Thrashers try to end slide in Columbus

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03/11/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Atlanta Thrashers will be out to halt a poorly-timed three-game losing streak in tonight's matchup with the Columbus Blue Jackets from Nationwide Arena.

Atlanta had put itself in the Eastern Conference playoff mix with a 4-0-2 stretch that spanned the NHL's break for the Winter Olympics, but have fallen back a bit in the race due to the team's recent slide. The Thrashers enter this evening's play in 10th place in the East with 66 points, four behind Boston for the eighth and final postseason seed.

The Thrashers head to Columbus off back-to-back home losses plagued by a lack of offense. After being shut out by fellow Southeast Division member Carolina on Sunday, Atlanta was dealt a 2-1 defeat by Nashville Tuesday at Philips Arena thanks to a 30-save performance from Predators goaltender Dan Ellis.

Nik Antropov scored 29 seconds into the second period for the lone Atlanta goal, but the Thrashers couldn't overcome tallies by Nashville's Ryan Suter and Colin Wilson in the first.

"I thought we played pretty well," said Atlanta coach John Anderson. "When you get down two goals, you tend to take a step back from that."

The Thrashers will try to bounce back tonight against an opponent they haven't beaten since December 9, 2005. Columbus has won the last three meetings between the teams, with the most recent one a 4-3 decision in Atlanta on November 5.

In the Thrashers' last visit to Nationwide Arena, the Blue Jackets posted a 2-0 victory on December 26, 2007.

Columbus had lost five in a row before Tuesday's 5-2 triumph at Anaheim, in which the Jackets recorded their highest goal output in nearly two months despite being without two of their top three scorers in Rick Nash and Kristian Huselius.

Fedor Tyutin, Jakub Voracek and Antoine Vermette all stepped up in the duo's absence, with each compiling a goal and two assists on the evening. Goaltender Mathieu Garon did his part as well, stopping 36-of-38 shots to help Columbus stop its skid.

"We killed a lot of penalties and we didn't panic," Garon said. "Up 3-2 with five minutes left, earlier in the season we lost a lot of those games. Tonight we managed to keep going."

Nash, Columbus' leader with 28 goals and 57 points, sat out the contest with a lower-body injury and is uncertain to play tonight. Huselius, who's generated 17 goals and 30 assists in 60 games this season, is likely to miss a third straight outing with an injured hand.

Tonight's tilt begins a four-game homestand for the Blue Jackets. Columbus has gone 15-10-7 at Nationwide Arena thus far in 2009-10, but is 0-1-2 over its last three home tests.

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Problem with Bears?

Chicago, IL - New Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler and star linebacker Brian Urlacher shot down reports of a rift, saying they're simply not true.

"There's nothing between us," Cutler said Thursday, when he reported to training camp. "I just want to put that to rest. There never has been anything between us."

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Urlacher added: "I never said what I was quoted as saying and that's it. I have a lot of respect for Jay. I think Jay knows that."
Former Bears receiver Bobby Wade caused a stir when he told Minneapolis radio station KFAN-AM that Urlacher used a profanity while questioning Cutler's manhood during a conversation in Las Vegas last weekend. Wade, who now plays for the Vikings, said Urlacher used a profane version of the word "wimp" during the interview that had to be edited out.
go radio station WSCR-AM also reported that Urlacher had to be restrained from confronting Cutler during organized team activities.
"I wouldn't go face-to-face with Brian, anyway," Cutler said. "No, that's never happened. I've hung out with Brian away from the facility numerous times and we've always gotten along."
Urlacher, noting he was limited by a groin injury, denied the reports in an interview with the Chicago Tribune and did it again when he reported to camp.
"I didn't practice this summer, so I don't know how I would fight the guy if I didn't practice," Urlacher said. "We have no problems. I'm excited about football starting. I'm excited to have him as our quarterback."
Why would Wade say that?
"I don't know," Urlacher said. "Maybe he's jealous because we have a good quarterback now."
Cutler said the first he heard of any friction was when he got a call from Urlacher to clear the air. Urlacher, however, said he had already taken several calls from teammates wondering if the reports were true when Cutler phoned.
"He called me and I said, What's up (expletive), what are you doing?'" a grinning Urlacher said, uttering the same word he allegedly used with Wade. "It's so dumb to me that this even got to this point, but it did and then here we are."
better place after going 9-7 and missing the playoffs for the second straight year. They have a franchise quarterback for the first time in decades after acquiring Cutler in an offseason trade with Denver. But there are questions about his attitude following a fallout with Broncos management and new coach Josh McDaniels.
His critics include former Bears coach Mike Ditka and former Indianapolis and Tampa Bay coach Tony Dungy, one of Smith's mentors. Smith, however, said Cutler has been a model teammate so far while denying any animosity with Urlacher.
"There's no issue with Jay and Brian, except Brian and Jay are both excited about being teammates for our club this year," coach Lovie Smith said. "No more than that. We can't spend a whole lot of time on something that isn't true. I have talked to the players. Whenever something comes out, you have to address it, but it's a non-issue."
In some ways, Cutler is getting a second chance in Chicago, an opportunity to repair his reputation.
Smith said another quarterback - Michael Vick - deserves one, although he doesn't see it happening with the Bears, who lack an experienced backup. The former Atlanta Falcons star, who served a 23-month sentence for running a dogfighting ring, said Thursday he is getting close to signing with a pro football team.
"A second chance, like everyone in society who has paid their debt to society," Smith said. "He deserves a second chance. As far as we're concerned, we like this team that we have right now."
Particularly the new quarterback.
"Me and Brian have been on a good relationship since I've been here, and I expect it to continue that way," Cutler said.

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