Author Archives: Guillermo J.P

NHL Betting Picks: Buffalo Sabres at Philadelphia Flyers

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Buffalo & Philadelphia Betting

When: 7:00 PM ET, Thursday, April 5, 2012
Where: Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

The Opening Line is : Philadelphia Flyers -135 Click here to Bet at Bovada

PREVIEW: The Buffalo Sabres are walking a fine line. Tied with Washington for the eighth spot in the Eastern Conference, the Sabres will look to better their standing on Thursday when they visit the City of Brotherly Love to face the Philadelphia Flyers. The Capitals, who own the tiebreaker, could secure a postseason berth with a victory over Florida and a Buffalo regulation loss.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, MSG, CSP

Buffalo Sabres (39-31-10): Coach Lindy Ruff’s club erased a three-goal deficit in the first period and a two-goal disadvantage in the third before skating away with a 6-5 overtime win over Northeast Division rival Toronto on Tuesday. Derek Roy’s overtime marker lifted Buffalo to a 14-2-3 mark in its last 19 contests. Roy had notched just one point in his previous six contests. The Sabres will now have their campaign on the line against the Flyers, who eliminated them during last season’s Eastern Conference quarterfinals. Defenseman Tyler Myers will miss the team’s final two regular-season matches with what Ruff termed a “bad foot.”


Philadelphia Flyers (46-25-9): Claude Giroux has been on quite the roll. Giroux notched three assists in Philadelphia’s 5-3 loss to the Atlantic Division rival New York Rangers on Tuesday. He has collected 10 points – including a five-assist effort in a 7-2 triumph on Feb. 16 – in three victories over Buffalo and fellow All-Star Scott Hartnell has tallied in all three contests as well. The NHL’s First Star of the Week, Wayne Simmonds has recorded six goals in his last five contests – including two on Feb. 16.

OVERTIME:

1. Buffalo’s Ryan Miller wasn’t too impressed with Washington’s Brooks Laich making a guarantee that his club would make the playoffs. “I don’t think he’s Mark Messier,” Miller said, referring to the former Rangers captain famously saying that New York would defeat New Jersey in the 1994 Eastern Conference Finals. Messier netted a hat trick in Game 6 and the Rangers went on to win both the series and the Stanley Cup.

2. Ilya Bryzgalov struggled in his return from a chip fracture in his right foot, yielding five goals versus the Rangers. The Russian has been in net for all three Flyers victories over the Sabres this season.

PREDICTION: Sabres 3, Flyers 2 (SO). CLICK HERE for 500 Handicappers Package FOR 5$.

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Winnipeg Jets visit New York Islanders on Thursday: NHL Odds

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Winnipeg at NY Islanders Betting

When: 7:00 PM ET, Thursday, April 5, 2012
Where: Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Uniondale, New York

The Opening Line is : New York Islanders -125 Click here to Bet at Bovada

PREVIEW: The New York Islanders will close out their home schedule on Thursday by welcoming the Winnipeg Jets. Both teams will miss the 2012 playoffs. This is the fourth and final meeting between the clubs with the Islanders holding a 3-1 series lead. The Jets‘ lone win came in November, when they shutout the Islanders 3-0 in New York. PA Parenteau leads the Islanders with two goals and an assist in the three games.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, TSN-Jets, MSG Plus 2

Winnipeg Jets (37-34-9): Despite barely missing out on the playoffs, Winnipeg’s inaugural season has to be considered a success. A trip to the NHL’s second season would have been nice, but the Jets have a plan in place that should see them there in the near future. “The long-term success is what we’re about,” said Mark Chipman, Chairman of True North Sports and Entertainment. “It’s to be a team that is a perennial playoff team. A team that is going to have a .600 winning percentage, or better and be consistently in the playoffs. And then, given the right circumstances to go deep into the playoffs and eventually contend for a championship.”

