Canucks host streaking Coyotes in Vancouver

Hockey Betting Lines

02/13/2012 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Phoenix Coyotes will try to push their longest winning streak of the season to six games when they visit the first-place Vancouver Canucks tonight at Rogers Arena.

The Coyotes, who are holding onto the eighth seed in the West with 62 points, are on their first five-game win streak since March 10-18 of last year. Phoenix also last won six straight in 2010-11, when it went on an eight-game tear from Feb. 5-22.

Phoenix posted its most recent victory Saturday in a 3-0 decision against the visiting Chicago Blackhawks. Mike Smith stood tall between the pipes for the Coyotes, making 38 saves to record his third shutout of the season and 14th of his career.

Smith turned aside 10 shots in the first period, 12 in the second and 16 in the third for the shutout. Phoenix also stopped Chicago from scoring on three power-play opportunities.

"My teammates did a great job in front of me tonight," Smith said.

Radim Vrbata scored his team-leading 26th goal of the season for the Coyotes, who are just two points ahead of Calgary and Colorado in the West standings. Boyd Gordon and Kyle Chipchura also scored in the win.

Ray Whitney added an assist to push his point streak to eight games. Vrbata has reached the scoresheet in seven straight.

After playing tonight in British Columbia, Phoenix will visit Los Angeles on Thursday to complete a two-game trip. The Coyotes are 13-11-4 as the road team this season.

The Canucks are second in the Western Conference with 74 points and also hold a 14-point edge atop the Northwest Division. Vancouver had a three-game winning streak halted with Saturday's shootout loss in Calgary, but the Canucks have gained a point in nine straight contests (6-0-3).

After getting robbed on a breakaway late in regulation, Calgary's Jarome Iginla was able to post the decisive goal of the shootout in the Flames' 3-2 win over the Canucks at the Saddledome. Iginla was robbed by the glove of Roberto Luongo on a break with 2:06 remaining in the third period, but the Calgary captain converted in the third round of the penalty-shot tiebreaker, scoring on a backhand-forehand deke.

Luongo finished with only 16 saves for the Canucks, while Cody Hodgson and David Booth recorded the goals for Vancouver, which completed a four-game road trip with a 3-0-1 mark.

"I thought we played a really good game tonight from start to finish. This was probably our best game of the road trip and we lost," said Canucks head coach Alain Vigneault.

The Canucks are back home for three straight and they are 15-6-4 as the host this season. Vancouver will also welcome Colorado and Toronto during this residency.

Vancouver has won three of its last four meetings with the Coyotes and posted a 5-0 rout in Phoenix on Nov. 25 in the first encounter between the clubs this season. Cory Schneider recorded the shutout for the Canucks in that one with 21 saves.

Phoenix has won two straight at Rogers Arena, as it outscored the Canucks by a combined 8-1 margin in two trips to B.C. last season.

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El Duque expected to throw Tuesday

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- New York Mets pitcher Orlando Hernandez, sidelined at spring training because of arthritis in his neck, is expected to resume throwing on Tuesday.

Hernandez received a cortisone shot Thursday after leaving camp and returning to New York to have his neck examined. The 41-year-old right-hander is penciled in as the team's No. 2 starter behind Tom Glavine.

El Duque's health is a major issue for the Mets, who won the NL East in 2007 and came within one victory of the World Series. Their aging and unsettled rotation is a big question mark this year.

MySportsbook.com has the Mets as -110 favorites to repeat as NL East champions odds. 

Hernandez went 11-11 with a 4.66 ERA last season, including 9-7 with a 4.09 ERA in 20 starts after the Mets acquired him from Arizona in late May. But he missed the playoffs because of a torn calf muscle.

New York already is without Pedro Martinez, out until at least midseason following rotator cuff surgery. Among those competing for starting jobs are prospects Mike Pelfrey, Philip Humber and Jason Vargas, plus veterans Chan Ho Park, Jorge Sosa and Aaron Sele.

Notes: Mets manager Willie Randolph is excited about two new utility players he could have on his bench: Damion Easley and David Newhan. ''Their value is really all over the place,'' Randolph said. Easley can play anywhere in the infield and could be used as an emergency outfielder, though Randolph said he would prefer to keep the veteran in the infield. Newhan, meanwhile, can play second base, third or any outfield position for the Mets. ''I love versatility,'' Randolph said. ''I love guys that can give me options when I need them to step in.''

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