Blues face key home showdown with Wild

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02/18/2007 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The St. Louis Blues have a chance to move closer towards playoff contention when the improving club hosts the Minnesota Wild tonight at the Scottrade Center.

The Blues still remain far out of the postseason race, but can pull within 10 points of Minnesota, which currently holds the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference, with a victory this evening.

St. Louis will also attempt to extend its win streak to three games and is coming off an outstanding defensive effort. Manny Legace needed to make only 19 saves to register his fifth shutout of the season as the Blues blanked the potent Nashville Predators, 1-0, Friday at the Scottrade Center.

Bill Guerin scored the game's only goal on a brilliant move in the final minute of the second period as St. Louis finally ended a 14-game losing streak against Nashville. The Blues had not beaten the Predators since April 3, 2004.

Guerin's tally was his fifth in the last three games and the All-Star forward has amassed six goals and two assists during a five-game scoring streak.

St. Louis will now try to end its recent struggles against the Wild, who have won six of their last seven matchups with the Blues. In the only meeting between the clubs this season, Minnesota skated away with a 5-2 road victory on January 30.

The Blues, who own a 13-15-3 mark as the host, will be playing the second test of a three-game homestand. St. Louis finishes out the stretch Tuesday against Columbus.

Minnesota also comes in off a big win over Nashville, as the Wild spoiled Peter Forsberg's debut in a Predators' uniform with a 4-1 triumph Saturday at Gaylord Entertainment Center.

The Wild snapped a 1-1 deadlock with three third-period goals. Marian Gaborik had the go-ahead marker with 8:01 left to play, while linemate Pavol Demitra scored once and assisted on Gaborik's tally.

The Slovakian duo has been on a scoring tear as of late. Gaborik has racked up 14 goals and eight assists over his last 16 outings, while Demitra, who played eight seasons with St. Louis from 1997-04, has amassed 14 points (6 goals, 8 assists) during a current eight-game scoring streak.

Brian Rolston finished with a pair of assists and Niklas Backstrom stopped 25- of-26 shots for Minnesota, which has won three of its last four and pulled within a point of Calgary and Vancouver for first place in the Northwest Division.

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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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