New York Islanders (33-36-11): The Islanders will close out their season on Saturday in Columbus. Sunday marks the beginning of another long off-season – a fifth straight without playoff action. But not all is doom and gloom on Long Island – thanks to a strong nucleus of players that is highlighted by John Tavares. Tavares recorded his 200th NHL point Tuesday in New Jersey, making him the second-fastest to the mark in Islander history behind Bryan Trottier. “He’s one of the elite players in the league,” said coach Jack Capuano. “He takes a lot of pride in his game and it’s important to him to play hard in very single game we play.”

OVERTIME:

1. Parenteau has scored both game-winning goals for the Islanders in their two wins versus the Jets.

2. Captain Mark Streit recorded his 150th point as an Islander on Tuesday with an assist.

PREDICTION: Jets 5, Islanders 3. CLICK HERE for 500 Handicappers Package FOR 5$.

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Florida Panthers against Washington Capitals on Thursday: NHL Predictions

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Florida at Washington Betting

When: 7:00 PM ET, Thursday, April 5, 2012
Where: Verizon Center, Washington, District Of Columbia

The Opening Line is : Washington Capitals -145 Click here to Bet at Bovada

PREVIEW: The Florida Panthers attempt to clinch the first division title in franchise history when they visit the Washington Capitals on Thursday. Florida, which hasn’t made the playoffs since 1999-2000, needs one point over its final two games to secure the Southeast. However, the Panthers have lost four straight overall and three in a row on the road. The Capitals, who are seeking their fifth consecutive division crown, are four points behind Florida. They also are tied for eighth in the Eastern Conference with Buffalo.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, FSN (Florida), CSN Maryland (Washington), NHL Network

Florida Panthers (37-25-18): Florida has lost four straight visits to Washington and 12 of 17 overall against the Capitals. The Panthers get a break Thursday as they will not be facing Tomas Vokoun, who allowed a total of one goal in going 3-0-0 against his former team this season. Vokoun is out with a groin injury. “Maybe that’ll give us some positive thoughts going in,” Stephen Weiss said. Florida has lost seven of its last eight games but earned a point in five of the losses (1-2-5).

Washington Capitals (40-32-8): Thursday is Washington’s regular-season home finale. It has posted a 25-11-4 record in its own building, including a 4-1-2 run over its last seven home contests. The club has earned at least one point in six of its last eight overall (4-2-2). The Capitals control their own fate as victories in their final two games clinch at least eighth place in the East. “Even with the ups and downs and all that, and the inconsistency we’ve had here, with two games to go we’re still in control,” Mike Knuble said. “All we’ve got to do is win.” A victory Thursday and a regulation loss in Philadelphia by Buffalo sends Washington to the postseason.

OVERTIME:

1. Neither club has done well against divisional opponents as Washington has lost six of seven and Florida has dropped six of eight.

2. The Panthers were shut out in each of their first two games at the Verizon Center this campaign.

3. The home team has won eight of the last 10 meetings.

PREDICTION: Panthers 3, Capitals 2. CLICK HERE for 500 Handicappers Package FOR 5$.

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NHL Betting Lines: New York Rangers visit Pittsburgh Penguins

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NY Rangers at Pittsburgh Betting

When: 7:00 PM ET, Thursday, April 5, 2012
Where: Consol Energy Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

The Opening Line is : Pittsburgh Penguins -170 Click here to Bet at Bovada

PREVIEW: The Pittsburgh Penguins have guaranteed themselves a spot in the postseason. One more win and they’ll be assured of home ice for at least the first round of the playoffs. The Penguins will eye that win and a fourth consecutive triumph over the New York Rangers when the Atlantic Division rivals meet Thursday night. The Rangers, owners of the East’s top seed, can also claim the Presidents’ Trophy by winning their final two games.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, MSG, FOX Pittsburgh, NBCSN

New York Rangers (51-22-7): New York clinched the conference crown with a 5-3 win over Philadelphia on Tuesday. It is the first time the Rangers own the No. 1 seed at season’s end since winning the Stanley Cup in 1993-94. “To win the division and the conference is definitely good, and it shows that all year long we have been consistent,” winger Marian Gaborik said. “We don’t want to let up. We want to tune up for the playoffs.”


