Modano plays hero amidst fan adulation as Stars clip Ducks in SO

Hockey Betting Lines

04/08/2010 - Dallas, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - If this was Mike Modano's final home game in a Stars uniform, it sure was a storybook ending.

Modano scored the tying goal with 1:47 left in regulation and netted the winner in the shootout as Dallas overcame a 49-save effort from Jonas Hiller to beat the Anaheim Ducks, 3-2, at American Airlines Center.

Fans held signs encouraging Modano to return for a 21st NHL season, but that's an uncertainty now. The seven-time All-Star is due to be a free agent this summer, but the 39-year-old hasn't announced his plans for the future.

An eight-time All-Star and member of the Stars' 1999 Stanley Cup championship team, Modano has played for Dallas since the club moved from Minnesota prior to the 1993-94 season.

Jamie Benn and Modano each had a goal and an assist for the Stars, who snapped a two-game skid with only one regular season contest remaining -- Saturday at Minnesota. Marty Turco made 17 stops in the win.

Bobby Ryan had both goals for the Ducks, who lost their second straight.

With both teams out of the playoff hunt, the spotlight was on Modano and he came through to stretch the contest. Trevor Daley let go a shot from the high slot and Modano was in front and directed the puck past Hiller. Fans were on edge due to a replay as Modano's stick was right at the crossbar when he deflected it into the net.

Nearly four minutes earlier, fans delivered a huge standing ovation that lasted several minutes for Modano, who sat on the bench teary-eyed before getting another shift that ultimately tied the game.

There was much more to come though for Modano. He had a breakaway nearly 1 1/2 minutes into overtime, but the puck was knocked away just before he went to the net.

The Ducks were able to kill off a Corey Perry tripping penalty in OT, but Modano played the role of hero in the shootout. Hiller stopped Brad Richards, but Turco countered by turning away the backhand attempt of Dan Sexton.

Modano then potted a shot inside the right post to send the crowd in a frenzy before Perry was stopped by Turco. Jere Lehtinen then sealed the victory with another goal.

Even after being introduced as the first star of the game, fans didn't leave immediately, instead choosing to give the three-time Olympian another standing ovation in a possible big send off.

Thursday may have marked the final time Modano played at home as a member of the Stars, and possibly for his career.

Hiller made 16 saves during a scoreless first period, and the Ducks broke on top at 6:32 of the second when Ryan scored from below the left circle.

Benn evened the contest six minutes later, but Ryan boosted the Ducks back into the lead with a power-play tally with 4:44 left in regulation on a one- timer from the left circle off a cross-ice pass from Perry.

Game Notes

This was Modano's 300th career game at American Airlines Center...The Stars won four of the six meetings this season, including a 3-0 mark at home...Dallas ended up with points in 19 of its last 24 home games (17-5-2)...Thursday could have also marked the final home game for Turco, another pending free agent. He was drafted by Dallas in the fifth round in 1994 and made his debut with the club in the 2000-01 season.

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NFL Football Betting : Odds on NFL Division to Win the Super Bowl

NFL Super Bowl Betting

The AFC South and the NFC East are the favorite divisions to have the next Super Bowl champ among them in the NFL betting odds. But more down to the point, these football odds are in favor of the Indianapolis Colts, by far the strongest team in the AFC South, and the Dallas Cowboys of the NFC East.

Most sports fans would agree that these two teams top the list to win it all before the season even begins. In the BetUS Sportsbook football futures, the Colts are +800 in the odds to win the Super Bowl, while the Cowboys are sitting at +1000 and the Super Bowl XLIV champions New Orleans Saints at +900. In the AFC South, the Colts won the division for five straight years after the 2002 realignment, before the Tennessee Titans won it in 2008. But the Colts came back strong in 2009 to win the division again en route to the Super Bowl. The Cowboys are the favorite to win the NFC East, as well as to advance far into the post season. The Cowboys won the division last season before their horrendous loss in the NFC Divisional playoff to Brett Favre and the Minnesota Vikings. But the ‘Boys will take that loss humbly and be ready for the playoffs this time around.

