As each hockey betting series progresses, storylines—bad blood, controversial calls and unsung heroes—get deeper and deeper. Let’s breakdown what’s happening in the Wild West for tonight’s NHL odds.

Canucks vs Blackhawks odds – Tonight at 8:00 p.m. ET
NHL odds: Canucks +135, Blackhawks -155

The Canucks can afford a loss in this hockey betting series after stealing Game 3 on the road, but the Blackhawks really have to win tonight to make this a series. If they don’t, they’ll face the daunting task of winning not just three straight, but two in Vancouver. The Canucks are a tempting sportsbook pick as the underdog but, as it showed against the Flames after consecutive losses, this Blackhawks team is resilient. Coach Joel Quenneville knows what his team needs to do to even the series tonight: score first. The Canucks have jumped to leads of two or more goals in all three games so far in the Blackhawks vs Canucks odds. With roughly 22,000 hungry fans rocking at the United Center tonight, the Hawks will have plenty of inspiration to come out skating and hitting harder than ever. Expect them to rely on their depth and speed to overcome the Canucks tonight.

Hockey betting pick: Blackhawks -155

Red Wings vs Ducks odds – Tonight at 10:30 p.m. ET
NHL odds: Red Wings -150, Ducks +130

What’s done is done. The referees botched a call bigtime in Game 3, blowing the whistle on a lose puck before Marian Hossa banged it in for a goal, but that happens in sports and the Ducks got the win. However, even if the Wings can’t fight the call, that doesn’t mean they can’t have their revenge. There’s just no way the defending Stanley Cup odds champions will go quietly. They’ll be swift-skating and angry tonight, so don’t be surprised if Jonas Hiller gets overwhelmed in goal for the first time in these playoffs. Bet on the Wings odds to even things up.

Hockey betting pick: Red Wings -150

Traditionally, bookmakers controlled betting systems locally. The bookmakers would set out the betting odds and the prices for players to wager on. However, the birth of the Internet has enabled changes to betting systems that blows the bookmakers right out of the water.

A betting exchange is a betting system that is an innovation of the Internet. The player now has control over the odds, which are chosen by them instead of by a bookmaker. Conditions are more favourable to players as they compete amongst themselves rather than against the bookie.

Betting exchanges are used in some betting sites that offer players a chance to wager on horse races. Players’ place bet prices not only on winning horses, but also on losing horses. For example, one person might wager that a particular horse will win a race, but another person might think that the same horse will lose. If the player who thinks the horse will lose likes the betting odds that the former set out, and then wagers in favour of the horse losing, a bet is matched.

Players Are In Control

As previously stated, betting exchanges offer a revolutionary change to betting systems where the players are in control of the odds and wager prices. This new betting system has turned previous systems upside-down.

Players Bet Against Each Other

Betting exchanges function on an offer and counter-offer system of betting where players will offer their own odds and bet prices, and then other players will come to count-offer these odds. Once both sides reach an agreement regarding the odds and the prices, then the bet is matched. One of the highlights of betting exchanges is that no matter what the outcome of the race is, the player always wins.

Players Always Win

It may seem hard to believe, but the player always wins when betting with this system. However, closer observation of the foundation of betting exchanges makes it obvious why the player always wins. Betting exchanges offers players a chance to control the odds, and shrewd players will be able to predict the kinds of odds that will be in their favour.

As can be imagined, betting exchanges can be very attractive to all kinds of players, from players who are just looking to wager a couple of dollars, to players who want to wager thousands of dollars.

Another interesting aspect of betting exchanges is that players can place their bets in the middle of any race. This feature makes betting systems a battleground of intense, high-energy action where players need excellent analysis skills that must be employed in real time if they want to come out on top of their competition. Betting tips for players interested in fine-tuning their skills, or who are just starting out starting out on betting exchanges, are available on the Internet.

Robbed of a chance to win Game 3, Sportsbook.com oddsmakers expect the Detroit Red Wings to head home with their Western Conference Semifinal tied 2-2.

Detroit currently trails the Anaheim Ducks 2-1 but they’re listed as the -150 favorite for Thursday’s Game 4 in Anaheim.

Sportsbook.com bettors are not only backing the Red Wings to the tune of 53% on the Money Line, they’re also putting 75% of the Puck Line bets on the defending champs, according to early Betting Trends numbers.

