Surging Coyotes host skidding Blackhawks

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02/11/2012 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Phoenix Coyotes will try to extend their season-high win streak to five games when they host the sliding Chicago Blackhawks in tonight's clash at Jobing.com Arena.

Phoenix has posted four straight victories for the first time since its last five-game winning streak from March 10-18 of last season. The hot streak has helped lift the Coyotes into the eighth and final playoff seed in the Western Conference, where Phoenix leads Dallas and Colorado by just one point. Minnesota and Calgary are only two points behind the Coyotes in the crowded West.

Meanwhile, Chicago has fallen down to sixth in the West thanks to an 0-6-1 slide that began before the All-Star break. The Blackhawks are five points ahead of Phoenix in the conference standings.

Coyotes captain Shane Doan came through with a dramatic goal in Phoenix's most recent victory, as he scored the game-winner in overtime to lift his club to a 2-1 decision over the visiting Calgary Flames on Thursday.

Calgary's Mikael Backlund was whistled for tripping 2:07 into the extra frame and the Coyotes took advantage of the penalty with the game-winner when Radim Vrbata fed a pass from the right of the net to the top of the left circle, where Doan blasted a one-timer past Leland Irving.

Taylor Pyatt scored in regulation for the Coyotes, while Mike Smith stopped 22-of-23 shots in the win.

"You've got to find ways to get points," Coyotes head coach Dave Tippett said. "It was just not a pretty game at all so we'll take the points, stick those in the bank and move on."

The victory improved Phoenix to 13-10-4 on home ice this year and the Coyotes are wrapping a brief two-game residency tonight. Following today's tilt, the Coyotes will play four of their next six games away from the desert.

Chicago's last four setbacks have come in regulation and the Blackhawks were dealt a 5-3 loss Friday night in San Jose. Benn Ferriero's goal early in the third period proved to be the winner for the Sharks, who sent Chicago to its seventh straight defeat.

Marcus Kruger scored twice in the loss, while Bryan Bickell also lit the lamp for Chicago, which is in the midst of its worst skid since an 0-6-2 stretch from Dec. 30-Jan. 11 during the 2007-08 season. The Blackhawks also fell to 0-4-1 on a season-long nine-game road trip and Joel Quenneville's club is now just 10-13-3 as the guest this season.

"We know we can win hockey games. We have got a good team, but we just have to get our confidence back," Blackhawks forward Marian Hossa said after Friday's loss. "We have to play a team game. We win as a team and we lose as a team."

Corey Crawford allowed all five goals on 27 shots to take the loss on Friday and Ray Emery could get the start tonight.

Blackhawks defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson sat out Friday's game with flu-like symptoms and is also questionable for tonight. Hjalmarsson has one goal, 11 assists and a plus-five rating in 54 games this season.

This evening's tilt marks the fourth and final scheduled meeting between the Coyotes and Blackhawks this year. Phoenix has taken two straight from Chicago since losing the season series opener at Jobing.com Arena on Oct. 18. The Coyotes have won four of seven overall in this series, but Chicago has taken two straight on the road.

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FOOTBALL BETTING : Cassel Signs Contract

Kansas City, MO - Kansas City has not officially named Matt Cassel its starting quarterback, but there can be no doubt now.

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After praising his leadership and work ethic through spring workouts, the Chiefs announced Tuesday they had signed the 27-year-old Cassel to a multiyear contract. Terms were not disclosed, but he will almost certainly be one of the highest-paid members of the team.
"We are excited to be able to reach a long-term agreement for Matt Cassel to be a Kansas City Chief for many years to come," owner and board chairman Clark Hunt said in a statement. "His proven leadership on and off the field will be a tremendous asset to the organization."
Patriots made him their franchise player, meaning his salary for this season will be about $15 million.
New head coach Todd Haley, taking over for Herm Edwards after a 2-14 season, refused to name a starter at any position during offseason workouts. But it was obvious to everyone the team belonged to Cassel.
"I go out there each and every day with that focus that I'm the starter," Cassel said during a June minicamp. "Competition brings out the best in everybody."
The signing will come as welcome news to Cassel's new coaches and teammates. Amiable and hardworking, online football betting he appeared to win over everyone at minicamp.
"I think he's got some unique leadership qualities. I think his teammates like him and have respect for him. I think he's doing a pretty good job on the field, too," Haley said last month. "He's doing everything that I'm asking him, that our coaches are asking him to do. I don't have one single complaint how he's carrying himself."
After one workout, wide receiver Devard Darling declared Cassel "a breath of fresh air."
"He has a lot of swagger, a lot of confidence. It's good for us," said Darling. "We trust in him that he's going to go out there and lead us all the way."
nse to accommodate his specific abilities.
Trapped on the bench behind Heisman winners Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart at USC and then unable to unseat Super Bowl MVP Brady at New England, Cassel seemed destined to be a backup all his life. As Brady was helped off the field last September, Cassel seized the opportunity he'd been waiting for since high school.
In his only sustained action since his teens, he hit 349 of 555 passes for 3,949 yards at New England. He had 23 touchdown passes and 13 interceptions as the Patriots, who had gone unbeaten through the regular season the year before, finished 11-5 and out of the playoffs.
Chiefs general manager Scott Pioli, who had been Bill Belichick's assistant in New England, engineered the trade after the Patriots became convinced that Brady would recover fully from his knee operation.
"Since Matt arrived in Kansas City, he has embraced the team and the community," Pioli said. "His work ethic, his ability and competitive presence is what we expect from our players."

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