'Canes aim for season sweep of Lightning

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03/07/2009 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Carolina Hurricanes will shoot for a clean sweep of the season series against Tampa Bay when they visit the Lightning for tonight's Southeast Division battle at St. Pete Times Forum.

The Hurricanes are 5-0 against Tampa this season and have won six straight, eight of nine and nine of the last 11 meetings between the clubs. Carolina has also taken two in a row and three of four road tilts against the Lightning, but the Bolts have still won four of the last seven matchups on their home ice.

Carolina is battling for a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference and is currently just one point out of a postseason berth. With 73 points, the Hurricanes are even with Buffalo for the conference's ninth seed and are just one back of Florida, Pittsburgh and the New York Rangers, who are all tied for the final three postseason spots in the East.

The 'Canes enter tonight's test riding a two-game winning streak and are coming off Friday's lopsided win over visiting Calgary. Ray Whitney notched the third hat trick of his career as Carolina crushed the Flames, 6-1, at RBC Center.

Sergei Samsonov had a goal and an assist while Scott Walker and newly acquired Erik Cole each lit the lamp for the Hurricanes, who have won six of their last eight games. Cam Ward stopped 21 shots in the victory.

Cole returned to Carolina at Wednesday's trade deadline, coming over from Edmonton as part of a three-team deal that also involved Los Angeles. Cole is back with the club he spent the first six years of his NHL career with before he was dealt to the Oilers in the offseason in a deal which saw defenseman Joni Pitkanen come to the 'Canes.

Carolina has won five of its last seven road games and is 16-14-4 as the visiting club this season.

The Lightning, who are 19 points out of a playoff spot, have lost two straight, four of five and eight of their last 10 games.

Tampa was also in action on Friday and was dealt an overtime setback by visiting St. Louis. Brad Boyes scored just 27 seconds into OT and added two assists to lift the Blues to the 4-3 decision over the Lightning at St. Pete Times Forum.

Martin St. Louis and Steven Stamkos each had a goal and an assist for the Lightning. Karri Ramo was tagged for four goals on 36 shots.

Stamkos, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2008 draft, has four goals in his last five games and the 19-year-old has 31 points (14 goals, 17 assists) in 62 games during his rookie season.

Tampa is just 11-13-9 as the host this year and is capping a three-game homestand tonight. The Lightning have lost two straight and five of their last six home tests.

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Football Betting: Defensive Rookie of the Year Awards

Oddsmakers have released the odds for the 2009 AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award and Seattle Seahawks linebacker Aaron Curry has been made the opening favorite.

Bet on NFL Football

Seattle took Curry with the fourth overall pick in April's NFL draft and plan on inserting him into its starting lineup right away. The Hawks traded linebacker Julian Peterson in the offseason, so Curry is expected to have a significant role in Seattle's defense next year and that's one of the primary reasons he is the favorite to win the NFL ROY Award.

Oddsmakers from online sportsbook MySportsbook.com have made Curry a 5/1 favorite to win this year's NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award. Given that he was the best defensive prospect in this year's draft and how he'll have plenty of opportunities to make plays in '09, Curry offers a ton of value at 5/1.

Another thing working for Curry is the position he plays. A linebacker has won the defensive ROY award six straight times and eight of the last nine years. Jerod Mayo, Patrick Willis, DeMeco Ryans, Shawne Merriman, Jonathan Vilma, Terrell Suggs, Kendrell Bell and Brian Urlacher were the most recent linebackers to take home the award.

Following Curry at 5/1 are Tyson Jackson (Chiefs) at 7/1, James Laurinaitas (Rams) at 8/1, Brian Orakpo (Redskins) at 10/1, Rey Maualuga (Bengals) at 10/1 and Jerry Peria (Falcons) at 10/1.

All the players mentioned above are expected to start for their respective teams, but Jackson and Peria are going to have a tough time being recognized on a national level given they're both defensive linemen. D-linemen rarely put up the numbers that it takes to win an individual award like the ROY.

A couple of players with some value are Clay Matthews (Packers) at 12/1 and Larry English (Chargers) at 15/1. Matthews is expected to start at outside linebacker in Green Bay's new 3-4 defense and could rack up a ton of tackles. English, who was an impressive player at Northern Illinois, is expected to be a situational pass rusher for the Chargers and could rack up a ton of sacks.

For complete odds on the 2009 AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award, see below. And for complete odds for the 2009 AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Award, click the link provided.

2009 AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award

Robert Ayers (DEN) 12/1

Ron Brace (NE) 25/1

Everette Brown (CAR) 16/1

Darius Butler (NE) 40/1

Patrick Chung (NE) 30/1

Aaron Curry (SEA) 5/1

Brian Cushing (HOU) 12/1

Vontae Davis (MIA) 30/1

Louis Delmas (DET) 30/1

Larry English (SD) 15/1

Evander Hood (PIT) 25/1

Tyson Jackson (KC) 7/1

Malcolm Jenkins (NO) 25/1

Paul Kruger (BAL) 50/1

James Laurinaitas (STL) 8/1

Sen'Derrick Marks (TEN) 20/1

Clay Matthews (GB) 12/1

Aaron Maybin (BUF) 15/1

Rey Maualuga (CIN) 10/1

Roy Miller (TB) 20/1

Michael Mitchell (OAK) 45/1

Fili Moala (IND) 30/1

Brian Orakpo (WAS) 10/1

Jerry Peria (ATL) 10/1

B J Raji (GB) 7/1

Clint Sintim (NYG) 35/1

Alphonso Smith (DEN) 40/1

David Verkune (CLE) 20/1

Jason Williams (DAL) 30/1

Field (Any Other Player) 6/1

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