The deal represents a strong return for the Senators, considering Conacher has been one of the most impressive rookies in the NHL and can immediately join the Senators’ lineup during their playoff push.

The 5-foot-8 Conacher has nine goals and 15 assists this season and is second among all rookies with 24 points, only one behind Florida’s Jonathan Huberdeau.

But in Bishop, the Lightning immediately address their goaltending issues. The 6-foot-7 Bishop has been effective in Ottawa while playing for the injured Craig Anderson, posting a record of 8-5-0 with a .922 save percentage and 2.45 goals-against average.

The deal gives the Lightning another option at goalie for starter Anders Lindback, who has been inconsistent in his first season as an NHL starter. Lindback is recovering from an ankle injury and hasn’t played since March 20.

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Cleveland At New Orleans
When: 6:00 PM ET, Sunday, March 31, 2013
Where: New Orleans Arena, New Orleans, Louisiana
TV: 6 p.m. ET, Fox Sports Ohio (Cleveland), Fox Sports New Orleans
PREDICTION: Hornets 90, Cavaliers 83

Oddsmakers currently have the Hornets listed as 6-point favorites versus the Cavaliers, while the game’s total is sitting at 193.

Cleveland is playing out the string as an undermanned squad with Irving and rookie guard Dion Waiters (knee) both sidelined. Coach Byron Scott denies his team has given up on the season despite the recent results and is hoping to see solid effort over the final 11 games. “This is a big-time test,” Scott said after the loss to the 76ers. “We’re going through some adversity as far as losing. It’s going to test the type of character we have in that locker room. We’ll see if guys go south or north or whatever.”

The Cavaliers were a 97-87 loser in their most recent outing at home against the 76ers. They failed to cover the 1.5-point spread as underdogs, while the total score (184) made winners of UNDER bettors.

Team record: 22-49 SU, 37-34 ATS
Current streak: lost 7 straight games.

The total has gone UNDER in 4 of last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of last 7 games when playing New Orleans
The total has gone OVER in 5 of last 7 games when playing on the road against New Orleans
is 4-8 ATS in its last 12 games when playing on the road against New Orleans

When playing on Sunday are 5-5
Before playing Atlanta are 3-7
After playing Philadelphia are 5-5
After a loss are 2-8

New Orleans is 3-3 on a seven-game homestand that wraps up against the Cavaliers. Point guard Greivis Vasquez has missed two of the last three games with an ankle injury and his status for Cleveland will be determined shortly before tipoff. Rookie backup Brian Roberts has just eight total assists in the last two games after recording a career-best 18 while filling in for Vasquez three games ago. Davis has scored in double digits in 12 of the past 13 games.

New Orleans was a 108-89 loser in its last match at home against the Heat. They failed to cover the 7.5-point spread as underdogs, while the total score of 197 sent OVER bettors to the payout window.

Team record: 25-48 SU, 36-37 ATS
Current streak: lost 2 straight games.

is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Cleveland
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of last 7 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of last 7 games when playing Cleveland
The total has gone OVER in 5 of last 7 games when playing at home against Cleveland

When playing on Sunday are 4-6
Before playing Golden State are 5-5
After playing Miami are 6-4
After a loss are 3-7

The post Cleveland vs. New Orleans Free Betting Pick & Matchup appeared first on IdealCapper.

The deadline for teams to use the franchise tag is 4 p.m. ET on Monday.

The team’s decision means that left tackle Jake Long and receiver Brian Hartline will become unrestricted free agents on March 12 unless the Dolphins can agree to contracts with both players before then.

The 29-year-old Starks made the Pro Bowl as an alternate and is one of the anchors of Miami’s stout run defense. He was hard to move in the middle and showed enough athleticism to also register 4.5 sacks and an interception. Starks has 32.5 sacks and four interceptions in 140 career games.

Long, the Dolphins’ No. 1 overall pick in 2008, was placed on injured reserve in December because of a left triceps injury. Before that injury, the 27-year-old left tackle had missed only two games in five NFL seasons. He was chosen as a Pro Bowl starter each of the three years before 2012.

Long has become a less dominant blocker as his injuries accumulate. He was slowed by an ankle injury as a rookie and hurt his shoulder in 2010. In 2011 he battled back trouble, then missed the final game with a torn right biceps.

The 26-year-old Hartline posted career highs in receptions (74) and yards (1,083) as he provided a go-to target for first-year quarterback Ryan Tannehill.

He has 183 receptions, 2,753 yards and six touchdown catches in 60 career games.

The post Dolphins to franchise Randy Starks appeared first on IdealCapper.

Defender Schmelzer misses out with an ankle problem, midfielder Goetze has a flu virus and Reus picked up an adductor muscle injury in Sunday’s 3-2 victory over Bayer Leverkusen.

Bayern Munich midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger also pulled out on Saturday.

Ilkay Gundogan, despite an ankle injury Sunday, will link up with the team coach Joachim Low later in preparation for the trip to Paris.

Lazio striker Miroslav Klose is rated doubtful for Wednesday’s game.

Leverkusen forward Andre Schurrle is likely to be involved, though, and cannot wait.

“It is definitely going to be a cool game in Paris,” he said on the website of the German Football Association (DFB).

“Games against France are always great. I can’t wait.”

The withdrawals raise doubts about how important a friendly is in February — a month before Germany’s next World Cup qualifying matches.

However, Schurrle claims it is an important warm-up for those games and a date that Germany cannot do without if it is to be ready in March.

“Of course it’s an important game,” he said. “It is the first game of the new year and an important meeting. We have got to face good sides to fine-tune our movements before we get involved in World Cup qualifiers.

“Then, we are going to have to show who is the number one in the group.”

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