Pittsburgh Penguins (49-25-6): The Flyers’ loss, combined with Pittsburgh’s 5-3 win over Boston, has the Penguins three points clear of Philadelphia in the race for home ice with two games to play. Sidney Crosby continued his recent tear since returning from lingering concussion symptoms, finishing with two goals and an assist against the Bruins on Tuesday. The former Hart Trophy winner, limited to just 20 games to date, has three goals and six assists in his past three outings.

OVERTIME:

1. Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin has a league-best 105 points and is all but assured the NHL scoring title. He has four goals and an assist in his last three games against the Rangers.

2. Gaborik is working on a six-game point streak (six goals, four assists).

3. New York is 21-3-2 when leading after the first period.

PREDICTION: Rangers 4, Penguins 3 (SO). CLICK HERE for 500 Handicappers Package FOR 5$.

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NHL Online Betting: Montreal Canadiens @ Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday

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Montreal vs Carolina Betting

When: 7:00 PM ET, Thursday, April 5, 2012
Where: PNC Arena, Raleigh, North Carolina

The Opening Line is : Carolina Hurricanes -170 Click here to Bet at Bovada

PREVIEW: The Montreal Canadiens look to win back-to-back games for the first time in almost four weeks when they travel to Carolina on Thursday. The Canadiens snapped a four-game losing skid with a 5-2 victory over Tampa on Wednesday and have taken two of the previous three meetings with the Hurricanes this campaign. Montreal is dead last in the East with 75 points and Carolina sits 12th in the conference with 80 points.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, RDS, TSN (Montreal), FSN (Carolina)

Montreal Canadiens (30-35-15): Former Montreal team captain Vincent Damphousse withdrew his name from consideration for the team’s vacant general manager’s job Wednesday. “The job of general manager of the Canadiens would be an extremely stimulating challenge,” Damphousse said. “But right now my priority is my family.” In two local newspaper polls this week, Damphousse came second to Quebec Remparts coach and general manager Patrick Roy as the readers’ choice to replace Pierre Gauthier, who was fired last week.


Carolina Hurricanes (32-32-16): The Hurricanes reassigned forward Drayson Bowman to the Charlotte Checkers of the AHL on Wednesday. The 23-year-old has six goals and seven assists in 37 games for Carolina this season and figures to be a big part of the team’s offense in the future. Hurricanes coach Kirk Muller spent five seasons in Montreal as an assistant coach that specialized in special teams. The Canadiens’ power play ranked first in the league twice and never finished lower than 13th during Muller’s tenure with the club. This season Montreal’s power play ranks a dismal 28th.

OVERTIME:

1. Canadiens forward Erik Cole celebrated his 700th NHL game by netting two goals against the Lightning on Wednesday. He has seven goals in his last six contests.

2. The Hurricanes are 8-0-2 in their last 10 games against Northeast Division foes.

3. Montreal finishes its season at home against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday and Carolina plays its season finale in Florida against the Panthers later the same evening.

PREDICTION: Hurricanes 4, Canadiens 2. CLICK HERE for 500 Handicappers Package FOR 5$.

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Boston Bruins visit Ottawa Senators on Thursday: NHL Betting

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Boston at Ottawa Betting

When: 7:30 PM ET, Thursday, April 5, 2012
Where: Scotiabank Place, Ottawa, Ontario

The Opening Line is : —- Click here to Bet at Bovada

PREVIEW: The Boston Bruins visit the Ottawa Senators on Thursday in what likely is a preview of an Eastern Conference quarterfinal series. Boston, which will be the second seed, has won four straight away from home and 13 of its last 16 trips to Ottawa. The Senators need one point to clinch seventh in the East. Ottawa has won four of five overall but has lost three of four at home.

TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, NESN (Boston), Rogers Sportsnet East (Ottawa)

Boston Bruins (47-29-4): The Northeast Division champions are 5-1-1 in their last seven games overall and have won 22 of the last 28 meetings with the Senators. Defenseman Johnny Boychuk left Tuesday’s loss to Pittsburgh with a leg injury and is questionable. “He got hit on the side of the leg,” coach Claude Julien said. “We are still confident that it will hopefully not be as bad as it looked.” Tim Thomas will get another night off as he did not travel with the team to Ottawa. Anton Khudobin could make his Bruins debut in net. The 25-year old has made four starts in the NHL, all with Minnesota.


Ottawa Senators (41-29-10): Ottawa will be playing its regular-season home finale. It is 20-16-4 at Scotiabank Place. The Senators won their last meeting with the Bruins on Feb. 28, ending an eight-game losing streak in the all-time series. Jason Spezza needs one goal over his final two games to match his career high. Spezza scored 34 goals in back-to-back seasons from 2006-08. Coach Paul MacLean was blunt when explaining Tuesday’s loss to Carolina that ended Ottawa’s four-game winning streak. “They obviously were more competitive than we were,” he said. “I think we got what we deserved.”

OVERTIME:

1. The Bruins have won 21 of their last 27 divisional games while the Senators have lost four of five.

2. The road team has captured 11 of the last 15 matches in the all-time series.

PREDICTION: Senators 4, Bruins 2. CLICK HERE for 500 Handicappers Package FOR 5$.

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2012 Masters preview: Phil Mickelson

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While all the attention is focused on and this week, has three green jackets of his own and was the last American winner of this event in 2010. Lefty was a disappointing 27th last year in trying to defend his title.

Mickelson, 41, will be inducted into the the World Golf Hall of Fame in May, but Lefty’s passion still burns white-hot. A victory would be his fourth in , tying him with Woods and Arnold Palmer. This week marks Mickelson’s 20th appearance at Augusta National.

When asked what it would mean to him to win, Mickelson responded, “A lot.”

Lefty has already won this year on Tour and enters off a tie for fourth at last week’s Shell Houston Open – a tournament he won last year heading into Augusta.

“I just know that I’m doing everything I can to get my game to perform the absolute best this week,” Mickelson said. “I think because everybody is sharp, I think the scores are going to be low, and I’ve got to be sharp from day one, from shot one, to be able to compete and be in it for Sunday.”

Mickelson collected the 40th PGA Tour victory of his career at the 2012 ATT Pebble Beach National Pro-Am. Rode a bogey-free final round of 8-under 64 to erase a six-shot deficit at the start of the day. Now ranks ninth all-time in PGA Tour victories. Finished a career-best T2 at the 2011 British Open. Won his third Masters in 2010, becoming the eighth player in Tournament history to do so. Holed an 18-foot birdie putt on the 72nd hole of the 2004 Masters to win his first career major title. Has nine top-10 finishes at the Masters since 2001. Won the 2005 PGA Championship at Baltusrol.

Age: 41.

Country: United States.

World ranking: 15.

Wins: 42.

Majors: Masters (2004, 2006, 2010), PGA Championship (2005).

WagerWeb.com odds to win Masters: +850

Best Masters moment: The 18-foot birdie putt on the final hole to win his first major in 2004.

Worst Masters moment: The vertical leap to celebrate first major that was estimated at no more than 13 inches.

Overview: Even though Mickelson has one less Masters title, he now rivals Tiger as a perennial favorite. It doesn’t matter what form he’s on, and Mickelson at least has that win at Pebble Beach this year. He doesn’t feel as though he has to play perfectly. But he does have to make putts. Oddly enough, he has never been the runner-up.

