Sabres double up Flyers

Hockey Betting Lines

02/21/2007 - Buffalo, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Daniel Briere posted a goal and two assists as the first-place Buffalo Sabres crushed the last-place Philadelphia Flyers, 6-3.

Chris Drury, Jason Pominville and Derek Roy each had a goal and an assist for the Sabres, who have won seven of their last nine and improved to 4-0-1 on their current six-game home stand.

Adam Mair tallied his first goal in 43 games for Buffalo, while Andrew Peters scored for the first time since March 26, 2004.

Simon Gagne continued his torrid play as of late with two goals and Mike Richards notched a career-high three assists for the Flyers, who have dropped three of their last four.

Philadelphia netminder Robert Esche, in his first start since February 3, gave up four goals on 14 shots before being pulled early in the second period.

The game started off with a bang as R.J. Umberger and Brian Campbell exchanged fisticuffs just over two minutes into the opening period. Umberger, though, was whistled for instigating and was handed a game-misconduct penalty as the Sabres took advantage of the ensuing power play.

With time running out on the man-advantage, Roy fired the puck past a screened Esche 4:04 into the period to give Buffalo the first score of the game. Gagne's first goal of the game briefly knotted the contest midway through the period, but Peters answered with his first goal of the season 38 seconds later to make it 2-1 Sabres.

Mair then redirected Campbell's shot from the point 1:45 into the middle stanza to make it 3-1 and just 40 seconds later, Briere scored on the power play to make it a three-goal contest and chase Esche from the game.

Philadelphia did not go down quietly as Gagne's second goal of the game -- a cross-ice pass that deflected off a Sabre and past Buffalo goaltender Ryan Miller -- midway through the second period brought the Flyers within 4-2. Sami Kapanen then scored on a nice individual effort 5:17 into the third to make it a one-goal game.

Drury, however, answered with a power-play tally just over two minutes later and Pominville scored with 6:53 left in the third to restore the Sabres' three-goal advantage.

Game Notes

Miller ended the game with 32 saves...Gagne has recorded nine goals and four assists in his last seven games...Kapanen's score broke a 14-game goal-less drought...Flyers defenseman Alexei Zhitnik played in his 1,000th game...Esche has given up 13 goals in two starts in Buffalo this season and was pulled in both games...Antero Niittymaki took over for Esche and finished with just six saves.

Sport-lines Hockey Betting News

<< Anderson ices the game at the line as Bobcats top Hornets
Charlotte, NC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Raymond Felton scored 21 points and doled out 11 assists, and the Charlotte Bobcats topped the New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets, 104-100. Gerald Wallace also tallied 21 points, and grabbed seven reb

<< Thomas, Bruins blank Maple Leafs
Toronto, ON (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Tim Thomas stopped 44 shots to record his third shutout of the season, helping the Boston Bruins to a 3-0 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs at Air Canada Centre. Stanislav Chistov, P.J. Axelsson, and

<< Thrashers storm past Hurricanes
Raleigh, NC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Johan Hedberg made 33 saves to lead the Atlanta Thrashers to a 3-1 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes in a big Southeast Division battle at RBC Center. Marian Hossa had a goal and an assist and Ilya

<< Providence knocks off No. 22 West Virginia
Providence, RI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Joe Alexander missed a wide open three for a tie with 14.5 seconds left then Herbert Hill iced the tournament resume- building victory with a breakaway slam, as Providence downed No. 22 West Virgini

<< Oh, what a Neitzel: MSU upsets No. 1 Wisconsin
East Lansing, MI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Drew Neitzel scored 11 of his 28 points during a game-clinching run in the final minutes, as Michigan State downed top-ranked Wisconsin, 64-55, at the Breslin Center. Neitzel, who hit 10-of-17 shot

Arenas leads Wizards over T'Wolves >>
Washington, DC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Gilbert Arenas poured in 38 points, and Washington never trailed in a 112-100 triumph over the Minnesota Timberwolves. Arenas was a miserable 1-of-8 from three-point range, but made up for the shor

