Richards lifts Rangers over Lightning in OT
Hockey Betting Lines
02/09/2012 - New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Brad Richards scored 2:37 into overtime, lifting the New York Rangers to a 4-3 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday night.
Ryan Callahan, Derek Stepan and Brian Boyle also scored for the Rangers, who have won three of their last four, while Martin Biron made three of his 14 saves in the third period.
Steven Stamkos, Vincent Lecavalier and Bruno Gervais had goals for Tampa Bay, which has lost three of its last four. Mathieu Garon gave up four goals on 31 shots.
Richards scored on New York's first shot of overtime after Michael Del Zotto took the puck from a Lightning player on the right side and passed to Artem Anisimov in the slot.
Anisimov slid a pass low to Richards on the right side, who slapped the puck in as he fell to the ice.
Earlier, Boyle tied the game midway through the third period on a quick shot from the left side.
The Rangers were coming off a 1-0 loss to Martin Brodeur and the Devils on Tuesday, which ended in controversy when a potential game-tying goal with 3.5 seconds left was waived off because Marian Gaborik crashed into the net and was called for interference, although it appeared he had been pushed.
They have 73 points, leading the Atlantic Division and the Eastern Conference, but had to come back after giving up a 2-1 lead.
Stamkos scored the only goal of the first period, skating in behind two defensemen and sneaking a backhand past Biron with 64 seconds left to give the Lightning a 1-0 lead.
Callahan's power play goal on a tipped shot and Stepan's spinning shot off his own rebound in the slot made it 2-1 Rangers 5:27 into the second period. But Lecavalier scored just 21 seconds later and Gervais made it 3-2 on a power play at the 12:26 mark.
Lecavalier banked a shot in off a Rangers player who was in the crease behind Biron, and Gervais was left wide open in the slot for a wrister.
Game Notes
The Rangers have won two of their three meetings this season, but Tampa Bay is 5-2 in the last seven...New York went 2-1 on a three-game homestand and will play at Philadelphia on Saturday...Tampa Bay started a three-game road trip that wraps up with games in Buffalo and Pittsburgh on Saturday and Sunday, respectively.
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Washington, DC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Bryan Little scored the game-winner in a
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Newark, NJ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - T.J. Oshie scored the only goal in the shootout
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stopped all
Ottawa, ON (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jason Spezza netted two goals and added an assist, leading the Ottawa Senators to a 4-3 win over the Nashville Predators at Scotiabank Place. Chris Phillips -- playing in his 1,000th NHL game -- contribu
Indiana pulls away from Illinois >>
Bloomington, IN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Cody Zeller dropped a game-high 22 points
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Canucks keep Wild reeling >>
St. Paul, MN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Henrik Sedin played two days after taking a
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Phoenix, AZ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Luis Scola scored 16 points and the Rockets,
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Detroit shocks unbeaten Green Bay >>
Green Bay, WI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Green Bay hadn't lost since a setback last
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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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