SUNDAY SPORTS
Joni Ortio made 36 saves for the first shutout of his NHL career as the Calgary Flames downed the Vancouver Canucks 1-0 Saturday night. Mikael Backlund scored in the first period for Calgary and Ortio held the fort the rest of the way in his first start of the season to help his team snap a three-game losing streak.
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Bryan Little scored once in regulation and added the shootout winner as the Winnipeg Jets beat the LA Kings 5-4. Winnipeg jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first period before LA stormed back with four straight. Zach Bogosian forced overtime for the Jets.
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Earlier, Sidney Crosby scored a power-play goal 3:41 into overtime, lifting the Pittsburgh Penguins over Montreal 2-1. The Canadiens have lost two consecutive games after winning nine of their previous 10. And in Arizona, five Ottawa players scored as the Senators snapped a three-game losing streak with a 5-1 victory over the Coyotes.
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The Raptors are back in the win column after dropping a season-high four straight games. Kyle Lowry poured in 10 points in the fourth quarter to finish with 19 in total as Toronto downed the Boston Celtics 109-96 at Air Canada Centre. Kamloops, B-C native Kelly Olynyk had 23 points to top the Celtics.
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The Seattle Seahawks are the first defending Super Bowl champion to win a playoff game the following season since New England in January 2006.
Russell Wilson threw three touchdown passes and Kam Chancellor returned an interception 90 yards for a touchdown as the Seahawks beat the Carolina Panthers 31-17 to advance to the NFC title game.
The Seahawks never trailed, but they weren’t able to pull away until they scored 17 straight points in the fourth quarter to go ahead 31-10. Chancellor’s interception game Seattle a three-touchdown lead with 5:55 remaining.
Wilson was 15 of 22 for 268 yards and no interceptions as the Seahawks earned the right to host either Green Bay or Dallas next Sunday.
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The New England Patriots are in the AFC championship game for the fourth straight year and the eighth time in the last 14 seasons.
Tom Brady threw a 23-yard touchdown pass to Brandon LaFell with 5:13 remaining to complete the Patriots’ comeback in a 35-31 triumph over Baltimore. The Ravens led 28-14 late in the third quarter before Brady threw two of his three scoring passes.
The Pats tied the game on wide receiver Julian Edelman’s 51-yard pass to Danny Amendola with 4:20 left in the third quarter. Justin Tucker’s 25-yard field goal put the Ravens back on top in the final period before Brady’s last touchdown pass of the day capped a 74-yard drive that gave New England the right to host the conference title game against either Denver or Indianapolis.
Brady accounted for most of the Patriots’ offence while the Ravens held New England to 14 yards on 13 carries. Brady was 33 of 50 for 367 yards and one interception. He also ran for a four-yard TD late in the first quarter.
Amendola had two TD grabs and Rob Gronkowski caught seven passes for 108 yards.
Flacco threw for four touchdowns but also had two interceptions while completing 28 of his 45 throws for 292 yards.
(Canadian Press)
Seattle New England Super Bowl Final prediction (ya, I know , real bold prediction )
Right on brother, Kelly Olynik was puttin on a clinic but it wasn't enough. James Johnson was out there dunkin on fools #wethenorth
NE Patriots certainly disproved the theory you have to have a running attack at this time of year to win in the playoffs and the cold weather.
Next week: the two best QB's in the NFL – Rogers vs. Wilson – can hardly wait!
Wilson is not that great. Definatley not better than peyton and brady. He isnt even one of the best in the nfc.
Detroit Lions fans cheering the refs stealing game from Dallas today .
What a brutal call. The leauge strikes again make sure the packers win.
Wa wa wa wa wa wa wa. You're such a cry baby! Wa wa wa wa wa wa.
Looking forward to the match-up next week between the two best QB's in football – Brady vs. Luck – I can hardly wait!!
Romo and Manning choke in the playoffs again
The universe is once again whole.
Peyton Manning is looking in the face of his 9th one-and-done playoff trip. Tom Brady is looking to go to his 9th Championship game. Nuff said.
Ya just like the league made sure the Cowboys won last week? Now that was a a brutal non-call. At least they could review this one. Whether you like the call or not the followed the letter of the rule. I personally think it was a catch. Karma a bitch tho hey cowboy fans,
I agree they did make sure dallas won last week they wanted green bay and cowboys this week and want packers seahawks this week brings the league more ratings and money