Conor Sheary got the tie-breaking goal early in the third period to power the Buffalo Sabres over the Columbus Blue Jackets 5-4. Carter Hutton had 33 saves for the Sabres in the first game back from an 11-day break.
Pierre-Luc Dubois and Cam Atkinson each had a goal an assist for Columbus, and Sergei Bobrovsky had 29 saves. The Blue Jackets, who also were coming off a bye week, lost their third in a row as they try to stay among the leaders in the Metropolitan Division. They dropped both ends of a back-to-back before the break after winning four straight.
Oskar Lindblom scored early, Anthony Stolarz stopped 38 shots for his second NHL shutout and the Philadelphia Flyers held on to beat the New York Rangers 1-0 for their season-high fifth straight win. Stolarz, making his eighth start this season and 12th of his career, got his first shutout since Dec. 11, 2016, at Detroit in his second NHL start.
Kyle Connor scored back-to-back goals 34 seconds apart in the third period and the Winnipeg Jets rallied to beat the Boston Bruins 4-3 in a shootout Tuesday night. Connor Hellebuyck stopped 36 shots for the Jets and didn't allow anything past him in the shootout.
In NHL news, the Carolina Hurricanes have signed forward Jordan Martinook to a two-year contract extension worth an average of $2 million per season. General manager Don Waddell said Tuesday that Martinook's extension will begin next season. The 26-year-old Martinook has 10 goals and three assists in 50 games while leading the team with 125 hits and blocking 28 shots — the most by a Carolina forward. The Hurricanes acquired him in May from Phoenix in the deal that sent center Marcus Kruger to the Coyotes. Martinook is making $1.85 million this season and would have been a restricted free agent on July 1.
Nashville Predators forward Austin Watson has been suspended without pay as part of the NHL's substance abuse program. The NHL and NHL Players' Association announced Tuesday that Watson had been placed in Stage Two of the league's substance abuse and behavioral health program "for treatment related exclusively to his ongoing issues with alcohol abuse." That means Watson is suspended without pay until program administrators clear him to return.
COLLEGE HOCKEY
In college hockey last night, RPI and Union College faced one another for the Mayor's Cup at Albany's Times Union Center. In the women's game, RPI took home the cup for the second year in a row, 2-1. And in the men's game Union College overcame RPI after an initial 0-0 tie and a six-round shootout. It was the first time a shootout was used to declare a winner.
NBA
D'Angelo Russell scored 30 points, Shabazz Napier had 24 off the bench and the Brooklyn Nets beat the Chicago Bulls 122-117 for their ninth straight win at home. Rondae Hollis-Jefferson had 18 points and Joe Harris had 17 for the Nets, who have won 13 of their last 14 at Barclays Center and seven of eight overall.
Joel Embiid scored 28 points, Jimmy Butler added 20 and the Philadelphia 76ers led throughout in a 121-105 victory over the short-handed Los Angeles Lakers. Brandon Ingram had a career-high 36 points for the Lakers, who were missing Kyle Kuzma, LeBron James and Lonzo Ball.
In Tuesday's other NBA action, Giannis Antetokounmpo had 21 points, 11 assists and eight rebounds to help the Milwaukee Bucks beat the Detroit Pistons 115-105. That gives the Bucks the distinction of being the league's only team without two straight losses. The NBA-leading Bucks improved to 13-0 after losing a game. Milwaukee's Brook Lopez scored 12 of his 14 points in the first quarter when Antetokounmpo was limited to three points. Eric Bledsoe had 20 points for the Bucks, who have won seven of eight.
Rudy Gay hit a 21-footer at the buzzer and the San Antonio Spurs overcame Devin Booker's 38 points to escape with a 126-124 victory over Phoenix on Tuesday night. The Suns' losing streak is now at nine straight.
Paul George scored 37 points, Russell Westbrook had a triple-double and Dennis Schroder scored 18 of his 21 points in the fourth quarter to rally Oklahoma City to a 126-117 win over Orlando. Westbrook had 23 points, 14 rebounds and 14 assists for the Thunder, who won their sixth straight.
Jordan Clarkson scored 28 points, Cedi Osman had 26 and the Cleveland Cavaliers held off a fourth-quarter comeback, defeating the Washington Wizards 116-113 on Tuesday night. Cleveland matched a season-high with 15 3-pointers.