MASTERS PLAYER RECORD

Scoring Avg: 71.03

Low Round: 65

High Round: 77

Rounds Under Par: 42

Year    Place    Score   Round                                                 Money

1          2          3          4

2011    27        -1         70        72        71        74        $ 54,400

2010    1          -16       67        71        67        67        $ 1,350,000

2009    5          -9         73        68        71        67        $ 300,000

2008    5          -2         71        68        75        72        $ 273,750

2007    24        +11      76        73        73        77        $ 63,800

2006    1          -7         70        72        70        69        $ 1,260,000

2005    10        -3         70        72        69        74        $ 189,000

2004    1          -9         72        69        69        69        $ 1,170,000

2003    3          -5         73        70        72        68        $ 408,000

2002    3          -8         69        72        68        71        $ 380,800

2001    3          -13       67        69        69        70        $ 380,800

2000    7          -2         71        68        76        71        $ 143,367

1999    6          -3         74        69        71        71        $ 125,200

1998    12        -2         74        69        69        74        $ 64,800

1997    47        +6        76        74                                $ 5,000

1996    3          -6         65        73        72        72        $ 170,000

1995    7          -8         66        71        70        73        $ 70,950

1993    34        +3        72        71        75        73        $ 8,975

1991    47        +2        69        73        74        74        $ 0

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2012 Masters preview: Steve Stricker

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doesn’t look 45, but he readily owns up to his age. When Jack Nicklaus won Tournament 26 years ago, he became the oldest green jacket winner at 46. Stricker, who’s in the prime of his career, is trying to become the second-oldest Masters champion. Stricker is looking for his first major win overall.

Stricker, who’s eighth on the PGA Tour career money list with more than $33 million, said he feels good about his game. And with a pair of top-15 finishes in two of the past three Masters (tie for sixth in 2009, tie for 11th last year), he said he’s getting more comfortable in Augusta.

He finished in the top 20 in each of the four majors last year. At the Masters, he posted 22 birdies – his most in Augusta – but he couldn’t limit his mistakes. He made four bogeys in each of his first three rounds and five in the final round.

Stricker started the 2012 season by winning the Hyundai Tournament of Champions. Won multiple PGA Tour titles in each season from 2009-2011, the only player on Tour to accomplish that feat. Had top-25 finishes in all four majors in 2011. Finished T11 at the 2011 Masters. Now has 12 PGA Tour victories, eight since 2009. Member of four Presidents Cup teams and two Ryder Cup teams. Ranked 6th in the final 2011 Official World Golf Ranking.

Age: 45.

Country: United States.

World ranking: 5.

Wins: 12.

Majors: None.

WagerWeb.com odds to win Masters: +4000

Best Masters moment: Still waiting for one.

Worst Masters moment: Shooting an 80 in his Masters debut in 1996.

Overview: His putting stroke is so good that even asks him for advice. Won the season opener at Kapalua and has played well in his limited schedule. But he has only five rounds in the 60s at the Masters. Still part of the “Best without a major” conversation.

MASTERS PLAYER RECORD

Scoring Avg: 73.00

Low Round: 66

High Round: 80

Rounds Under Par: 13

Year    Place    Score   Round                                                 Money

1          2          3          4

2011    11        -5         72        70        71        70        $ 176,000

2010    30        +3        73        73        74        71        $ 45,563

2009    6          -8         72        69        68        71        $ 242,813

2008    63        +6        73        77                                $ 10,000

2007    77        +12      77        79                                $ 10,000

2002    69        +7        75        76                                $ 5,000

2001    10        -8         66        71        72        71        $ 128,800

2000    19        +3        70        73        75        73        $ 53,820

1999    38        +7        75        72        69        79        $ 17,200

1997    70        +12      77        79                                $ 5,000

1996    56        +5        80        69                                $ 1,500

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2012 Masters preview: Charl Schwartzel

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didn’t realize he closed the 2011 Masters Tournament with four consecutive birdies to win – no player had ever done that before at Augusta.

He had bigger things on his mind.

“When that putt disappeared on 18, honestly the last thing that went through my mind is that I made my fourth straight birdie,” he said. “It was, I just won the green jacket.”

