Flames hope to stay hot in Phoenix

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02/09/2012 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Needing a big two points on Wednesday night, the Calgary Flames turned to pair of Finns to get the job done. The Flames aim to jump into the playoff picture this evening and stop the Phoenix Coyotes' three-game winning streak in the process.

Calgary went into last night's meeting with the San Jose Sharks having lost three of its past four games. However, the Flames appeared to pick up some momentum with a big 4-3 win that featured the seventh hat trick of Olli Jokinen's career. He helped fellow Finland native Miikka Kiprusoff reach 300 career victories with his offensive outburst.

Kiprusoff ended with 34 saves in the milestone victory, which pulled Calgary into a tie with Colorado for 10th overall in the Western Conference with 57 points. That has the Flames a point back of the Coyotes and Wild for the eighth seed.

"It's a nice number," Kiprusoff said of 300 wins. "Right now it's not that big a deal. It's nice, but we have a job to do here. We're fighting for the playoffs, and we need those wins. But, yeah, it's a good number."

Jokinen added his 29th assist of the season on Jarome Iginla's goal to up his team-leading point total of 45 despite not feeling well before the game.

"I haven't felt that good in the last couple of days," said Jokinen. "I've felt like I've been getting sick or something, but it's all mental. Block it out and try to do things right. Sometimes you get lucky."

The Coyotes hope that luck has nothing to do with their current season high- tying winning streak. Phoenix extended its run on Tuesday with a 4-1 victory over Dallas, getting goals from Radim Vrbata, Keith Yandle, Raffi Torres and Derek Morris to win three in a row for the first time since Oct. 27-Nov. 2.

"That's three games now where we've played how we have to play," Coyotes head coach Dave Tippett said. "We have a lot of people that are committed to doing things that make you win hockey games."

Morris potted his first goal since March 24 of last year, ending a 51-game goal drought, while fellow blueliner Yandle scored before leaving the game early in the third with a knee injury sustained while blocking a shot. He is questionable for tonight.

Mike Smith was solid in net, making 28 saves in his career high-tying 42nd game of the season first done with the Lightning in 2009-10.

The Coyotes and Flames are meeting for the first time this season after Phoenix swept the four-game set a year ago. The 'Yotes have won eight of the past 11 meetings overall as well as four straight as the host versus Calgary.

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After all the trouble that’s ensued since Braylon Edwards allegedly punched one of LeBron James’ homeboys in the face at a club, the Cleveland Browns have sent away their last remaining player of worth to the New York Jets. This is a great move for Dirty Sanchez and all, but it’s even better for the Knicks. Now Donnie Walsh can say, “You get to haunt Braylon Edwards with your posse if you sign here!” next summer.

Putting that aside for a moment, the move is a clear indication that the new-look Jets are gunning for the Super Bowl this year. I don’t think that New York thought that Dirty Sanchez was going to be such a rock star. With a 75.2 passer rating that was killed against the Jets, Sanchez is doing an admirable job of managing games and putting the Jets in a position to win. The defense has been the major story in New York thus far, but the acquisition of Braylon Edwards makes this offense loaded with talent that can dent any defense…as long as Dirty Sanchez continues his meteoric rise.

Thus far, Edwards has been a non-factor in the NFL piling up just 139 receiving yards on 10 catches. He has yet to find the endzone, and with the Browns mired in the most unsexy quarterback controversy of all time (Anderson vs. Quinn...yawn), there going nowhere fast. Edwards is two seasons removed from a career year which saw him catch 80 passes for 1,289 yards and 16 touchdowns when the Browns were the spread killing monsters of 2007. In 2008, injuries slowed the receiver down to just 873 yards and three touchdowns though he played in all 16 games.

So that being said, we really don’t know if Braylon Edwards is just a flash in the pan, or a legit threat. At 6-foot-3 and 215 pounds, he is a prototypical receiver. But he’s also shown a strange, and unwarranted, talent for dropping passes. Lining up opposite Jericho Cotchery, a speed demon with 23 catches, 356 yards and a single touchdown, may give Braylon the open looks he needs. A change of scenery may also rejuvenate the star receiver.

In return, the Browns will receive Chansi Stuckey, online football betting a special teams player you’ve never heard of and a pair of draft picks. That’s a tall order for a guy whose only real value right now is in his name, and it shows no promise to the Browns that they can rebuild around those acquisitions. Braylon was the only reason to hope for the Browns to go 3-14 SU this year. Without him, they don’t have a single guy on offense that can scare any team.

For the Jets, it’s a response to the pounding that they took at the hand of the Saints. Thomas Jones and Leon Washington have averaged around 4.0 yards per carry each on the ground, but striking a fair balance between the passing and rushing attacks in New York has been a struggle. You have to believe that the trio of Dustin Keller, Jericho Cotchery and Braylon Edwards will give Sanchez the weapons he needs to unleash through the air. Theoretically, that would open up holes for the rushing game. But the proposed public option health care plan works in theory too. We need to see the proof in the pudding before we start loading up mega bucks on the New York Jets to take the AFC.

The one wrinkle in this whole thing is that Braylon could very well be suspended by the league for disciplinary action due to his “brawl” with LeBron’s friend. If that’s the case, the Jets may have to bench him for a few games leaving them with a somewhat depleted receiving corps for a few games. Also, this is a guy who gets in fights with people at clubs. New York may not be the best place for him. Just sayin’.

The Jets have a long week before they meet the Miami Dolphins on Monday Night Football Betting in a virtual pick ‘em game. Braylon’s excess baggage may be a distraction, and his curiously low production may be what we should be expecting of him overall, but for the Jets, taking a chance to strike gold is well worth it. At the end of the year, they can simply just blame it on their rookie quarterback.

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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.

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