Pekka a Rinne-stone Cowboy in Nashville

Hockey Betting Lines

02/07/2012 - Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Those not convinced that the Nashville Predators are in it to win long term need to look no further than the massive contract that general manager David Poile dished out to goaltender Pekka Rinne back in November.

Like the protagonist in Glen Campbell's iconic '70s hit, Rinne has paid his dues and was rewarded with a seven-year, $49 million deal that just so happens to be the largest the club has ever dished out. It also comes after a breakout 2010-11 campaign for the 29-year-old in which he notched career bests in wins (33), goals-against average (2.12) and save percentage (.930) to net a Vezina Trophy nomination.

Rinne has done nothing this year to make Poile regret his decision to invest heavily in the Finn. Heading into action on Tuesday, Rinne was in the midst of a franchise-record 11-game win streak and has gone 14-1-0 with a 1.72 GAA since Dec. 28. He is just the fifth goaltender since 1998-99 to have a personal win streak of 11 games, a list that includes a Hall of Famer in Patrick Roy, a future Hall of Famer in Martin Brodeur, and a Stanley Cup champion in Marc-Andre Fleury.

But it's not just numbers with Rinne. Head coach Barry Trotz said after his netminder basically stole a 3-1 win over the Blues on Saturday that it is the timing and composure of Rinne that makes him one of the game's best.

"He's stopping the puck and making the big save when the game's on the line, and he's been doing that when momentum's coming at us. When you talk about special people in this league, he's one of them," said Trotz.

Case in point came in the third period with the Preds up by just a goal. After getting a little help from the post to deny the Blues' Kris Russell, and left seemingly out of position, Rinne dove to his left and made an incredible stop on the defenseman's second attempt just seconds later.

Russell probably should have been staring at a sure-fire goal, but instead just became the latest star on Rinne's highlight reel.

"He just kind of had an open net ... and I was able to get it with my glove. That was a big save at the time. You know, sometimes you just work your hardest and you get lucky," said Rinne, who made 19 saves in the third frame to give Nashville a league-best 14-3-0 mark since Dec. 28.

Luck has nothing to do with it according to Trotz.

"There's not too many goaltenders in this league who would make that save and that's why I keep saying he's the best one and he proved it tonight."

Added Trotz, "Not only is he incredibly athletic ... but his ability just to will himself, he's so competitive. Even in practice, he doesn't want to get scored on. He's always wired and never quits on the play, quits on the puck and he can contort with his athletic ability to do some incredible things."

Rinne's impact on the club isn't just felt on the ice either. The fact that he is scheduled to be in the Music City for the rest of this decade should make Nashville a desirable place to play, especially for a defenseman. That is something pending free agent Ryan Suter should keep in mind as he decides his Preds future.

Fresh off an All-Star appearance, Suter has said he won't discuss his contract status until after the season, though he clarified that doesn't necessarily mean he wants to become a free agent. Still, Poile must now gauge if he will be able to keep Suter in the mix and hold onto his star defender, or deal the 27- year-old before the trade deadline.

Some advice for Poile: Hold on to Suter as well as fellow defenseman and future restricted free agent, captain Shea Weber. With Rinne in top form, the Predators are poised to make their deepest postseason run since coming into the league in 1998-99. Suter is a big part of that as well and is worth the risk of losing this offseason.

Nashville's brief history is littered with the club trading away some of its biggest stars -- the names Scott Hartnell, Kimmo Timonen, Tomas Vokoun and Dan Hamhuis come to mind -- but the Preds should keep Suter and Weber off that list.

With Rinne between the pipes, why mess with a good thing?

Wwwallstarsportsbook Hockey Betting News

<< Southern Illinois gets new opponent
Carbondale, IL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Southern Illinois University football team will play at Miami University on Sept. 8 in the first meeting between the programs. The game replaces canceled meetings for both schools against Missouri, which

<< Sevilla names Michel new coach
Seville, Spain (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Sevilla named former Real Madrid and Spain midfielder Michel its new manager Tuesday, one day after Marcelino was fired. Michel, 48, spent almost his entire club career with Real Madrid, playing for the S

<< Santana to replace Luxemburgo at Flamengo
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Flamengo announced Tuesday that it has hired Joel Santana to replace Vanderlei Luxemburgo, who was relieved of his managerial duties last week due to a reportedly rocky relationship with star pl

<< Bears bring in Jeremy Bates to work with QBs
Lake Forest, IL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Chicago Bears on Tuesday reached an agreement with Jeremy Bates to become the team's quarterbacks coach. Bates is familiar with Chicago starter Jay Cutler, having worked with him for three seasons

<< Johnson granted sixth season at Eastern Washington
Cheney, WA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Eastern Washington linebacker Zach Johnson has been granted a medical waiver by the NCAA for a sixth season, Eagles head coach Beau Baldwin announced Tuesday. Johnson has lost 19 games due to a chronic knee inju

Lindell re-ups with Bills >>
Orchard Park, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Buffalo Bills re-signed kicker Rian Lindell to a multi-year contract extension on Tuesday. Lindell's 2011 season was cut short by a shoulder injury suffered against the New York Jets in Week 9. H

'Melo sidelined for at least a week >>
New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony will likely be sidelined for at least a week because of the strained right groin he sustained during Monday's game against Utah. Anthony was hurt during the first quar

Oilers' Nugent-Hopkins out with sprained shoulder >>
Detroit, MI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Edmonton Oilers rookie forward Ryan Nugent- Hopkins will be sidelined 7-to-10 days with a sprained shoulder. The 18-year-old recently returned to the lineup after missing a month with a left shoulder inju

Potent Leafs determined to end playoff drought >>
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - What has happened to the Toronto Maple Leafs in the post-lockout era hardly seems possible for the NHL's most valuable franchise. But, the Leafs, who were valued at $521 million by Forbes back in November,

Saint Francis announces signing class >>
Loretto, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Saint Francis University announced Tuesday that eight high school players have signed national letters of intent to join its football program. Red Flash coach Chris Villarrial finalized the signing class after

MySportsbook.com favors Bears, Bengals, Chargers and Colts to remain perfect

LAS VEGAS , Sept. 28 - Two big match-ups of undefeated teams have fans salivating at the Week Four schedule in the NFL. The Chicago Bears stifling defense looks to provide a less than hospitable welcome to the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday night in a battle of two 3-0 teams in the NFC conference. In the AFC, the San Diego Chargers (2-0) head to Maryland to face the surprising Baltimore Ravens (3-0) as both try to keep pace atop the conference standings. Betting Lines makers at MySportsbook.com, online sportsbook and casino, have set the Bears as 3.5 point favorites while the Chargers are a 2.5 point bet.

Of the three remaining undefeated teams, only one, New Orleans, enters this week's game as an underdog. Despite an emotional and resounding win over Atlanta on Monday night, the Saints are a 7.5 point underdog against the struggling Carolina Panthers. Indianapolis looks to stay perfect when they face the New York Jets as a 9 point road favorite while the Cincinnati Bengals are a 6 point favorite at home to the New England Patriots.

Six teams enter the week still looking for their first win, with a seventh, Tampa Bay, on a bye week. The prospect of dropping another game would not bode well for a potential playoff run. Since 1990, just three teams -- the 1992 Chargers, 1995 Detroit Lions and 1998 Buffalo Bills -- have overcome losing their first three games of the season to earn a postseason berth. And only the Chargers managed to accomplish the feat after starting 0-4.

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your NFL football betting needs.