The Washington Capitals have regained sole possession of first place in the NHL's Metropolitan Division by knocking off the suddenly-cold Pittsburgh Penguins. The Caps own a two-point lead over the Pens after T.J. Oshie scored the go-ahead goal with 9:20 left in Washington's 5-3 victory against Pittsburgh.
Carl Hagelin tallied twice while the Capitals scored four times in the third period to win for just the second time in eight games. Evgeni Malkin had a goal and an assist for the Penguins, who have been outscored 14-5 while losing their last three games. After the game the Capitals acquired winger Ilya Kovalchuk from the Canadiens for a 2020 third-round pick. Montreal will retain 50% of Kovalchuk's $700,000 salary and cap hit. He has six goals and 13 points in 22 games since joining the Canadiens following his contract buyout by the Kings.
The Islanders are six points off the Metropolitan Division lead after Anders Lee's two goals and one assist led a 4-1 victory against the Sharks. Devon Toews finished with a goal and an assist, while Mat Barzal and Brock Nelson each set up two scores in the Islanders' fifth consecutive home win. Semyon Varlamov stopped 29 shots for New York, which has scored four goals in its last two games after netting just two during an 0-4 road trip.
Kyle Okposo enjoyed his first two-goal game in 23 months to lead the Sabres' 2-1 victory against the Jets. Okposo scored the go-ahead goal 7:37 into the third period of Buffalo's fifth win in six games. The Sabres' surge puts them six points behind third-place Toronto in the Atlantic Division.
Jordan Kyrou and Brayden Schenn scored 3:40 in the first period to give the Blues a 2-0 lead in their fourth straight win, 4-1 against the Wild. Oskar Sundqvist furnished a goal and an assist as the Western Conference leaders regained a three-point edge over Colorado. Jordan Binnington handled 32 shots for the Blues, who have allowed just two goals in their last four games.
Connor McDavid contributed a goal and an assist as the Oilers doubled up the Kings, 4-2. McDavid set up Leon Draisaitl's team-high 36th goal late in the first period to put Edmonton ahead to stay. Mike Smith stopped 21 shots in helping the Oilers move past the Canucks for second place in the Pacific Division.
William Karlsson recorded his third career hat trick before Shea Theodore's overtime goal bailed out the Golden Knights in a 6-5 win at Anaheim. Theodore stretched the Knights' winning streak to a season-high six games after Vegas coughed up a 5-3 lead in the last three minutes of regulation. Alec Martinez had a goal and an assist as the Golden Knights expanded their Pacific Division lead to three points over the Oilers.
Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan provided first-period goals and the Flames opened a five-game road trip with a 4-2 win over the Red Wings. Andrew Mangiapane scored Calgary's last two goals, one of which came into an empty net at the end. Calgary is tied with Arizona for the first wild card in the Western Conference, one point ahead of Winnipeg.
Tyler Seguin's second-period goal broke a 1-1 deadlock and sent the Stars past the Blackhawks, 2-1. Seguin has four goals in his last six games after going 17 games without one. Anton Khudobin stopped 31 shots for Dallas, which remains four points behind St. Louis for the Central Division lead.
In NHL news, the Carolina Hurricanes have recalled goaltenders Anton Forsberg and Alex Nedeljkovic from their AHL affiliate following injuries to their top two netminders. James Reimer and Petr Mrazek were hurt during Saturday's 6-3 victory at Toronto, forcing Carolina to use an emergency netminder to close out the victory. 42-year-old Zamboni driver David Ayres entered in the second period and stopped eight of 10 shots to pick up the win.
NBA
The Los Angeles Lakers have gained a split of their two-game season series with the Boston Celtics. LeBron James poured in 29 points, including a fallaway jumper with 30 seconds remaining in the Lakers' 114-112 triumph over the Boston Celtics. James missed a tying free throw moments before his late bucket point the Lakers ahead to stay. Anthony Davis had 32 points and 13 rebounds in the fifth straight win overall for the Western Conference leaders. Jayson Tatum matched his career high with 41 points for the Celtics, who had won 12 of 14 starting with a 32-point rout of the Lakers in Boston last month.
