Rejuvenated Jackets continue homestand with test from Canucks

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02/12/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The suddenly-surging Columbus Blue Jackets will try to claim a season-high fourth victory in a row in this evening's matchup against the Vancouver Canucks, who continue their epic road trip at Nationwide Arena.

The Blue Jackets have posted their fourth three-game win streak of the season and haven't lost since replacing former head coach Ken Hitchcock with Claude Noel on an interim basis last week. Columbus is outscoring its opponents 9-1 over its win streak, winning each of the last two games by shutout.

Steve Mason has been in net for all three wins, stopping 90-of-91 shots faced. He has shut out Buffalo and San Jose in back-to-back contests after leading Columbus to a 2-1 victory over Dallas in Noel's debut on February 4.

Mason made 28 saves in blanking the Sabres on Saturday, then turned aside all 40 shots he faced in Wednesday's 3-0 triumph over the Sharks. Mason hasn't allowed a goal in 120 minutes and 47 seconds and extended his franchise record by notching his 14th career shutout.

"I thought Mase was great," said Noel of his netminder. "I didn't think he had to be great for the whole 60 minutes, but he was really good when he had to and he made some marvelous saves. He's one of the reasons why we won the game."

Mason, last year's top rookie, is 16-18-6 with a 3.06 goals-against average this season after going 33-20-7 with a 2.29 GAA and 10 shutouts in 2008-09.

Rick Nash notched his team-leading 26th goal and 55th point in the win over the Sharks, while Jakub Voracek halted a 26-game goal drought. Antoine Vermette also scored for the Blue Jackets, who are perfect on a six-game homestand that wraps after the Olympic break. Columbus hosts Chicago on Sunday before welcoming Vancouver back to Nationwide Arena on March 2.

Mason has had his ups and downs with the Canucks this year. He made 40 saves in a 5-3 victory at Vancouver on October 5, but then halted just 11-of-17 shots in a 7-3 road setback on January 5, getting pulled in the second period. Alexandre Burrows had a hat trick for the Canucks, while Henrik Sedin had a goal and two assists and Roberto Luongo made 30 saves.

The loss was just the Blue Jackets' second in their last eight games versus the Canucks, and they have won three straight and four of their last five as the host against Vancouver.

The Canucks are 3-3-0 on a 14-game road trip that has two games remaining before the Olympic break. Following tonight's test, Vancouver visits Minnesota on Sunday before resuming the trek with six road games following the Olympics.

Vancouver has won nine of its last 12 games overall after last night's 3-0 blanking of Florida. Luongo made 31 saves for his fourth career shutout and 51st of his career.

Burrows notched his team-leading 26th goal, Ryan Kesler also lit the lamp and Jannik Hansen had a big goal with the Canucks short-handed late in the second period.

"They tried to dump the puck in and it took a couple of bad bounces on the ice and suddenly their four guys are going one way and I'm going the other way with the puck," Hansen told Vancouver's Web site. "Then it's a matter of putting the puck where you want it and I was fortunate enough that it went in."

The Canucks are tied with the Colorado Avalanche for first place in the Northwest Division with 74 points and improved to 13-14-1 on the road this season.

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Academy Award Betting Odds for Best Picture Offer Great Value

If there is any category that is not an obvious win for any one nominee in this year's Academy Awards, it would be for Best Picture.  Sure the Departed is a 5/7 favorite, but that's hardly anything when we look at Helen Mirren and her "out-of-reach" 1 to 40 odds (which means you would win a whopping $1 for every $40 bet).

For value, take a look at MySportsbook.com Oscars betting odds on my personal favorite, The Queen - a remarkable 12 to 1 long shot.  The film hasn't won any pre-awards for Best Picture (compared to The Departed and Little Miss Sunshine), but there is a tremendous following and it is a strong enough film to warrant a surprise win.

TV Guide advises Oscar watchers should be cautioned not to discount the  drama "Babel" with its strong social themes about overcoming communication gaps among people of different cultures.

"While 'Babel' lost several guild awards to 'Sunshine' and 'Departed,'  it still enjoys loyal support, and historically Oscar voters favor dramas with social messages over comedies like 'Sunshine' and violent crime movies like 'Departed'."

"It hasn't done well in the guilds, which means there isn't much industry support," said Tom O'Neil of awards site TheEnvelope.com, "But several critics are expecting it to win, and that gets my attention." Babel had 7 to 2 odds at press time.

Who is to say independently produced Little Miss Sunshine won't be this year's Crash.  Last year, Crash won for Best Motion Picture, shocking those who bet on gay cowboy flick, Brokeback Mountain, as the favorite to win. 

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