Capitals, Thrashers aim to extend respective winning streaks

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03/16/2009 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Facing the possibility of playing again without star winger Ilya Kovalchuk, the Thrashers might want to ask the Capitals if they can borrow from their surplus of talented Russian skaters.

Washington's duo of Alex Ovechkin and Alexander Semin will attempt to deny Atlanta a franchise-record sixth straight win tonight in a Southeast Division battle at Philips Arena.

While Kovalchuk could miss a second straight game because of an upper-body injury, the Capitals aren't short on overseas talent. Both Semin and Ovechkin scored in the shootout of Saturday's 5-4 victory over Carolina and combined for six points in regulation.

Semin notched a goal and three assists to give him 16 points (7 goals, 9 assists) over a nine-game point streak. Ovechkin, meanwhile, ended with an assist in addition to netting his league-leading 49th goal. He is just one tally shy of becoming the first Washington skater to ever post three 50-goal seasons and has 23 goals and 45 points in 27 career games against Atlanta.

Ovechkin has scored more goals in his career against the Thrashers than any other club and has seven goals and seven assists over the last 10 games he has played in overall.

Mike Green also had a goal and an assist, as he leads all defenseman with 24 markers and 60 points. Jose Theodore halted 28 saves in helping Washington to its third straight win and halt a four-game home losing streak.

The Capitals did play a second straight game on Saturday without both Donald Brashear (knee) and Sergei Fedorov (illness) and both are questionable for tonight.

Having ended its home skid, the Capitals bring a five-game road winning streak into tonight's battle, its first such run since 2000-01, and begin a five-game road trip. The club is one victory shy of the franchise-record six-game road winning streak set in 1983-84.

The Southeast Division-leading Caps are 17-12-4 as the guest this season and are one point back of New Jersey for the second seed in the East.

The Thrashers were able to extend their win streak to five games on Saturday without Kovalchuk. Todd White tied the game with 3.5 seconds left in regulation to extend his point streak to five games (2 goals, 3 assists) and Brett Sterling notched the lone goal of the shootout in a 4-3 victory against Buffalo.

Kovalchuk, who leads the team with 36 goals and has 21 tallies and 49 points in 40 games versus Washington, will be re-evaluated today and is questionable.

Slava Kozlov and Marty Reasoner scored for the Thrashers, who also won five in a row from November 2-14 and have never before won six consecutive games in club history.

Kari Lehtonen halted 34 shots in the win for Atlanta, which is 13-18-2 at home after having won four of its last five as the host.

The Capitals have won four of their last five versus the Thrashers but have lost three of their last four trips to Atlanta.

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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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