$4.20 with UBETAll spring punters have been sucked in by

Training camps are opening around the NHL with a little more elbow room than usual.Thanks to the World Cup of Hockey, more than 150 players and almost half the leagues head coaches werent on the ice with their NHL teams at the start of camp this week. The Chicago Blackhawks are barely recognizable without Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane, Corey Crawford, Marian Hossa and coach Joel Quenneville. The Washington Capitals dont have Alex Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom or coach Barry Trotz and the Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins are without Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin.Really weird, Capitals defenseman Karl Alzner said Friday. I was looking out on the ice and something doesnt seem right. Were obviously light on numbers, so thats kind of strange. Youre used to having just swarms of guys everywhere and it just doesnt feel that way this year.This is the first time since 2004 that the NHL has held a preseason tournament, and that event happened on the eve of the lockout that canceled the entire season. Camps were already opening later than usual because of the World Cup, and the first preseason games begin Sunday when the Columbus Blue Jackets and St. Louis Blues have split-squad games in those cities. The real games begin Oct. 12.There isnt much time to get everyone on the same page. Perhaps thats why Penguins coach Mike Sullivan and Edmonton Oilers coach Todd McLellan raced back to be on the ice Friday.This is my responsibility to run this team and I love to do it, said Sullivan, who was an assistant for the U.S. team. Im excited to be a part of it. I didnt want to take any time off.Many World Cup players are being afforded a bit of time off before reporting to work. Washington general manager Brian MacLellan expects U.S. players T.J. Oshie, John Carlson and Matt Niskanen on the ice Monday.The 82-game season is a long enough grind that guys arent rushing back if they dont have to.I know a lot of the guys, at least the American guys, have talked about taking a few days off then going their teams, Kane said Thursday. Ill go back to Chicago and see whats in store and talk to (GM Stan Bowman) and Joel and kind of get a feel for what they want me to do, whats best for me.Players from whichever teams lose in the World Cup semifinals this weekend wont be far behind. In the meantime, their absences open the door for others.Its good for guys who typically wouldnt get a look in camp to show the coaches and scouts and staff what they can do for the future if something happens, San Jose Sharks defenseman Paul Martin said. For the most part, the guys that are gone are guys who can step right back in and be the players that they are for this team. Theres not anything that well be lacking as far as chemistry. It just gives other guys a chance to step up and see what theyve got.The same can be said for coaches. Torontos Mike Babcock was able to check in on the Maple Leafs when they reported for physicals Thursday and is in touch with assistant Jim Hiller every day, just like Capitals associate coach Todd Reirden is with Trotz, a Babcock assistant with Team Canada.Reirden was a finalist for Calgarys coaching vacancy, so running camp in Trotzs absence is more on-the-job training for a head gig.Todds done a great job, MacLellan said. Hes a good communicator. Hes at the point in his career that hes ready to take on more responsibility and hes getting interviewed for head-coaching jobs.However strange these first few days of camp are as coaches and players trickle in, Babcock doesnt think there are any disadvantages to this different year.When the guys are no longer in the tournament theyll take some days off and rejoin the guys, he said. I just think its a win-win situation for (everyone). Anyone that can be involved in the World Cup should be involved in the World Cup because your growth individually and for your team is positive. And then, you know a few days of those veterans in training camp without me, they probably cherish it.---AP Sports Writers Will Graves in Pittsburgh and Josh Dubow in San Jose, California, contributed to this report.---Follow Stephen Whyno on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/SWhyno . Custom Seattle Mariners Jerseys . Ancelotti says Ronaldo has recovered from a hamstring injury but "but he doesnt feel comfortable yet so we wont risk him." Madrid is third in the Spanish league, six points behind leader Barcelona, going into Saturdays game against Valladolid. Custom Colorado Rockies Jerseys .5 million, one-year contract on Friday. Hawkins, who turns 41 in December, will compete with Rex Brothers for the closers role at spring training. http://www.customjerseysbaseball.com/ . -- Jaye Marie Green shot a 4-under 68 on Thursday to increase her lead to five strokes after the second round of the LPGA Tours qualifying tournament. Custom Pittsburgh Pirates Jerseys . Anthony Calvillo, through 20 CFL seasons, was frequently invincible and largely stoic in the heat of competition. But underneath the professional exterior he was, and is, compellingly human. Discount Custom Baseball Jerseys . As he recorded his 23rd and 24th points of the evening, a segment of the sellout Air Canada Centre crowd expressed their appreciation for the Raptors point guard with a smattering of MVP chants. Zipping Classic An intriguing renewal of this event, with five members of the Melbourne Cup beaten brigade and the Victoria Derby fourth, So Si Bon, the leading contenders. The key to this race is the fact it is run at weight-for-age. Proven form under such conditions is important, and the two with runs on the board are Who Shot Thebarman and Big Orange.Who Shot Thebarman was very good