35-20-2): Boston’s injuries – and subsequent scoring woes – have many wondering if general manager Peter Chiarelli is willing to make a major move prior to Monday’s NHL trade deadline. With Nathan Horton (concussion) and Rich Peverley (knee) on the sideline, rumors abound that backup – and potential future workhorse goaltender – Tuukka Rask may be headed out of Beantown in favor of a top-flight forward. It’s clear one is needed as the Bruins have converted just two of their last 22 power-play opportunities.

ABOUT THE BLUES (36-16-7): St. Louis’ offense seems to get lost as soon as the club exits the Show Me State. The Blues, who have mustered 51 goals in 26 road games this season, fell victim again to a sputtering offense during their 3-1 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday. LW Andy McDonald scored for the third straight game, but has yet to tally in seven career contests versus the Bruins. LW David Perron saw his seven-game point streak come to an end on Sunday.

OVERTIME:

1. Boston is currently 1-2-0 on its six-game road trip. The Bruins haven’t lost three in a row since October.

2. St. Louis veteran RW Jamie Langenbrunner is expected to be sidelined for at least four weeks with a broken bone in his left foot.

3. The Blues boast an impressive 26-3-4 mark at home this season.

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Los Angeles at Colorado

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THE STORY: Colorado Avalanche coach Joe Sacco admitted he was frustrated by his team’s effort in Sunday’s lackluster 5-1 loss to the Winnipeg Jets. If Sacco’s charges don’t put forth a better performance on Wednesday when the Avalanche host the Los Angeles Kings, a chance at the postseason may soon slip away. Goals will likely be at a premium in this contest between these light-scoring clubs.

TV: 9 p.m. ET, NBCS, TSN2

ABOUT THE KINGS (27-21-12): After getting blanked in its previous two games, Los Angeles actually gave the scoreboard operator some work in its 5-4 shootout loss to the Phoenix Coyotes on Tuesday. The lowest-scoring team in the NHL, the Kings netted their first three goals in a span of 8:26. Prior to that, their last three goals were scored in a span of 157:56. Dustin Brown snapped a three-game streak without a point by scoring and setting up a goal on Tuesday. The captain had a goal and two assists in three games this season versus Colorado.

ABOUT THE AVALANCHE (29-27-4): Colorado acquired pesky Steve Downie from the Tampa Bay Lightning for defenseman Kyle Quincey on Tuesday. The Lightning then turned around and shipped the blue-liner to the Detroit Red Wings for minor-league defenseman Sebastien Piche and a first-round pick in the 2012 draft. Downie, 24, has collected 12 goals, 16 assists and 121 penalty minutes in 55 games this season.

OVERTIME:

1. Colorado rookie RW Gabriel Landeskog has recorded four goals and two assists in the last six games. The second overall pick of the draft, Landeskog has a goal and an assist in three contests versus the Kings.

2. After Los Angeles won all four meetings last season, Colorado is attempting to do the same in 2011-12. The Avalanche posted a 3-2 home win on Oct. 30 before claiming a pair of narrow road victories in January.

3. Los Angeles is clinging to eighth place in the Western Conference, four points ahead of 11th-place Colorado.

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Defending champion Johnson Wagner, who has a tournament win under his belt already this season on the PGA Tour, headlines the full 132-player field that will head south to compete for the winner’s share ($666,000) of the $3.7m purse as well as 250 FedExCup points that are up for grabs this week at the Mayakoba.

Wagner defeated fellow American Spencer Levin in a playoff to win last year’s tournament, and those two players are both listed at 14/1 odds to win this event come Sunday – along with 2008 winner Brian Gay.

Wagner won the Sony Open back in mid-January and has yet to miss a cut in five starts in 2012, while Levin wound up in third place at the Phoenix Open and T9 two weeks ago at Pebble Beach. Gay’s best finish so far in 2012 was T6 at the Sony Open won by Wagner, and he finished T5 at Mayakoba last year.

Also expected to be among the contenders this week are Jarrod Lyle, Charles Howell III andRory Sabbatini, who are each listed at 20/1 odds. Lyle is coming off an impressive T4 finish last week at the Northern Trust Open, and has a consistent track record of solid results at the Mayakoba.

Champions Tour luminaries in the field this week in Mexico will include Tom Lehman and John Cook(both at 80/1 odds), as well as El Camaleon course designer Greg Norman (150/1). Cook turned back the clock with a solo third-place finish last year behind Wagner and Levin.