Trae Young scored 26 points, John Collins added 22 points, and the Atlanta Hawks beat the Los Angeles Clippers 123-118 for the first time in nearly three years. Atlanta had lost five in a row to the Clippers dating to March 5, 2016.
Nikola Jokic scored 24 points and made a go-ahead basket with 28.9 seconds left, and the Denver Nuggets overcame a 25-point second-half deficit to beat the Memphis Grizzlies 95-92. The Nuggets moved to 34-15, the best start in franchise history.
Jahlil Okafor scored 27 points and the short-handed New Orleans Pelicans overcame a big early deficit to get a 121-116 win over the Houston Rockets in their first game since star Anthony Davis' agent said he wanted to be traded. Jrue Holiday filled up the stat sheet with 19 points, six rebounds, eight assists and a career-high six blocks to become the first guard in NBA history to have at least 17 points, six rebounds, seven assists and six blocks in a game.
In NBA news, the NBA has fined New Orleans Pelicans star Anthony Davis $50,000 because of his agent's comments that Davis won't sign an extension and wants to be traded. The league office said in a written statement released Tuesday evening that Davis has violated a collectively-bargained rule prohibiting players or their representatives from making public trade demands. The NBA says the fine is for statements that were made by Davis' agent, Rich Paul, on Monday in an intentional effort to undermine the contractual relationship between Davis and the Pelicans. Davis is under contract with New Orleans through the end of the 2019-20 season.
He was drafted by the Pelicans with the first overall pick in 2012 and has been named an All-Star the previous five seasons. He has averaged 29.3 points and 13.3 rebounds per game this season, but has missed the past four games with a sprained left index finger while the Pelicans have fallen to 22-28 heading into Tuesday night's game at Houston.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
In women's basketball, Fairfield defeated Siena, 59-55.
In top-25 basketball, Dontay Caruthers scored 21 points and No. 18 Buffalo cruised to its 21st straight home victory, 83-59 over Ball State.
In other top-25 action, Admiral Schofield had 20 of his 24 points in the second half to lead No. 1 Tennessee to its school record-tying 15th straight victory, 92-70 over South Carolina on Tuesday night. Grant Williams added 23 points for the Vols, who are 19-1 on the season, and 7-0 Southeastern Conference -- who saw a double-digit lead cut to 60-58 with 13 minutes to play. Jordan Bone then scored five straight points to start an 18-6 run over the next six minutes that helped Tennessee stay perfect in SEC play. Tennessee matched its program-best winning streak, which began in January 1915 and lasted through February 1917. It was Williams early on and Schofield late who kept the run of success going as the Gamecocks (10-10, 5-2) tried to rally in the second half.
It took overtime, but No.3 Virginia outlasted No.23 NC State 66-65.
Cameron Johnson scored eight consecutive points to open the second half, when No.9 North Carolina went on a 20-5 run, and the Tar Heels won their fourth straight game with a 77-54 blowout Tuesday night at Georgia Tech.
Dylan Osetkowksi scored 16 points and Texas used stifling defense to snap a 10-game losing streak to No. 11 Kansas with a 73-63 win. Texas hadn't beaten the Jayhawks since 2014.
Bruno Fernando had 22 points and 10 rebounds, Jalen Smith scored 14 and No. 21 Maryland ended a two-game skid with a 70-52 rout of Northwestern.
Brad Davison scored 10 of his 13 points in the second half and fueled No. 24 Wisconsin's decisive surge in the second half of a 62-51 win over Nebraska. The Badgers won their fourth straight game.
MLB
Relief pitcher Jenrry Mejia, allowed back into baseball after a lifetime ban caused by three positive drug tests, has agreed to a minor league contract with the Boston Red Sox. If added to the 40-man roster, the 29-year-old Dominican right-hander would receive a one-year contract at a rate of $625,000 while in the major leagues.
Jimmy Rollins will return to the Philadelphia Phillies as a special adviser. Rollins will serve as a spring training coach and work in community outreach programs, among other duties.
In other MLB news, infielder Freddy Galvis and the Toronto Blue Jays have agreed to a $5 million, one-year contract. The deal announced Tuesday includes a $4 million salary this year and a $5.5 million club option for 2020 with a $1 million buyout. Galvis, who can earn additional award bonuses, took a cut from his $6,825,000 salary in 2018. He hit .248 with 31 doubles, five triples and 13 homers for San Diego last year, playing in all 162 games for the second straight season. The 29-year-old has a .246 average with 65 homers and 300 RBIs in seven big league seasons. He spent his first six seasons with Philadelphia, then was traded to the Padres.