Previously, the best any champion had done was birdie the final two holes in the final round. The furious finish gave Schwartzel 6-under-par 66 – the lowest final round by a winner since Nick Faldo’s 65 in 1989. Schwartzel finished at 14-under 274 for a two-shot victory over Australians (67 in the final round) and Masters rookie Jason Day (68).

The defending Masters champion returned to Augusta National Golf Club not as one of this year’s favorites. Instead, all eyes are on players like , , and .

Nicklaus, Faldo, Woods. They are the only men to defend championship. But how Schwartzel won in a way that never was done before, he should be considered to have a legitimate chance of accomplishing what only those three men named earlier have done.

Schwartzel became the third South African to win, joining Gary Player and Trevor Immelman. Schwartzel also finished T9 at the 2011 US Open, and had 10 top-25 finishes in 15 starts.

Age: 27.

Country: South Africa.

World ranking: 7.

Wins: 8.

Majors: Masters (2011).

WagerWeb.com odds to win Masters: +4000

Best Masters moment: Becoming the first player to finish with four birdies to win the Masters.

Worst Masters moment: Learning that Augusta National won’t let him do the cooking at the Champions Dinner.

Overview: He has not won since the Masters last year, though Schwartzel returns to Augusta National on good form with close calls at the Honda Classic and at Doral. He is trying to join Jack Nicklaus (1965-66), Nick Faldo (1989-90) and Tiger Woods (2001-02) as the only players to win back-to-back at the Masters.

MASTERS PLAYER RECORD

Scoring Avg: 70.63

Low Round: 66

High Round: 76

Rounds Under Par: 5

Year    Place    Score   Round                                                 Money

1          2          3          4

2011    1          -14       69        71        68        66        $ 1,440,000

2010    30        +3        69        76        72        74        $ 45,563

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2012 Masters preview: Luke Donald

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If you believe world No. 1 , he might well be the best player in history to never have won a major. And he might be right. Donald was asked who’s currently the best golfer yet to win a major. He reeled off , and Sergio Garcia, and he also mentioned himself.

“Obviously, my name would be in that that,” Donald said. “It’s a tough question to answer.”

Making his eighth Masters appearance, Donald planned to avoid last year’s dilemma. He almost became the first player to win the Par-3 Contest and Masters Tournament in the same year. The Par-3 jinx remained alive, though, when Donald fell just short of winning the green jacket, finishing tied for fourth.

Donald briefly lost his status as the world’s No. 1 player after won the Honda Classic last month. Donald returned to No. 1 two weeks later after winning the Transitions Championship outside Tampa, Fla.

Donald earned his second career top-five finish at in 2011. Picked up two PGA Tour victories in 2011, and now has four for his career. Highlight was winning the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship. Also won the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Classic. Named the 2011 PGA Tour Player of the Year.

Age: 34.

Country: England.

World ranking: 1.

Wins: 10.

Majors: None.

WagerWeb.com odds to win Masters: +1000

Best Masters moment: Chipping in for birdie on the final hole last year, and the rare display of emotion that followed.

Worst Masters moment: Hitting 8-iron into water on the 12th hole when he was tied for the lead last year.

Overview: What he lacks in power off the tee (though he’s long enough), he makes up for with his chipping and putting. Efficiency can go a long way at Augusta National. It has been 10 years since the No. 1 player in the world ranking won the Masters.

MASTERS PLAYER RECORD

Scoring Avg: 72.42

Low Round: 68

High Round: 77

Rounds Under Par: 7

Year    Place    Score   Round                                                 Money

1          2          3          4

2011    4          -10       72        68        69        69        $ 330,667

2010    54        +5        74        75                                $ 10,000

2009    38        +1        73        71        72        73        $ 33,000

2008    46        +4        73        75                                $ 10,000

2007    10        +7        73        74        75        73        $ 181,250

2006    42        +8        74        72        76        74        $ 25,900

2005    3          -5         68        77        69        69        $ 406,000

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