Figuring they were ready to return to the playoffs, the Washington Capitals came up with a motto this fall to reflect that optimism: “New Look. New Season. New Attitude.” Well, 21 games in, it’s time to add this: “New Coach.” Owners of the NHL’s worst record and off to the franchise’s slowest start in 26 years, the Capitals fired Glen Hanlon on Thursday and replaced him on an interim basis with…
Ottawa Senators forward Patrick Eaves will be sidelined indefinitely after injuring a shoulder Wednesday night against Buffalo. Eaves was hurt in a collision with Sabres defenseman Brian Campbell during the Senators a 4-2 loss at Buffalo. Ottawa recalled center Alexander Nikulin from Binghamton of the American Hockey League on Thursday to take Eaves’ spot.
The Minnesota Wild claimed left wing Todd Fedoruk off re-entry waivers from the Dallas Stars. The Stars and Wild will split his $875,000 salary for the rest of the season. Fedoruk is an unrestricted free agent July 1. The 28-year-old Fedoruk had two assists and 33 penalty minutes in 11 games with the Stars this season.
Vancouver captain Markus Naslund did his talking on the ice. Naslund scored three goals, and the Canucks beat the Minnesota Wild 4-2 Wednesday night. Ryan Kesler also scored and Daniel Sedin and Henrik Sedin each had two assists for the Canucks, 6-0-2 in their last eight games. Vancouver has gone 9-0-2 against Northwest Division opponents this season and moved into a first-place tie with Minnesota.
Daniel Briere needed fewer than 15 minutes to deliver his best game with the Flyers. Briere scored three goals in the third period to lead Philadelphia past the Carolina Hurricanes 6-3 on Wednesday night. “That, to me, is the best he’s looked all year,” Philadelphia coach John Stevens said. Briere added an assist during his third career hat trick and first with the Flyers, helping them snap a…
Warrick Dunn of the Atlanta Falcons became the 22nd player in NFL history to rush for 10,000 yards, reaching the milestone with a 2-yard run Thursday night against the Indianapolis Colts. Dunn’s short run up the middle came early in the second quarter. He finished the night with 70 yards on 17 carries, pushing him to 10,044 in his 11-year career.
John Roberson scored 22 points as Texas Tech overwhelmed host Alaska-Anchorage 74-47 Thursday in the first round of the Carrs/Safeway Great Alaska Shootout. The Red Raiders (3-1) took control early, forcing four-turnovers in the first four minutes and bolting to a 14-2 lead. Mike Singletary hit his first five shots, including a baseline drive that gave the Red Raiders the lead 24-8 with 11:53…
Corey Fisher made his first basket, then another. The Villanova freshman didn’t stop until the No. 20 Wildcats finished off Central Florida in the opening round of Old Spice Classic. “I just got a little confident when I hit my first shot,” the 6-foot-1 freshman guard from Bronx, N.Y., said after scoring 10 of his 18 points in the second half of a 76-68 victory at Disney World on Thursday night.
Martin Erat scored one goal and assisted on two others, including Radek Bonk’s game-winner in the third period, to lead the Nashville Predators past the Detroit Red Wings 3-2 on Thursday night. Jason Arnott also scored for the Predators, who beat their Central Division rivals despite taking six penalties in the first period.
Jarkko Ruutu scored on Pittsburgh’s fifth shootout attempt to give the Penguins a 6-5 victory over the Ottawa Senators on Thursday night. Ruutu put a backhander through Martin Gerber’s pads for the winner after Ottawa’s Jason Spezza and Pittsburgh’s Erik Christensen each converted their team’s first shootout opportunity.
Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts looked more like themselves Thursday night. All it took was a trip to Atlanta. Manning threw three touchdown passes, Anthony Gonzalez had 105 yards receiving and the defending Super Bowl champions, after getting stunned with 10 quick points by the Falcons, rebounded for a 31-13 victory.
Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is still urging NFL fans to pull the plug on cable, especially those who want to see next week’s NFC showdown of 10-1 teams on NFL Network. The Cowboys and Green Bay Packers both won Thanksgiving Day, a week before they play for the outright NFC lead. The NFL Network has been in a dispute with large cable providers who don’t carry the network on a basic tier.