“The Red Wings are a resilient team and it’s hard to believe Anaheim will be able to grab a 3-1 series lead,” said Sportsbook.com spokesman, Dave Staley. “Detroit is going to bring pressure all game after feeling like they were robbed in the final minute of Game 3.”

Trailing 2-1 with the clock winding down on Tuesday night, Detroit thought they had tied the game when Marion Hossa put the puck in the net with just over a minute to play. The goal, however, was quickly waved off by referee Brad Watson as he had lost sight of the puck and was in the process of blowing the play dead.

While the puck went in the net before the whistle actually blew, the goal was disallowed as the referee intended to blow the whistle before the puck crossed the goal line.

Now, Detroit must find a way to get more pucks past Anaheim goaltender Jonas Hiller or they’ll return home with their backs to the wall.

Hiller, with an amazing .955 save percentage, has been outstanding through the first two rounds of the playoffs and stopped 45 of 46 Detroit shots in Game 3, including all 18 shots fired his way in the third period. He stopped 59 of 62 shots in Game 2.

“It was obvious that Hiller was in the heads of the San Jose players in the first rounds and it could be happening to the Red Wings now too,” said Staley. “Obviously bettors think he’s bound to break down at some point.”

The other interesting aspect for Game 4 is how heated the game is following the fireworks that ensued when the buzzer went to end Game 3. All players on the ice mixed it up and the bad blood between these teams is evident.

Who will win Game 4? Bet on all the NHL Playoff action right now at Sportsbook.com.

The chances of Brett Favre returning for a 19^th NFL season increased with his release from the New York Jets last week and now you can bet on whether the aging quarterback will play in 2009.

Sportsbook.com has released odds on whether Favre will sign a contract with a team, with both Yes and No currently listed at -125 odds. This is in addition to a complete list of Week 1 lines that are accompanied with Super Bowl, Conference and Division Winner Futures Odds.

The 39-year-old Favre has stolen the media spotlight the past two offseasons as fans wondered whether the legendary quarterback would retire or not.

Now, the football world waits and wonders again as the Minnesota Vikings are expected to lead the chase to talk Favre out of retirement for a second-straight year.

“We’ve already getting increased action on Minnesota to win the Super Bowl next year so it seems like the betting world thinks this will go down,” said Sportsbook.com spokesman, Dave Staley.  “We know that’s where he wanted to play last year and now he can pick his team.

“It wouldn’t be an NFL offseason without more drama from the league’s Queen,” Staley added. “For some reason, people can’t seem to get enough of the Brett Favre saga. We thought it was over but it appears it might only be beginning again.”

Favre, who retired after the 2008 season, decided he wanted to play again just days before training camp was set to open. However, the Green Bay Packers were ready to move on after enduring the same saga the previous year.

Wanting to be dealt to division rival Minnesota, Favre eventually found himself in New York.

This offseason, he had reportedly been hounding the Jets for his release and last week he got it. Almost instantly the rumors started swirling that he’d finally get to play for Minnesota.

Minnesota, a Super Bowl-ready team lacking a starting quarterback, is where Favre would like to play. The always-competitive quarterback is still upset at how the team treated him last season and would like nothing better than to play them twice this season.

Both Favre and the Vikings have refused to say anything with the exception of the always suspicious “No Comment.”

Bet Now at Sportsbook.com on whether Brett Favre will return for the 2009 Season.

Even with the divisional rival Chicago Bears adding quarterback Jay Cutler, the Minnesota Vikings remain the favorite to win the NFC North. The Vikings are listed as the +150 favorite to win the division title right now at Sportsbook.com, while the Bears and Green Bay Packers are listed at +180 odds.

After an 0-16 season last year, the Detroit Lions are a +1800 long shot to capture the title. Football bettors can place their Futures Wagers right now at Sportsbook.com. Early betting is the best way to get top value on your futures and with the 2010 Super Bowl Champion, Conference Champions, Week 1 lines and odds for every division; this is the perfect time to start betting on the next NFL Season.

You can also wager on whether Brett Favre will sign a contract to play in the NFL this season. Favre has been linked to the Vikings since he was released by the New York Jets last week.