Kyle Lowry extend his career-best run of double-doubles to six by delivering 16 points and 11 assists in the Raptors' 127-81 dismantling of the Pacers. Pascal Siakam scored 21 points and Serge Ibaka added 15 with a season-high 15 rebounds as the Atlantic Division leaders moved 2 ½ games ahead of the second-place Celtics. Toronto has won 17 of 18 overall and nine straight at home following their most lopsided victory ever.
Paul Millsap scored a season-high 25 points on 9-of-11 shooting as the Nuggets knocked off the Timberwolves, 128-116. Nikola Jokic hit 11 of his 14 attempts and finished with 24 points to help Denver bounce back from its first loss to a Northwest Division opponent. Jamal Murray added 19 points for the Northwest leaders, who are 2 ½ games ahead of second-place Utah.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Steven Adams each had double-doubles and Chris Paul almost had a triple-double in the Thunder's 12th win in 15 games, 131-103 against the Spurs. Gilgeous-Alexander had 22 points and 13 rebounds, Steven Adams added 21 points and 14 boards, and Paul finished with 12 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds. Rookie Luguentz Dort scored 15 points on 6-for-6 for Oklahoma City while playing on a two-way contract.
CJ McCollum had 41 points, a career-high 12 assists and nine rebounds as the Trail Blazers knocked off the Pistons, 107-104. McCollum scored or assisted on 14 consecutive Portland points in the first quarter and finished with 15 points and five assists in the period. Carmelo Anthony scored more than 30 points for the first time since Feb. 25, 2017, finishing with 32.
The Pelicans continued their playoff push as Zion Williamson had 28 points and seven rebounds in their 115-101 decision over the Warriors. Jrue Holiday furnished 11 of his 23 points while New Orleans was outscoring Golden State, 38-24 in the fourth quarter. Nicolo Melli matched career highs with 20 points and six 3-pointers in the Pelicans' fifth win in six games.
The Bulls earned a 126-117 win over the Wizards as Coby White scored 33 points to join Michael Jordan as the only Chicago rookie with consecutive 30-point games. The Bulls overcame Bradley Beal's career-high 53 points to snap an eight-game losing streak. Zach LaVine added 32 points and broke the franchise record for 3-pointers in a season.
In NBA news, Memphis Grizzlies forward Jaren Jackson Jr. will miss at least two weeks after spraining his left knee during Friday's game against the Lakers. An MRI exam showed Jackson suffered the injury contesting a shot late in the second quarter. He is the Grizzlies' second-leading scorer, averaging 16.9 points per game.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
In men's college basketball, Siena bested Fairfield 62-59, Marist topped Niagara 76-54, and UConn outpaced South Florida 78-71.
In women’s college basketball, Rider rolled over Iona 53-41, and Notre Dame held off Syracuse 72-70.
In men's top-25 basketball, Ohio State and Indiana continued their bids to work themselves into the NCAA tournament. The Buckeyes ended Maryland's nine-game winning streak as Luther Muhammad scored 22 points in a 79-72 victory over the seventh-ranked Terrapins in Columbus. Kaleb Wesson with 15 points and Duane Washington Jr. added 13 for Ohio State, while Andre Wesson and C.J. Jackson each had 12. Aaron Wiggins had a team-high 20 points for the Terps, but leading scorers Jalen Smith and Anthony Cowan combined for just 18 after entering the game averaging 34.
At Bloomington, Al Durham contributed 14 points and Trayce Jackson-Davis added 13 with 10 rebounds as the unranked Hoosiers knocked off No. 9 Penn State, 68-60. Indiana coughed up a 13-point, halftime lead and trailed 48-42 with 12:17 remaining before scoring the next 11 points, capped by a dunk from Jackson-Davis that put his team ahead, 55-48. Indiana improved to 18-9 overall and 8-8 in the Big Ten. The Nittany Lions dropped to 20-7 overall and 10-6 in the conference despite Lamar Stevens' game-high 29 points.
