NHL-SCHEDULE
Hawks get a needed win
UNDATED (AP) — The Chicago Blackhawks gave their fading division title hopes a boost by rallying against the New Jersey Devils on Friday.
Marian Hossa (HOH’-sah) notched his seventh goal in four games while the Hawks scored three times in the third period of a 3-1 verdict over New Jersey. Hossa also had an assist on Jonathan Toews’ tiebreaking goal in the third as the Blackhawks improved to 1-2 on their eight-game homestand.
Chicago trailed 1-0 in the third before climbing back within eight points of the Central Division-leading Nashville Predators.
Also on ice:
— Joe Pavelski registered his fourth hat trick in 13 months and Barclay Goodrow provided the game-winner as San Jose doubled up Arizona 4-2. The Sharks had dropped three straight and trailed this one 2-0 in the second period before maintaining their one-point lead over Vancouver for second place in the Pacific Division.
— The Canucks were a 5-2 winner against Boston as Shawn Matthias (mah-TY’-uhs) posted his first career hat trick. Radim Vrbata’s (vur-BAH’-tahz) 21st goal was the game-winner as Vancouver picked up its second consecutive win while keeping the Bruins just four points ahead of Florida in the race for the final Eastern Conference playoff berth.
— Kari Lehtonen (KAH’-ree LEH’-toh-nehn) claimed his fourth shutout of the season by making 37 saves in the Dallas Stars’ 2-0 victory over Florida. Jamie Benn and Jason Spezza (SPET’-suh) scored first-period goals as the Stars picked up their third straight win to climb within three points of a Western Conference playoff berth. However, Stars leading scorer Tyler Seguin (SAY’-gihn) was helped off the ice after being checked in the lower leg by defenseman Dmitry Kulikov in the third period.
— The Philadelphia Flyers blew a 4-2 lead in the third period and lost 5-4 in overtime against the Blue Jackets in Columbus. Cam Atkinson knotted the game with 4:40 left in regulation before Artem Anisimov (ah-NEE’-see-mahv) ended it at 2:17 of OT.
TOP 25 MEN’S BASKETBALL
Wildcats rip Huskies
SEATTLE (AP) — Seventh-ranked Arizona has followed a stunning loss to Arizona State last weekend by pounding the Washington Huskies in Seattle.
Stanley Johnson scored 20 points and the Wildcats improved to 21-3 overall by hammering the Huskies 86-62. Rondae Hollis-Jefferson added 17 points, Gabe York scored 13 off the bench and T.J. McConnell orchestrated it all with 10 points and 10 assists.
Arizona also improved to 9-2 in the Pac 12.
NBA-ALL-STAR WEEKEND
Worlds beat Amerks in Rising Stars Challenge
NEW YORK (AP) — The World team earned a 121-112 win over the US squad in the Rising Stars Challenge at All-Star weekend in New York. Minnesota Timberwolves guard and Canadian-born Andrew Wiggins took MVP honors after scoring 22 points for the World team. Rudy Gorbert added 18 points, 12 rebounds and three blocks in the victory.
Orlando’s Victor Oladipo (oh-lah-DEE’poh) and Zach LaVine of the Wolves each scored 22 points for the U.S. team.
NFL-RICE VIDEO-FACEBOOK STATEMENT
Rice issues apology to Ravens fans
BALTIMORE (AP) — Ex-Ravens player Ray Rice has posted a statement apologizing to fans for a “horrible mistake” and asking for forgiveness.
In a statement released to The Baltimore Sun and posted on his Facebook page, the running back wrote that he was sorry for letting down the young fans who looked up to him.
The statement comes nearly a year after Rice was charged in New Jersey with assaulting then-fiancee Janay Palmer. On Sept. 8, a video surfaced showing Rice punching Palmer in an elevator.
The Ravens released the Rice after the video became public.
Rice says in his statement there is no excuse for domestic violence.
NFL-HARDY-CASE
NFL wants to see Hardy case files
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The NFL has filed a petition in North Carolina court to have the protective order lifted from Greg Hardy’s trial last summer.
The Panthers defensive end was convicted on two counts of domestic violence in July, but the case was dismissed Monday when he appealed. An NFL spokesman says the league is asking the courts to allow the league to inspect and copy all material from the original bench trial. That information is currently sealed, but the NFL is arguing the files should be made available since the case has been dismissed.
Hardy remains on the NFL commissioner’s exempt list.
MLB-AGREEMENTS
Chapman, Reds agree to 1-year, $8.5 million contract
UNDATED (AP) — Cincinnati Reds closer Aroldis (ah-ROHL’-dihs) Chapman has agreed to a one-year, $8.05 million contract, just before the scheduled start of his salary arbitration hearing.