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On paper, Kansas (22-5, 12-2) wouldn’t seem to have much trouble. KU leads the Big 12 and enters having won four in a row. On Saturday, all cylinders were clicking as the Jayhawks slaughtered Texas Tech 83-50 behind 16 points and 8 rebounds from Thomas Robinson, the lock Big 12 Player of the Year and the Bovada betting favorite for National Player of the Year  (just slightly ahead of Kentucky’s Anthony Davis). In addition, KU already handled these Aggies, beating them 64-54 on Jan. 23 in Lawrence behind 18 points and 10 boards from Robinson. The Jayhawks had their worst three-point shooting game of the season (4-of-20) that night. Kansas had 20 baskets, matching its season low. Kansas is 18-1 against Texas A&M all-time, the lone loss coming in February 2007.

But there are a few reasons why this could be a trap for Kansas. First, the Aggies played well in that first game, leading at halftime and holding Robinson to 2 first-half points. Plus A&M played without arguably its best player in Khris Middleton, who had a knee injury. Also, this could be the Aggies’ last chance at KU for a while as A&M is off to the SEC after this season. So this is the final meeting scheduled barring a matchup in the Big 12 Tournament. Finally, KU could well be looking ahead to Saturday’s mammoth showdown with Missouri, with the winner likely to claim the Big 12 title in the final scheduled Border War matchup (Mizzou also headed to SEC).

This time Texas A&M (13-13, 4-10) is pretty healthy. Middleton is back and starting guard Dash Harris has practiced recently with the Aggies and he may be able to play tonight. Harris has missed the last month because of an injured foot. He last played against Kansas on Jan. 23. However, the Aggies have lost five of six. They were beaten 71-62 by Missouri on Saturday but had a chance in the final minutes. Middleton, in his third game back after missing five straight with a knee injury, had 15 points to lead A&M. The Aggies were actually picked as co-champs with KU in the preseason Big 12 coaches poll.

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He’d thought he’d shaken them off, but they’d followed him to a side street off Oldfield Road in Salford and bundled him into their vehicle. That was just the start of an ordeal that can only be described as horrifying. Dong, 27, had boiling water poured over his legs and was told: “It’s £150,000 for your life.” Turns out they’d been tracking the poker player’s movements for months and knew he had won £30,000 in poker tournaments. He was visiting an apartment owned by his family in Middlewood Street, Salford, when they struck.

Thankfully for the prosecution, CCTV cameras caught the whole thing and the four men were later caught. Ashley Clarke, of Stretford, maintained his innocence until the second day of his trial. He was jailed for 11 years after admitting kidnap, false imprisonment, wounding with intent, and blackmail. Alexander Valensky, of Ashton-under-Lyne, pleaded guilty to the same charges. He was jailed for seven-and-a-half years, alongside Clarke, in July last year. In March last year, Clifton Cameron, of Bolton, pleaded guilty to the same charges and was jailed for 11 and a half years.

Today say the prosecution of Isaac Hodges of Droylsden, who will get ten years for his role in the kidnapping and burglary and an additional six months to run concurrently for dangerous driving.

For Mr. Dong, however, England no longer feels safe, and left a statement that read as follows:

“I left England and had to cut myself off from my family, friends, and my job. I have no idea why this happened to me. Someone must have told these guys that I’ve got money when I haven’t. “It’s a hobby and I’ve never fallen out with anyone over poker and I don’t know anyone on the poker circuit that would do this to me,” he said.

A sad story, to be sure, even if his captors were caught and are now all in jail.

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It’s a good news/bad news deal for Boston tonight. Point guard Rajon Rondo will miss his second and final game due to suspension. But forward/center Kevin Garnett, who has missed the last three games because of an illness in his family, is expected to play. The C’s need him against the OKC frontline of Kendrick Perkins, the former Celtic, and Serge Ibaka because Boston power forward Brandon Bass remains out with an injury. And both Paul Pierce and Ray Allen have struggled to get open looks in the past three games Garnett has missed. Pierce is 19-of-40 shooting, while Allen is 15-of-39. In this four-game skid, Boston has lost three by double digits and the other by 9.

