WEDNESDAY EYE-OPENER

The Dallas Stars ended a seven-game slide as Ryan Garbutt scored a short-handed goal with 1:16 remaining to lift the Stars past Arizona 4-3. Tyler Seguin’s two goals helped the Stars pick up their first victory since Oct. 24 at New Jersey.

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Daniel Sedin played the hero for the Vancouver Canucks against the Ottawa Senators. Sedin scored 4:05 into overtime as the Canucks beat the Senators 4-3. Shawn Matthias, Alex Burrows and Kevin Bieksa scored for Vancouver in regulation time. The win gives Vancouver a share of first place overall. Mike Hoffman, Kyle Turris and Mark Stone replied for Ottawa.

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A rough first period was the difference for the Edmonton Oilers. The Nashville Predators scored three times in the opening 20 minutes en route to a 3-2 win over Edmonton. Benoit Pouliot and Nail Yakupov both found the back of the net for the Oilers. In Montreal, Carey Price kicked out 29 shots for his first shutout of the year as the Canadiens blanked the Winnipeg Jets 3-0.

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Carolina Panthers coach Ron Rivera denies that there is anything physically wrong with quarterback Cam Newton who looked off his game in Monday night’s loss to Philadelphia. Newton was sacked nine times and appeared to lack his usual mobility. Rivera has disputed published reports that Newton was injured. He says Newton, the doctors and trainers have told him they are unaware of any injury problem.

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The New England Patriots still top the AP’s Pro32 power rankings as voted on by a media panel that regularly covers the league. The 7-2 Patriots received seven of 12 first-place votes after enjoying a bye week. The 8-1 Arizona Cardinals received the other five first-place votes and stayed at No. 2 in the poll. The Denver Broncos, Philadelphia Eagles and Detroit Lions round out the top 5.

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Kyle Lowry continues to impress for the Raptors. Lowry scored a team-high 19 points as Toronto came back to beat the Orlando Magic 104-100. The win keeps the Raptors perfect at the Air Canada Centre at 5-and-0 and improves their record overall to 7-and-1. Terrence Ross had 17 points while DeMar DeRozan finished with 16.

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Around the NBA, the Grizzlies beat the Lakers 107-102, the Bucks downed the Clippers 85-78, the Mavericks got by the Kings 106-98 and Trail Blazers edged the Hornets 102-100.

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Buck Showalter has done it again. The Baltimore Orioles skipper won his third M-L-B manager of the year award in the American League. He led the Orioles to their first division title in 17 years this past season. In the National League, it was first time manager Matt Williams of the Washington Nationals who took home the award.

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OHL point leader and top prospect Connor McDavid is out indefinitely. The Erie Otter forward injured his hand in a second-period fight against Mississauga Steelhead’s Bryson Cianfrone. Erie won the game 4-0. McDavid appeared to miss Cianfrone with a punch and slammed his right fist into the boards.

(Canadian Press)