Star-spangled Sunday: Rangers stay hot, clip Capitals

Hockey Betting Lines

02/12/2012 - New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Brandon Prust's short-handed goal early in the third period proved to be the difference, as the Eastern Conference-leading New York Rangers took down the Washington Capitals, 3-2.

Fresh off a hat trick against the Flyers on Saturday, Ryan Callahan added a goal for the Rangers, who have won three in a row and seven of nine overall. Ryan McDonagh also lit the lamp on Sunday.

Henrik Lundqvist made 10 of his 24 saves in the third period for the victors.

John Carlson had a goal and an assist for the Capitals, who have lost two straight and seven of 10.

Alexander Semin also scored and Michal Neuvirth turned aside 25-of-28 shots.

Callahan picked up where he left off Saturday, scoring 11:01 into Sunday's game. Brad Richards controlled the puck below the goal line and found Anton Stralman in the high slot. Stralman quickly slid a pass down low for Callahan, who managed to keep control after the disc hit his skate. Callahan lifted a backhander into the back of the net.

Washington tied the game at the 6:31 mark of the middle stanza. Jason Chimera's drop pass to Semin resulted in a one-timer from the top of the right circle.

A nice play by McDonagh put New York back in front with 6:39 left. McDonagh dragged the puck past a sliding defender at the left circle before sneaking a wrister past Neuvirth. McDonagh, who seemed to get his skate caught in the ice on the play, left the game briefly with a left leg injury.

Prust gave the Rangers a 3-1 margin at the 6:26 mark of the third. Down a man, Brandon Dubinsky led a 2-on-1 rush down the left wing and his cross-ice pass to Prust resulted in a goal.

Carlson's blast from the top of the right circle with 2:28 to play made it a one-goal game.

Neuvirth was pulled in the final minute for an extra attacker, but the Rangers held on for the win.

Game Notes

The Rangers have taken two of three from Washington this season...Prust's goal was his first in 49 games dating back to October 20, 2011...New York has an 18-6-2 record as the host this year and has won four of its last five at MSG...New York forward Ruslan Fedotenko missed his second straight game with a head injury...Washington fell to 9-15-3 as the guest this year...Each team went 0-for-2 on the power play.

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Pacific-10 Conference odds

Teams that should be in: Stanford

Oregon and USC get their tickets punched after taking care of business this weekend. Yes, the Trojans' computer numbers aren't great, but there's no way the third-place team in this league is getting nixed. Grudgingly, I added Arizona after consultation with our Bracketologist. I don't know that Arizona will lose its last three (including a Pac-10 quarterfinal game), and even if the Cats do, I still can't see how they'd be left out, given the overall profile. That said, it bears watching, as three more L's would leave them at 18-12 (9-9) and on a 6-11 skid entering the Dance. It would be nice to see the Wildcats get at least one W in the Bay Area next week, as Cincinnati (albeit without Armein Kirkland and with a worse profile) was axed after a similar slide last season. I just couldn't rationalize having some of the other teams as locks and not having Arizona in that category -- there just aren't enough good teams behind the Cats to threaten their spot, it seems. Stanford has its fate in its own hands with the Arizona schools coming to the Farm to close out the regular season next weekend.

Should be in:

Stanford [17-10 (9-7), RPI: 40, SOS: 21] No shame in not getting a win in L.A., but that makes the home game against Arizona State a must-win ahead of what could be an intriguing meeting with Arizona should the Cats lose at Cal. Getting to 11 Pac-10 wins would make Selection Sunday much more comfortable, but 10's probably more than enough this season. The Cardinal have nonconference wins over Texas Tech and at Virginia to lean on, although they also lost badly to Air Force and Santa Clara at home.

Southeastern Conference odds
Work left to do: Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, Mississippi State

It looks more and more possible that no one from the SEC West will make the NCAAs. How weird is that? Tennessee and Vandy move into the locks category after more good work this weekend. Kentucky stays there, although it would be smart for the Cats to handle Georgia at home Wednesday ahead of a trip to the Swamp. Could a disaster scenario (two more L's and a first-round SEC tourney exit) somehow dislodge the Cats despite their incredible computer numbers? Still unlikely, but not worth chancing it.

Work left to do:

Alabama [19-9 (6-8), RPI: 43, SOS: 47] The tough L at Tennessee was understandable, and even created some hope. Unfortunately, that hope was dashed by a home loss to Auburn, which leaves the Tide in some real trouble. There's still no signature win on the profile (no, Kentucky doesn't count), and the computer profile is weakening rapidly. The Tide conceivably could beat Ole Miss and win at Miss. State to get to 8-8 and clinch at least a share of the West crown, but that's probably not enough right now. The Tide will need to do some work in the SEC tourney.

Georgia [16-10 (8-6), RPI: 52, SOS: 23] This is the team with the best chance to make it from this section right now. The Bulldogs rebounded from a terrible performance at Ole Miss to beat down Miss. State. Now they are at Kentucky (king of the RPI 51-100 win) and home to Tennessee. That would be worth a lot of computer points to get both (which is doable), as both teams are in the top 11 in RPI. Finishing at least 9-7 is an absolute must, and I would feel much better about the Dawgs' chances if they got both to get to 10 SEC wins. They also beat Gonzaga, but lost to ACC bubblers Georgia Tech and Clemson.

Mississippi [18-10 (7-7), RPI: 63, SOS: 79] Like everyone else in this division, Ole Miss gacked up a chance to stake a claim, losing by double figures at South Carolina. Even 9-7 likely is not nearly enough with a nonconference profile devoid of anything notable.

Mississippi State [16-11 (7-7), RPI: 66, SOS: 37] With a chance to get in the mix, these Bulldogs were leashed by their Georgia counterparts. Could they get to 9-7? I guess -- although winning at Arkansas, then beating Alabama is no lock -- but would that mean all that much for a team with this overall profile? Probably not. There's nothing of note (on the good side) in the nonconference profile.

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