Blues try to continue road success in Minnesota

Hockey Betting Lines

12/26/2009 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - After ripping through western Canada, the St. Louis Blues head to Minnesota tonight to close out a four-game road trip versus the Wild at Xcel Energy Center.

St. Louis has outscored its opponents 12-4 in picking up wins in Vancouver, Edmonton and Calgary, improving to an outstanding 11-3-3 on the road this season. The Blues latest stop came on Wednesday, a 2-1 shootout victory over the Flames.

Patrik Berglund scored in regulation, while Brad Boyes and T.J. Oshie, celebrating his 23rd birthday, both scored in the shootout. Chris Mason made 23 stops and then another two in the deciding session.

"It was just a tight hockey game, almost a playoff-type feeling," said St. Louis head coach Andy Murray, whose club won for the fifth time in its last six on the road.

The Blues were also sparked by the return of captain Eric Brewer, who had missed the last 13 games due to a back issue.

While St. Louis looks to continue its roll on the road, Minnesota wraps a three-game homestand having won five of its last six as the host. Overall, the Wild are 11-4-1 at home this year, having split the first two games of this residency.

After a setback to the Avalanche on Monday, the Wild skated past the Oilers, 3-1, two nights later. Owen Nolan notched the game-winner in the second period, while Andrew Brunette and Guillaume Latendresse also scored.

"I didn't have many options. He's a big goalie and the scouting report is he goes down, so I tried to get the puck up," Nolan said about his approach to scoring against Edmonton goaltender Jeff Deslauriers.

Brunette, who leads Minnesota with 11 goals, scored for the first time in nine games, while Niklas Backstrom made 30 saves.

The Wild were coming off consecutive losses, but are now 11-4-1 over their last 16 games.

Minnesota will try to end a three-game losing streak to St. Louis tonight, but has won two of three and eight of the last 10 played at Xcel Energy Center.

The Blues notched a 3-1 home win on October 23, getting a goal and an assist out of David Perron and 20 saves from Mason, who is 4-3-2 with a 3.29 goals- against average lifetime versus Minnesota.

Backstrom made 23 saves and is 4-5-0 with a 2.41 GAA in his career when facing the Blues.

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Chiefs' Treen Green out for Sunday's game

How long Trent Green will remain sidelined is unknown. Coach Herm Edwards said Monday he will miss a second straight start Sunday when the Chiefs host the San Francisco 49ers.

A two-time Pro Bowler, Green was going into a feet-first hook slide when he was knocked unconscious by a thunderous, head-snapping hit from Cincinnati's Robert Geathers.

Oddsmakers at online sportsbook MySportsbook.com currently have the Chiefs listed as 7-point favorites versus the 49ers.

The 49ers got beat by Philadelphia 38-24 as a 6.5-point underdog last week. The combined score went OVER the posted over/under total (42.5).

Alex Smith completed 27-of-46 passes for 293 yards with a touchdown. Michael Robinson rushed for 29 yards and a pair of touchdowns on five carries.

The Chiefs lost 9-6 to Denver last week as an 11-point underdog. The combined score was well UNDER the posted over/under total (38).

Larry Johnson rushed for 126 yards on 27 carries. Damon Huard completed 17-of-23 passes for 133 yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions.

To visit this online sports book got to MySportsbook.com for all your football betting needs.