The NFC South is also very strong, at +600 in the NFL futures, considering that it is home to the defending Super Bowl champions. However, some predictions have the Atlanta Falcons with possibilities of claiming the divisional title this season in place of the Saints, as no team has won back-to-back division championships since the division realignment took place. Let’s not overlook the AFC North at +500. As TO goes to Cincinnati to join Chad OchoCinco and Adam “Pac-Man” Jones, this team looks to claim the division title again. And it is likely they will do so. The Bengals lost in the AFC Wild Card spot in a hard-fought battle against the New York Jets last season. Lest not forget the Pittsburgh Steelers, the XLII Super Bowl Champions… All these teams present interesting odds and matchups for the upcoming season, but the safest and surest bet seems to be with the Colts in the AFC South and the Cowboys in the NFC East. Play this weekly NFL Football Contestto see if you can win.

To visit this sportsbook go to MySportsbook.com for all your NFL football betting needs.

Pacific-10 Conference odds

Teams that should be in: Stanford

Oregon and USC get their tickets punched after taking care of business this weekend. Yes, the Trojans' computer numbers aren't great, but there's no way the third-place team in this league is getting nixed. Grudgingly, I added Arizona after consultation with our Bracketologist. I don't know that Arizona will lose its last three (including a Pac-10 quarterfinal game), and even if the Cats do, I still can't see how they'd be left out, given the overall profile. That said, it bears watching, as three more L's would leave them at 18-12 (9-9) and on a 6-11 skid entering the Dance. It would be nice to see the Wildcats get at least one W in the Bay Area next week, as Cincinnati (albeit without Armein Kirkland and with a worse profile) was axed after a similar slide last season. I just couldn't rationalize having some of the other teams as locks and not having Arizona in that category -- there just aren't enough good teams behind the Cats to threaten their spot, it seems. Stanford has its fate in its own hands with the Arizona schools coming to the Farm to close out the regular season next weekend.

Should be in:

Stanford [17-10 (9-7), RPI: 40, SOS: 21] No shame in not getting a win in L.A., but that makes the home game against Arizona State a must-win ahead of what could be an intriguing meeting with Arizona should the Cats lose at Cal. Getting to 11 Pac-10 wins would make Selection Sunday much more comfortable, but 10's probably more than enough this season. The Cardinal have nonconference wins over Texas Tech and at Virginia to lean on, although they also lost badly to Air Force and Santa Clara at home.

Southeastern Conference odds
Work left to do: Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, Mississippi State

It looks more and more possible that no one from the SEC West will make the NCAAs. How weird is that? Tennessee and Vandy move into the locks category after more good work this weekend. Kentucky stays there, although it would be smart for the Cats to handle Georgia at home Wednesday ahead of a trip to the Swamp. Could a disaster scenario (two more L's and a first-round SEC tourney exit) somehow dislodge the Cats despite their incredible computer numbers? Still unlikely, but not worth chancing it.

Work left to do:

Alabama [19-9 (6-8), RPI: 43, SOS: 47] The tough L at Tennessee was understandable, and even created some hope. Unfortunately, that hope was dashed by a home loss to Auburn, which leaves the Tide in some real trouble. There's still no signature win on the profile (no, Kentucky doesn't count), and the computer profile is weakening rapidly. The Tide conceivably could beat Ole Miss and win at Miss. State to get to 8-8 and clinch at least a share of the West crown, but that's probably not enough right now. The Tide will need to do some work in the SEC tourney.

Georgia [16-10 (8-6), RPI: 52, SOS: 23] This is the team with the best chance to make it from this section right now. The Bulldogs rebounded from a terrible performance at Ole Miss to beat down Miss. State. Now they are at Kentucky (king of the RPI 51-100 win) and home to Tennessee. That would be worth a lot of computer points to get both (which is doable), as both teams are in the top 11 in RPI. Finishing at least 9-7 is an absolute must, and I would feel much better about the Dawgs' chances if they got both to get to 10 SEC wins. They also beat Gonzaga, but lost to ACC bubblers Georgia Tech and Clemson.

Mississippi [18-10 (7-7), RPI: 63, SOS: 79] Like everyone else in this division, Ole Miss gacked up a chance to stake a claim, losing by double figures at South Carolina. Even 9-7 likely is not nearly enough with a nonconference profile devoid of anything notable.

Mississippi State [16-11 (7-7), RPI: 66, SOS: 37] With a chance to get in the mix, these Bulldogs were leashed by their Georgia counterparts. Could they get to 9-7? I guess -- although winning at Arkansas, then beating Alabama is no lock -- but would that mean all that much for a team with this overall profile? Probably not. There's nothing of note (on the good side) in the nonconference profile.

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