InSpin

Devils -140 vs. Stars

A rematch of the 2000 Stanley Cup Final matches the Dallas Stars and New Jersey Devils. The Devils claimed the Stanley Cup in six games in that series and will play host to the Stars tonight at the Prudential Center.

The Stars skate into this contest with a disappointing 2-3-1 record after reaching the Conference finals last spring. In their last contest, the Stars were victorious 2-1 at Madison Square Garden against the Rangers and hope for more of the same as they visit the Devils (4-1-0-0). The win in Manhattan snapped the Stars two game losing streak. Dallas goalie Marty Turco looked to return to form against New York. Turco made a mistake early as Markus Naslan fired one behind the net minder only 58 seconds into Monday's game. Turco then shut down the Rangers' high octane offense by stopping 28 shots. This was an improvement on Turco's astronomical 4.70 goals against average entering Monday night.

The Devils have old, reliable Martin Brodeur as their goalie and continue to reap the rewards. Brodeur has played all of New Jerseys' five games and has lost only one of those contests.  He boasts an anemic 1.56 GAA, including a 4-3 shootout victory, in which Brodeur stopped all shots before him, over the Capitals Saturday night. The Devils will be one man down for the next three to four weeks when Bobby Holik broke his pinkie in the Washington game. Meanwhile news on Brian Rolston is better after being injured in last Thursday's 1-0 win in Atlanta.  X-rays were negative on Rolston's sprained ankle and is currently day-to-day.

Since the 2000 Cup Final, the Devils lead the series 5-2-0.

InSpin.com

Giants -6 1/2 vs. Seahawks

Why is it that NFL wide receivers have to be the sporting world's version of a "diva?"

Prior to the season, we had to deal with Chad Johnson changing his name to a spanish numeral only until the NFL told him he would have to buy all the jerseys left in the merchandise closet before he could change his nameplate. This past week Terrell Owens, who we know way too well, stated that he was not receiving the ball enough even though his quarterback threw his way 17 times Sunday.

Now the Giants (3-0) are coping without their superstar, Super Bowl hero Plaxico Burress who was suspended for going M.I.A. early in New York's bye week. The Giants are hoping that they can weather the storm of Burress’ absence by taking on an inconsistent Seahawks (1-2) team who are embarking on their second cross-country trek of the early season.

Meanwhile Seattle has had receiver issues of their own this season, but not because of misconduct. Deion Branch and Bobby Engram are set to make their season debut and bolster a struggling Matt Hasselbeck.
Without Burress, Eli Manning can bank on their stellar running attack. Brandon Jacobs and Derrick Ward have been a lethal combination this season. Jacobs has rushed for 244 yards, while Ward has 177 in spot and relief duty.

The Giants usually steady defense allowed 347 yards to the Bengals, but was able to take down Carson Palmer six times. Palmer was so battled by the Giants he was unable to start last week and looks unable to go this week as well. The Giants have 13 sacks amazingly even without Pro Bowl defensive end Osi Umenyiora.

Hasslebeck hopes to avoid hitting the turf on Sunday. This way his now plentiful receivers core will be able to work their magic. Engram, Branch and Koren Robinson should all be back and able to spread the Giants secondary to the max. Of course not getting sacked may be tough for Hasslebeck against a Giants team on pace to break the Chicago Bears single season sack record.

InSpin.com