Edgar Martinez finally got to celebrate his Hall of Fame election on Tuesday in the place he called home for his entire career. Martinez spent last week being honored on the East Coast with a whirlwind of commitments. The Mariners couldn't wait to revel with Martinez in the Pacific Northwest. Martinez was back in Seattle on Tuesday, walking into T-Mobile Park on a red carpet to be honored by the only franchise he ever played for.
Sandy Alderson is returning to the Oakland Athletics as a senior adviser to baseball operations after previously working 17 seasons with the club in various capacities. Alderson led the A's when they won three straight AL pennants from 1988-90 and a sweep of the earthquake-interrupted 1989 World Series against San Francisco.
Switch-hitting infielder Neil Walker has agreed to a one-year contract with the Miami Marlins and is expected to compete for a starting job. Walker was among the unsigned free agents last winter who attend a free-agent training camp, and he agreed in mid-March to a $4 million, one-year contract with the New York Yankees.
Veteran reliever Shawn Kelley has signed a one-year contract with the Texas Rangers that includes a club option for a second season. Kelley will have a $2.5 million base salary for 2019 with a $2.5 million club option for 2020 that includes a $250,000 buyout. He had a 2.94 ERA in 54 appearances for Washington and Oakland last season.
NFL
Maroon 5 has canceled its news conference to discuss the band's Super Bowl halftime performance. The NFL announced that the artists will let their show do thetalking. Maroon 5 did not give a reason for cancellation. Some fans have criticized entertainers for working with the NFL this year, and some musicians have said social injustice needs to be addressed during the Super Bowl.
In other NFL news, the Kansas City Chiefs are planning more than $10 million in upgrades to Arrowhead Stadium. The Chiefs announced that the renovations will include a "modernization" of the Arrowvision scoreboard, along with waterproofing and new seats — with cup holders — in the stadium's upper deck. The work could begin next week. The Kansas City Star reports the Chiefs are paying for the work but can ask in the future to be reimbursed by the Jackson County Sports Complex Authority.
The Green Bay Packers are bringing back Luke Getsy, this time as their quarterbacks coach to work with Aaron Rodgers. Getsy spent four seasons on former coach Mike McCarthy's staff before leaving to become Mississippi State's offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach last year.
The Chicago Bears have hired Mark DeLeone as inside linebackers coach. DeLeone spent the past six seasons on Andy Reid's staff in Kansas City and worked with Bears coach Matt Nagy from 2013-17. DeLeone worked with Pro Bowl linebackers such as Derrick Johnson, Tamba Hali and Justin Houston in Kansas City. Houston set a franchise record with 22 sacks in 2014.
The Washington Redskins have promoted Kevin O'Connell to offensive coordinator after he previously served as passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach. The team announced O'Connell's promotion along with other changes to Jay Gruden's coaching staff. Matt Cavanaugh, who had been offensive coordinator the past two seasons, is now the Redskins' senior offensive assistant.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
The NCAA football rules committee later this month will consider changing the overtime format. The goal is to make it less likely for games to go beyond two extra possessions for each team. Among the more radical ideas set to be discussed is going to a 2-point-conversion shootout after teams have played two full OT possessions. The current format, implemented in 1996, gives each team possession at the opponent's 25-yard line, and repeats the process until one team has outscored the other. After two possessions by each team, the offense must try a 2-point conversion instead of kicking an extra point after a touchdown. The rules committee will also consider eliminating point-after-touchdown kicks in overtime, forcing teams to go for 2 from the very first possession.
PGA
Waste Management has extended its title sponsorship of the Phoenix Open through 2030. The new agreement was announced by PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan and Waste Management president and CEO Jim Fish on Tuesday at TPC Scottsdale. The deal replaces a 10-year agreement that started with the 2016 tournament. Waste Management, the title sponsor for the past decade, has diverted 100 percent of tournament waste to recycling, composting and reusable energy since 2013. The Phoenix Open is the highest-attended tournament on the PGA Tour, drawing more than 500,000 fans each year.
© The Associated Press 2019. All Rights Reserved.