NFC Division Odds:

NFC North
Minnesota Vikings +150
Chicago Bears +180
Green Bay Packers +180
Detroit Lions +1800

NFC East
New York Giants +150
Philadelphia Eagles +180
Dallas Cowboys +225
Washington Redskins +800

NFC South
New Orleans Saints +180
Tampa Bay Buccaneers +180
Carolina Panthers +250
Atlanta Falcons +500

NFC West
Arizona Cardinals +125
Seattle Seahawks +200
San Francisco 49ers +200
St. Louis Rams +800

It’s odd day for only one of six times this century, but it’s always odds day here. Today in the Daily Sports Roundup: Tiger Woods hits the links, LeBron James hits the hardwood, and the Ducks and Canucks look for playoff wins on the ice.

Tipping off on the hardwood  . . .

LeBron James and the Cavaliers will be looking to stomp the Hawks for the second straight time on Thursday night when those teams meet in the lone NBA game on the schedule. The Cavs cruised to a 99-72 home win in the series opener on Tuesday night, getting 34 points and 10 boards from James and 21 points from Mo Williams. Josh Smith had 22 points in the loss for the Hawks, who scored only 28 points in the second half. Mike Bibby had 19 points in the contest.

Sports headlines…

Dirk Nowitzki’s girlfriend Cristal Taylor was arrested at his home. What is crystal clear is that she has several outstanding warrants…Manny Ramirez was suspended 50 games for using performance enhancing drugs. The MLB odds still have the Dodgers as a favorite tonight, but some sportsbooks have the line dropping to -147…Reports say that Vikings head coach Ray Childress is meeting with Brett Favre in having Favre’s retirement again be short lived….GodsTips is 8-2 in the NBA including 5-0 with Wise Guys. Get tonight’s Hawks-Cavaliers side, plus Red Wings-Mighty Ducks side and total and three day baseball winners for $17. Click now to purchase…More have been charged in the Toledo point shaving scandal and gambling rights activists are hopeful Barney Frank will be success in his bid to overturn gambling. Who knows, maybe the Republicans will wake up and joint him. Follow every development in the betting news section.     

Elsewhere in the National League on Thursday it’ll be Atlanta at Florida, Pittsburgh at St. Louis, San Francisco at Colorado, Milwaukee at Cincinnati, the Cubs at Houston, Washington at the Dodgers, and Philadelphia at the Mets. New York probable starter Mike Pelfrey is perfect at 3-0 but has a 6.00 ERA this year.

Over in the American League on Thursday it’s Seattle at Kansas City, Texas at Oakland, Minnesota at Baltimore, Tampa Bay at the Yankees, Detroit at the White Sox, Toronto at the Angels, and Cleveland at Boston. Red Sox starter Tim Wakefield held the Indians scoreless on one hit over seven innings on April 27.

Taking a trip around the rink . . .

Up 2-1 in their best-of-seven second-round series, the Ducks will be at home again on Thursday night to play host to the Red Wings. Anaheim edged Detroit 2-1 in Game 3 on Tuesday, getting goals from Scott Niedermayer and Teemu Selanne in the victory. Jonas Hiller was solid between the pipes again for the Ducks, stopping 45 of 46 Red Wings shots. Henrik Zetterberg had the lone Detroit tally in the defeat, while Chris Osgood gave up two goals on just 23 shots.

The Canucks also hold a 2-1 series lead as they stay on the road on Thursday night for Game 4 of their set with the Blackhawks. Vancouver rolled to a 3-1 win in Game 3 on Tuesday night, with Mason Raymond, Steve Bernier, and Henrik Sedin providing the markers. Roberto Luongo made 23 saves for Vancouver in the win, while Chicago counterpart Nikolai Khabibulin stopped 18 of the 21 shots directed his way. Brian Campbell had the lone Hawks goal in the second period.

Rounding out the Roundup . . .

Tiger Woods is the 2/1 Vegas favorite to win this week’s PGA Tour stop, The PLAYERS Championship at TPC at Sawgrass. Woods, though, hasn’t won this event since 2001. Defending champion Sergio Garcia is farther down the odds list this week at 25/1, while 2007 winner Phil Mickelson is nestled right behind Woods at 8/1. Sean O’Hair, who held off Woods and company to win the Quail Hollow Championship last weekend, is third on the odds chart this week at 8/1. Padraig Harrington and Geoff Ogilvy are both holding down 20/1 odds to grab The PLAYERS Championship win, with Jim Furyk and Kenny Perry both at 25/1.