Rutgers women rout Providence >>
Piscataway, NJ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Matee Ajavon scored 23 points and Epiphanny Prince added 14 to lead 21st-ranked Rutgers to a 69-34 pounding of Providence. Heather Zurich tallied 10 points for the Scarlet Knights (18-7, 11-3 Big East

No. 18 Bowling Green rolls over Kent State >>
Kent, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Amber Flynn poured in 21 points and led six players in double figures, as 18th-ranked Bowling Green defeated Kent State, 89-66, at the M.A.C. Center. Kate Achter scored 14 points, Carin Horne chipped

Crawford, Curry propel Knicks over Magic >>
New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jamal Crawford and Eddy Curry each scored 20 points to lead the New York Knicks over the Orlando Magic, 100-94, at Madison Square Garden. Quentin Richardson added 15 points and David Lee had 14 points and

Nebraska falls to Iowa State >>
Ames, IA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Megan Ronhovde scored 15 points and pulled down eight rebounds, as Iowa State defeated 25th-ranked Nebraska, 64-53, at Hilton Coliseum. Lyndsey Medders poured in 13 points and had nine boards for the Cyclones (

Police report: Terrell Owens hospitalized after attempt

Terrell Owens will address the media at a 3:15 p.m. ET news conference outside the Cowboys' practice facility after an internal police report indicated he tried to kill himself by overdosing on prescription pain medication, even putting two more pills into his mouth after a friend intervened.

The Dallas police report said Owens was asked by rescue workers "if he was attempting to harm himself, at which time [he] stated, 'Yes.'"

Owens left the hospital late Wednesday morning, giving reporters a "thumbs up" but making no comment as he was driven away in an SUV.

Michael Irvin said that Owens denied he attempted suicide and said he was rushed to the hospital as a result of an adverse reaction to medication. And a source close to Owens told Michael A. Smith that Owens wasn't attempting suicide.

NFL Network analyst Deion Sanders said he spoke with Owens shortly before his release from the hospital and that Owens was in good spirits.

"The fact that it has been reported a suicide attempt, he's laughed at that notion. It was a case that medication that was taken wasn't accepted well in his system with the other vitamins he's on," Sanders said.

The series of events began a little before 8 p.m. Tuesday.

Owens' publicist, Kim Etheredge, said she was at Owens' home when he took pain medicine for his broken right hand. Concerned by how he began acting, Etheredge said in various interviews Wednesday with Dallas-area media that she called 911. Owens was taken to a hospital, with Etheredge saying it was an allergic reaction to the medicine.

But early Wednesday, several media outlets received a police report -- that had yet to be released by the authorities -- saying Owens had attempted suicide by overdosing on the painkillers, even putting two more pills into his mouth after an unidentified friend intervened.

The police document, first reported by WFAA-TV, said Owens was asked by rescue workers "if he was attempting to harm himself, at which time [he] stated, 'Yes.'"

When officially released by police, about half the document was blacked out, including the phrases "attempting suicide by prescription pain medication" and "a drug overdose," as well as the details of Owens having two pills pried from his mouth and Owens saying "Yes" when asked if he intended to harm himself.

Etheredge, who said she was the friend cited in the police document, told Dallas-area media Wednesday that the police got the story wrong.

The tape of the 911 call could help clear things up. The Associated Press filed a request under the Freedom of Information Act to get its contents, but fire department officials said it would not be available before late Wednesday.

The police report said the 32-year-old Owens told his friend "that he was depressed." Details of the police report were first reported by WFAA-TV.

The friend, who is not identified in the report, "noticed that [his] prescription pain medication was empty and observed [Owens] putting two pills in his mouth," the police report said.

Using her fingers, the friend attempted to pry them out of Owens' mouth. Owens told police he had taken only five of the 40 pain pills in the bottle he'd emptied before the incident.