The Thunder are rolling right along. They have won three in a row and five of six and are tied with the Miami Heat for the NBA’s best record. OKC enters off a 101-93 win over New Orleans on Monday to improve to 13-1 at home and win its 10th straight there. Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrookeach had 31 against the Hornets, one night after Durant had a career-high 51 and Westbrook had 40 in an overtime win over Denver.

The Thunder and Celtics met Jan. 16 in Boston, with Oklahoma City winning 97-88 behind a combined 54 from Durant and Westbrook. Pierce led Boston with 24, while Rondo nearly had a triple-double with 12 points, 9 rebounds and 9 assists.

The Celtics are 0-5 ATS in their past five road games. OKC is 1-4 ATS in past five after a win. The road team has covered the past five in this series.

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Gordon won just one race in three years from 2008 to 2010 but he broke through again and managed to take checkered flags three times in 2011, winning at Phoenix in February, Pocono in June, and Atlanta in September.

None of those victories, however, came during the Chase portion of the schedule, leaving him to finish in eighth place in the overall standings, 116 points back of both Tony Stewart and Carl Edwards in the race to claim the Sprint Cup title.

Overall Gordon managed to pick up 13 Top-5 results and 18 Top-10 finishes in 2011, numbers which were both up slightly from 2010 (11 Top-5 results, 17 Top-10 finishes).

So clearly the Hendrick Motorsports driver has something left in the tank. That’s reflected on his Bovada odds to win the Sprint Cup championship this season, as he sits in the top tier of contenders at 10/1 to claim the title; teammate Jimmie Johnson is the 5/1 leader.

Gordon is also listed at 12/1 odds to win the Daytona 500 on Sunday afternoon, after he drove to a 15th-place finish at the Budweiser Shootout last weekend. The No. 24 car had a Daytona 500 to forget last year, as he ended up way back in 28th place at that race.

Gordon hasn’t won the Cup title since 2001, but he also hasn’t finished worse than 11th place in the standings in the past 10 years.

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Carl Edwards and Greg Biffle had the two fastest times in qualifying over the weekend, so they’ll be in the front row when the Daytona 500 gets underway on Sunday afternoon. As well, they’ll each start out in front for one of the Gatorade Duel races on Thursday.

Edwards, who had the fastest time over the weekend and will be the pole sitter for the Daytona 500, leads the way for Gatorade Duel 1 on Thursday. His Duel race will feature 25 drivers, including Dale Earnhardt Jr., Tony Stewart, Kevin Harvick, and Denny Hamlin.

Trevor Bayne, the defending Daytona 500 champion, is also a part of Gatorade Duel 1, as is Danica Patrick. Both Bayne and Patrick have guaranteed spots on the Daytona 500 grid.

Biffle will be out front for Gatorade Duel 2 on Thursday afternoon, and his field for the day contains just 24 drivers. Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, Matt Kenseth, Ryan Newman, Kasey Kahne, Kyle Busch, and Kurt Busch are all part of that second Duel race as well.

The results of Thursday’s Gatorade Duel races will determine the order of the rest of the starting grid for the Daytona 500 this weekend. As well, it’ll serve as a qualifying event for drivers who have still not clinched a spot in the 43-car field for Sunday’s big race.

Each Gatorade Duel race is 150 miles, and they get underway at 1:00pm ET on Thursday.

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Tseng followed up an uncharacteristic opening-round score of 73 (one over par) last week at the Honda LPGA Thailand with successive rounds of 65-65-66 to edge Ai Miyazato of Japan by one stroke and pick up her 13th career victory on the LPGA Tour.

Tseng, who has never won the HSBC Women’s Champions title but has posted consecutive third-place finishes at this event in the past two years, also finished just two shots ahead of Jiyai Shin of South Korea who wound up in third place last week in Thailand.

And Miyazato and Shin both have previous victories at the HSBC Women’s Champions, with Miyazato winning the 2010 title and Shin earning the crown in 2009. Both players are listed among the contenders to challenge Tseng again this week in Singapore at 14/1 odds to win.

Karrie Webb of Australia is the defending champion of this event, and is back at 28/1 odds to repeat the feat despite turning in a solid performance last week in Thailand with a T9 finish.

Cristie Kerr and Stacy Lewis lead a strong American contingent at 16/1 odds, with Paula Creamerat 20/1, Brittany Lincicome at 25/1, and Michelle Wie back at 30/1 odds to win the HSBC Women’s Champions.

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