Marcus Zegarowski made all seven of his 3-pointers and finished with 25 points as No. 16 Creighton hammered 21st-rated Butler, 81-59. Christian Bishop had a career-high 19 points to go with seven rebounds and five assists as the Bluejays beat a ranked opponent for the fourth straight time. The Bulldogs dropped their third in a row and played the second half without season scoring leader Kamar Baldwin because of a left ankle injury.
No. 16 Seton Hall rolled to an 81-65 win over St. John's behind Myles Powell's 18 points. Sandro Mamukelashvili added 16 points and nine rebounds as the Pirates moved to 12-3 in the Big East with a wire-to-wire victory. Romero Gill had 12 points while going 6 for 6 from the floor to help Seton Hall stay one game ahead of Creighton atop the Big East standings.
NASCAR
Joey Logano has won at Las Vegas Motor Speedway for the second straight year, pulling it out in a two-lap sprint to the finish that ended under caution. Logano put his No. 22 Ford for Team Penske in the victory lane by holding off runner-up Matt DiBenedetto, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Austin Dillon. A caution with six laps remaining complicated the race to the finish as all but seven cars on the lead lap headed to pit road for tires. DiBenedetto finished 0.491 behind Logano in his second race for the Wood Brothers, a Penske partner. Stenhouse was third after taking the pole for the season-opening Daytona 500.
Ryan Newman has said through a statement that he suffered a head injury in his crash on the last lap of the Daytona 500 but did not disclose details. Roush team president Steve Newmark opened a news conference before Sunday's race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway by reading a lengthy statement from Newman. Newman wrote that he was fortunate to avoid any internal organ damage or broken bones, and that the doctors have been pleased with his progress over the last few days. He said he is looking forward to getting behind the wheel again. However, there's no timetable for his return to competitive racing. Newmark said it is Newman's intent to race for the 2020 Cup championship this season, and the driver plans to ask NASCAR for an exemption to qualify for the playoffs once he's medically cleared to return.
PGA
Patrick Reed closed with a 4-under 67 to take the Mexico Championship. Reed was two shots back with four to play before reeling off three straight birdies to overtake Bryan DeChambeau for his second World Golf Championship title. He recovered from a wild tee shot into the trees on 18 to two-putt from 35 feet to wrap up his eighth PGA title at 18 under. DeChambeau appeared to seize control with five birdies in a six-hole stretch starting at No. 9. He settled for second after completing a 65. Jon Rahm and Erik Van Rooyen were three off the pace and one ahead of Rory McIlroy.
MLB
The Boston Red Sox placed second baseman Dustin Pedroia on the 60-day injured list, further putting in doubt whether the former AL MVP will play again. The 36-year-old Pedroia has played just nine games over the last two seasons. The four-time All-Star has spent the time trying to recover from an injury he sustained when Baltimore's Manny Machado slid spikes-high into his left knee in May 2017.
Yoenis Céspedes says he expects to be ready to play by opening day. Out of the lineup since July 2018 with heel problems, Céspedes said Sunday that he plans to play in spring training games by the middle of March. And if all goes well, he intends to be in the lineup on March 26 when the Mets host the World Series champion Washington Nationals in the opener.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Karl Dorrell is back in the Pac 12. Colorado has hired Dorrell as its head football coach, 13 years after he left UCLA. The 56-year-old Dorrell comes to Boulder two weeks after Mel Tucker bolted for Michigan State and 72 hours after Dorrell was named assistant head coach of the Dolphins. Dorrell was 35-27 as UCLA's head coach before embarking on a 14-season run in the NFL.
TENNIS
The younger sister of 18-time Grand Slam champion Chris Evert has died. A funeral home in Delray Beach, Florida, posted an obituary that said Jeanne Evert Dubin died Thursday at age 62 after a 2 1/2-year struggle with ovarian cancer. Evert Dubin was a world-ranked tennis player in her own right, turning pro at age 15 following a stellar junior career. She and sister Chris played doubles together for two years, ranking No. 4. Evert Dubin reached a career-high ranking of No. 28 in the world in 1978, when she retired from competition.
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