Etheredge told the Star-Telegram that Owens was "fine."

Etheredge said she called 911 because Owens was groggy and lethargic. After taking some supplements "it kicked in a reaction" with the painkillers, she told the Star-Telegram.

"Here's a person whose body is so clean, it really had a negative reaction to the medication and supplements he was taking," Etheridge told The Morning News. "Thank goodness someone was there to call an ambulance."

Police Lt. Rick Watson said he could only confirm that paramedics called police to say they were taking Owens to the hospital. He said no more details would come from the police because no laws were broken.

It is not a crime in Texas for a person to attempt suicide.

"This is a high-profile person. We looked into it and we determined it is not a criminal offense," Watson said. "This a medical type of situation that occurred."

Watson and fire department spokesman Joel Lavender cited privacy laws for the lack of information they could provide. Lavender said more details could come from the 911 call. The Associated Press filed a request under the Freedom of Information Act to get the contents of the call.

"Let's just look at the tape, review the tape," Lavender said. "I'll give you an honest answer once I know something."

At the police news conference, Watson released a version of the police narrative with certain sections blacked out. The full report was obtained by several news outlets and reported first by WFAA. The AP received the full version from WFAA.

According to the police report, Dallas Fire and Rescue was called regarding someone "attempting suicide by prescription pain medication." Officers arrived to find Owens being stabilized by ambulance workers, who then took him to Baylor University Medical Center.

Owens was hospitalized late Tuesday because of what his publicist said was an allergic reaction to pain medicine he was taking for a broken hand. Doctors reportedly tried to induce vomiting.

Owens, one of the league's top receivers during his 11-year NFL career, is best known for wild stunts on the field and other publicity-seeking antics off it.

When the Cowboys signed him to a $25 million, three-year deal in March, they said their background checks indicated no red flags. In fact, team consultant Calvin Hill -- who mostly deals with troubled players -- said during training camp that his department was not involved with Owens because he didn't have a history of those kinds of problems.

He missed most of training camp, and three of four preseason games, because of a hamstring injury. He was late for work during his recovery and was fined for it, but Owens laughed it off, saying he overslept. He said it had happened before, though not with Dallas, and would probably happen again.

Owens broke the bone leading to his right ring finger during a game a week ago Sunday. The next day, doctors screwed in a plate so the bone could heal without fear of further damage. Cowboys coach Bill Parcells said last week that the pain medicine made Owens ill.

Owens had not practiced since the injury, but because Dallas had a bye this past weekend he did not miss a game. He was expected to practice Wednesday, and Parcells had said there was a chance Owens could play Sunday against Tennessee.

Owens had been especially looking forward to the Cowboys' game after that -- Oct. 8, in Philadelphia, against the team that dumped him midway through last season only months after he helped them nearly win the Super Bowl.

Owens was seen laughing and joking on the practice field Tuesday morning. He chatted briefly with reporters in the locker room in the afternoon and seemed fine. A 2-inch scar on the top of his hand was puffy but not wrapped, and he said the swelling was doing down.

While in the locker room, he took a pill from a white paper bag and looked at another medicine bottle that was in the bag. He also called a business partner about a towel-wrap venture they're starting and joked to TV cameras that he wasn't talking until Wednesday and it was only Tuesday.

"My little boy knows better than that," he said, laughing, as he plopped onto a sofa in the middle of the locker room.

Also Tuesday, Owens was involved in launching a national campaign for the National Alliance to End Abuse, an organization aimed at helping at-risk youngsters. He appeared at a high school Tuesday morning and was scheduled to visit others but had to cancel because of changes in the team's practice schedule.

Owens has played two games for the Cowboys, catching nine passes for 99 yards and a touchdown. For updated football betting lines and Dallas Cowboy Superbowl odds visit online sportsbook MySportsbook.com

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your VISA Sportsbook needs.