The right-hander was 0-3 with a 2.00 ERA and 36 saves in 38 chances last year, his fifth season with the Reds. He struck out 106 in 54 innings and led the majors with an average of 17.67 strikeouts per nine innings. Chapman earned $5,025,000 last year.
The Kansas City Royals and closer Greg Holland agreed to a one-year, $8.25 million package before their arbitration hearing. The 29-year-old right-hander was 1-3 with 46 saves and a 1.44 ERA for the AL champions last season, striking out 90 and walking 20 in 62 1/.3 innings. He had seven more saves and a 0.82 ERA in the postseason.
In other major league news:
— The Miami Marlins have beaten pitcher David Phelps in salary arbitration. Phelps has been awarded $1.4 million rather than his request of $1,875,000. Phelps was 5-5 with a 3.82 ERA in 17 starts and 15 relief appearances for the New York Yankees last year.
— Toronto also has defeated third baseman Josh Donaldson, who asked for $5,725,000 and the Blue Jays offered $4.3 million. The 29-year-old Donaldson hit .255 with 29 home runs and 98 RBIs in 158 games last season for Oakland.
— Reliever Joe Thatcher has agreed to a minor league contract with the Houston Astros and will report to big league spring training. The 33-year-old left-hander was 2-1 with a 3.86 ERA in 53 games last season for Arizona and the Los Angeles Angels. Thatcher was sidelined for six weeks in August and September because of a sprained left ankle.
— Free agent outfielder Eric Young Jr. and the Atlanta Braves have reached agreement on a minor league deal. The 29-year-old Young led the National League with 46 stolen bases in 2013 for Colorado and the New York Mets. He stole 30 last year with the Mets while batting .229 in 100 games.
— There’s a dispute over the remains of Hall of Famer Ernie Banks. According to court records, his estranged wife, Elizabeth Banks, filed a petition to prevent the woman who describes herself in the documents as a longtime friend of Banks, his caretaker and the executor of Banks’ estate from having him cremated. The woman, Regina Rice, asserted her rights to dispose of Banks’ remains after his death last month at age 83.
— Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred has announced that the Miami Marlins will host the 2017 All-Star Game.
GOLF-PEBBLE BEACH
Snedeker and Jones in front
PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. (AP) — Brandt Snedeker (SNEH’-deh-kur) and Matt Jones are the leaders after the second round of the Pebble Beach National Pro-Am. They’re at 12 under par for their 36 holes. Justin Hicks is one shot back.
Jason Day had the best round of the day, a 9-under 63. That places him three off the lead.
CHAMPIONS TOUR-ACE GROUP CLASSIC
Monty starts strongly
NAPLES, Fla. (AP) — Colin Montgomerie’s 6-under 66 has him in the lead after the first round of the Champions Tour’s Ace Group Classic. The Scot finished up his bogey-free round with birdies on four of the last six holes for a one shot lead over Tommy Armour III. Defending champ Kirk Triplett and Lee Janzen are two shots back.
TENNIS-DUBAI CHAMPIONSHIPS-SERENA WITHDRAWS
Serena Williams withdraws from Dubai tournament with illness
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Top-ranked Serena Williams has withdrawn from the Dubai Tennis Championships because of the lingering effects of an upper respiratory illness sustained during the Australian Open last month.
Williams suffered from a bad cough in her last few matches en route to winning her 19th career Grand Slam title at the Australian Open.
Seventh-ranked Eugenie Bouchard of Canada also withdrew with an arm injury.
SKIING-LIGETY
American wins third straight giant slalom at worlds
BEAVER CREEK, Colo. (AP) — A remarkable final run slid Ted Ligety (LIHG’-eh-tee) right into the record books.
The American stormed back from a first-run deficit to become the only man to win three straight giant slalom titles at the world championships.
Behind Marcel Hirscher of Austria by 0.24 seconds after the morning run, Ligety found speed down the course and finished in an unofficial time of 2 minutes, 34.16 seconds.
FIGURE SKATING-FOUR CONTINENTS
Denis Ten wins Four Continents skating championship
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — Olympic bronze medalist Denis Ten won the men’s event Saturday at the Four Continents figure skating competition, landing most of his big jumps in a dominating performance.
The Kazakh skater, who started his routine with a quad toe loop and a quad toe loop-triple toe loop combination, finished with 289.46 points, well ahead of American Joshua Farris in second place. Farris, the 2013 world junior champion, rallied from fifth place after the short program for silver.
China’s Yan Han was third after the short program and finished with the bronze medal.
SOCCER-FRIENDLY
US women blank England 1-0
UNDATED (AP) — Alex Morgan scored in the 25th minute of her second start since returning from an ankle injury, leading the U.S. women to a 1-0 exhibition game win over England.
Morgan got her 50th goal in 79 international appearances. She’s the third-fastest American woman to reach the mark, behind Michelle Akers’ 49 games and Abby Wambach (WAHM’-bahk) in 64.
