ACCESS 7 FRIDAY EYE-OPENER

Justin Williams and Jarret Stoll scored goals 53 seconds apart late in the third period as the Los Angeles Kings roared back to beat the Vancouver Canucks 3-2 on a New Year’s clash at Rogers Arena. Williams tied the game with 2:07 left in regulation on the power play before Stoll buried the winner with 1:14 to go.

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Troy Brouwer scored on a power play with 12.9 seconds remaining in regulation as the Washington Capitals slipped past the Chicago Blackhawks 3-2 in the NHL’s Winter Classic. It’s the second Winter Classic victory in two games for the Capitals, who also beat Pittsburgh at Heinz Field four years ago.

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Keith Aulie’s illegal check on Matt Stajan in Wednesday’s 4-3 overtime loss to Calgary will cost him. The Edmonton defenceman was suspended two games without pay for making contact with Stajan’s head with his shoulder. Aulie was handed a match penalty and game misconduct at the time of the incident.

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The national championship for college football is set. Ohio State upset Alabama 42-35 in the Sugar Bowl to book its ticket in the January 12th finale in Dallas while Oregon routed Florida State 59-20 in the Rose Bowl to earn its spot for the national title game.

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Canadian Andrew Wiggins scored a game-high 27 points with nine rebounds, but it wasn’t enough for his Timberwolves to avoid their 10th loss in a row – falling 110-107 to the Sacramento Kings. Only New York and Philadelphia have worse records than Minnesota, which is 5-26.

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Pau Gasol scored 17 points, nine rebounds and a career-high nine blocks as the Chicago Bulls beat the Denver Nuggets 106-101 in the NBA’s only other game. Derrick Rose scored 13 of his 17 points in the fourth quarter for the Bulls, who have won 11 of their past 13 games.

(Canadian Press)