when a running-on fifth in the Cup; he ran equally well last year behind Prince Of Penzance before spacing his rivals in the Zipping Classic under an enterprising James McDonald ride. The field is tougher this time but Chris Wallers stayer is treading a known path to success.Big Orange will relish the step away from handicaps, meeting his Flemington rivals anywhere between 1kg and 5kg better off. He was plain in the big one, but he couldnt lead that day and is a live chance here if able to find his rhythm in front.Its interesting that Almoonqith contests this race and not the two-mile Sandown Cup, a race he won in 2015 and one he would go close to winning again had connections gone that way this year. He ran very well in both the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups and is a winning hope.The two Godolphin raiders, Beautiful Romance and Secret Number, have something to find on Flemington running, while So Si Bon was good in the Derby but that form hasnt been tested yet and three-year-olds havent done much this spring when tested in open company.Recommend Bet: Big Orange to win @ $5 with UBET, but play multiples with Who Shot Thebarman and Almoonqith.Sandown Guineas The Carbine Club on Derby day is usually the right form reference for this Group 2 race over 1600m, so its surprising that just one galloper to contest that race reappears at Sandown on Saturday. It looked to be a hot contest, and the runner-up at Flemington, Mortons Fork, can prove it was just that in a Sandown Guineas lacking in depth.?Mortons Fork was just touched off in the Carbine Club by Criterions half-brother Comin Through, who could well be one direct from the top drawer. ?Godolphin has a great record in the Sandown Guineas, having won it four times in the past eight years, and Mortons Fork is just the type to make it number five.?Standing in his way is the filly Jennifer Lynn, whose winning streak of three started in a Benchmark 64 at Coleraine before progressing to Listed company on Melbourne Cup day. She has something to find with the favourite, but is lightly raced and in-form Darren Weir runners must always be respected.Recommended Bet: Mortons Fork to win @ $2 with UBET, but go to town on an insurance quinella with Jennifer Lynn.Best Bet Sandown Race 6, No.1 Mortons Fork @ $2 with UBET For reasons stated above. Has been heavily backed, so the value looks to be gone, but hes been supported for a reason.Next Best Sandown Race 3, No.1 Qewy @ $2.20 with UBETHow Qewy isnt odds-on ranks alongside the Bermuda Triangle and Donald Trump becoming US President as one of lifes great mysteries. The Godolphin raider has been excellent since arriving in Australia, winning the Geelong Cup before running a game fourth in the Melbourne Cup. At Goodwood prior to coming ovver he finished well in front of Francis Of Assisi, last weeks 10-length winner of the Queen Elizabeth Stakes.dddddddddddd The Sandown Cup is a pretty poor race this year -- most, if not all, of Qewys rivals are either out of form or wont stay two miles, or both. Get on now. Will start odds-on. Will win.Next, Next Best Sandown Race 2, No.4 Redkirk Warrior @ $2.40 with UBET Zipping Classic day always comprises horses who have been up a while, so freshness in the legs is often a key to success. Former Hong Kong galloper Redkirk Warrior contests the second race with just one run this prep under his belt, an eye-catching second to Sir Bacchus three weeks ago at Moonee Valley. Boasted some very handy form in Hong Kong last year, and, if his first run in a year wasnt too taxing, he should be winning this under 54kg. There are question marks over the two Darren Weir runners at the top of the weights, so couple Redkirk Warrior with his stablemate, Sovereign Nation, if youre keen on exotics.Over the Odds Sandown Race 4, No.3 Husson Eagle @ $7 with UBETGet the feeling this one has been laid out by trainer Patrick Payne for a first-up crack at this 1000m scamper. Husson Eagle has won two from four resuming from a spell and looks pretty well treated just 2kg above the minimum for a galloper who has beaten Group 1-placed Wild Rain at level weights. Should get a nice run in transit from gate five and could prove too strong down the roomy Sandown straight. Looks a really nice each-way bet.Under the Odds Sandown Race 8, No.4 Illustrious Lad @ $4.40 with UBETIs in very good form, and seemingly went to a new level down the Flemington straight last time, but the Kevin Heffernan Stakes is a new challenge altogether. Illustrious Lad takes on Group 1 winners Lucky Hussler and Under The Louvre, both of whom plummet in class here, at weight-for-age, and has drawn the outside marble in a field of 11. The chances dont end with the top two, either.Illustrious Lad is going the right way, no doubt, but he looks too short in an event that will test him like he hasnt been tested before.Lay of the Day Sandown Race 7, No.8 So Si Bon @ $4.20 with UBETAll spring punters have been sucked in by three-year-olds off low weights, and they have learned at a cost that carrying a postage stamp isnt a rite of passage to success. So Si Bon has 50.5kg in the Zipping Classic because thats what the weight-for-age scale decrees spring three-year-olds should carry; the colt hasnt beaten the handicapper. At any rate, we dont yet know the merit of the Derby form, which the son of So You Think represents via his fourth placing. Although So Si Bon is good, hed need to be verging on exceptional to beat these seasoned stayers. And Im not sure he is.Multi of the Weekend Sandown Race 2, No.4 Redkirk Warrior - PLACE @ $1.47Sandown Race 3, No.1 Qewy - WIN @ $2.20Sandown Race 4, No.3 Husson Eagle - PLACE @ $2.50Sandown Race 6, No.1 Mortons Fork - WIN @ $2Sandown Race 8, No.1 Lucky Hussler - PLACE @ $1.83Multi price: $29.59 with UBET ' ' '