SUNDAY SPORTS
This year’s Super Bowl combatants will be set by the end of the day. The defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks host the Green Bay Packers this afternoon in the NFC Championship match (2:05 pm Sask time). Later, the AFC Championship will be contested in Foxboro, Massachusetts, as the New England Patriots host the Indianapolis Colts (5:40 pm Sask time).
Super Bowl XLIX will be held in Glendale, Arizona on February 1.
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Just three points separate the top five teams in the NHL’s Eastern Conference. The Tampa Bay Lightning moved back into first by one point over the New York Islanders, with Montreal and Detroit just three points back and one ahead of Pittsburgh.
Ryan Callahan scored a power-play goal and provided the deciding shootout tally in the Lightning’s 3-2 triumph over Colorado. Ben Bishop turned back 40 shots for the Lightning, who led 2-1 until Nathan McKinnon scored with seven seconds left in regulation.
The Islanders ended a four-game winning streak as Tomas Plekanec delivered two goals and two assists in Montreal’s 6-4 win over New York. Alex Galchenyuk, David Desharnais and Plekanec scored third-period goals to put the Canadiens ahead 6-2 with 6:17 remaining.
Detroit ended Nashville’s five-game winning streak by getting two goals from Tomas Tatar and 34 saves from Petr Mrazek in the Red Wings’ 5-2 win over the Predators. The Predators had earned at least a point in 10 straight games.
Nashville’s loss allowed Anaheim to take a two-point lead in the Western Conference. Jakob Silfverberg scored the lone shootout goal to complete the Ducks’ comeback in a 3-2 win over Los Angeles. Sami Vatanen knotted the score with 7:08 left in regulation before the Ducks knocked off their rivals.
Elsewhere on NHL ice:
– St. Louis won for the sixth time in seven games as Brian Elliott stopped 27 shots in the Blues’ 3-0 win over Toronto. Kevin Shattenkirk, Alex Steen and T.J. Oshie provided the scoring to support Elliott’s 28th career shutout. The Maple Leafs limp home after scoring just once during an 0-4 road trip.
– Dallas coughed up a 3-0 lead before Antoine Roussel and Jamie Benn scored 16 seconds apart in the third period to carry the Stars past Washington 5-4. Tyler Seguin and Jason Spezza each had a goal and an assist as the Stars dealt the Capitals their second straight regulation loss since a 14-1-4 stretch.
– Matt Calvert scored a pair of third-period goals to lift Columbus past Boston 3-1, ending the Bruins’ five-game winning streak. Ryan Johansen had a goal and an assist in the Blue Jackets’ first victory in five games.
– Edmonton beat Florida 3-2 as Matt Hendricks tied it with a short-handed goal in the third period before Nail Yakupov notched the lone shootout goal. The Oilers won for the first time in four games and snapped a franchise record 14-game, road-losing streak.
– Calgary knocked off San Jose 4-3 on Sean Monahan’s goal 24 seconds into overtime. Dennis Wideman, Joe Colborne, Jiri Hudler also tallied in the Flames’ fourth consecutive road win.
– Jason Zucker scored the game-winner and Devan Dubnyk stopped 25 shots in Minnesota’s 3-1 verdict over Arizona. The Wild have won two straight since an 0-5-1 skid.
– Philadelphia and Buffalo were tied 2-2 in the third period until Chris Valdevelde and Michael Raffl scored 2:45 apart to send the Flyers past the Sabres 4-3.
– Justin Faulk and Nathan Gerbe each had a goal and an assist in the third period of Carolina’s 3-2 victory at Ottawa.
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PHOENIX (AP) – The Arizona Diamondbacks have announced an agreement with 21-year-old Cuban pitching prospect Yoan Lopez. The 6-foot-4 right-hander played three seasons in Cuba’s top league, going 15-13 with a 3.76 ERA. Lopez got an $8.27 million signing bonus, two people with knowledge of the deal told The Associated Press earlier in the week.
Last month, Arizona agreed to terms with Cuban third baseman-outfielder Yasmany Tomas on a six-year contract worth $68.5 million.
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HONOLULU (AP) – Jimmy Walker is the leader through three rounds of the PGA’s Sony Open in Honolulu.
Walker surged to the top with an 8-under 62 that leaves him 16-under for the tournament, two strokes ahead of Matt Kuchar.
Brian Harman’s 64 leaves him in a tie for third with Troy Merritt at minus-13.
Meanwhile, Australian golfer Robert Allenby says he was robbed, beaten and dumped in a park after missing the tournament cut on Friday.
Contacted by Australian Associated Press, Allenby said he might have been drugged in the Amuse Wine Bar in Waikiki Beach and taken to an underground garage where he was robbed and thrown into the trunk of a car.
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WASHINGTON, D.C. (AP) – Basketball broadcaster Greg Anthony has been suspended by CBS after being arrested for soliciting a prostitute in Washington, D.C. Police say the incident took place in a downtown hotel and that Anthony could face up to 90 days in jail if convicted. He was in town to broadcast the Michigan State at Maryland game Saturday.
