Silva: Each NFL team enters the offseason with a series of pressing needs. Sometimes a team can address them all, sometimes they ignore them all. But if a team's smart, they'll listen to us. These are the most crucial aspects for NFC teams.
SportsTalk: Albert Pujols signs with the Angels and Prince Fielder joins the Tigers. Which team is better now?
Ryan Callahan scored for the fifth time in four days and defenseman Ryan McDonagh snapped a second-period tie to lift the New York Rangers to a 3-2 victory over the Washington Capitals on Sunday.
Kobe Bryant hit a baseline jump shot with 4.2 seconds left and the Los Angeles Lakers wrapped up a six-game road trip by holding on to beat the Raptors 94-92 on Sunday, their eighth victory in nine meetings with Toronto
Arc's five up, five down: After No. 11 Michigan State's 58-48 upset of No. 3 Ohio State, you'd be a fool to discount the Spartans' national title chances now.
Miami coach Al Golden says the worst is behind him, but his headaches figure to continue now that former booster Nevin Shapiro, now in jail, says his involvement with the Hurricanes program will result in stiff penalties.
Golf's dream pairing - Woods and Mickelson - is on the course in the final round at Pebble Beach. Jason Sobel has hole-by-hole reports.
The United States completed a 5-0 rout of Switzerland in the Davis Cup on Sunday, with 19-year-old Ryan Harrison and John Isner winning closing singles matches.
Euro Roundup: First-place Manchester City won 1-0 at Aston Villa on Sunday on Joleon Lescott's goal in the 63rd minute, maintaining its two-point lead over Manchester United in the Premier League.
Tessa Worley of France fought off gusting winds to win a second consecutive World Cup giant slalom Sunday in the Andorran Pyrenees. Overall leader Lindsey Vonn was more than a second behind and finished eighth.
Robins: It’s the Year of the Dragon on the Lunar calendar, and this Chinese influence could extend to it also being the year of the Pekingese on the green carpet at the 136th Westminster Dog Show on Tuesday.
AP |
Stanley Cups: 0
2008-'09 record: 41-30-11, 93 points (3rd in Southeast, 9th in East)
2008-'09 playoffs: Did not qualify
General manager: Randy Sexton (30-114-15, 4th NHL year, 2nd team)
Coach: Peter DeBoer (41-30-11, 2nd NHL year, 1st team)
Captain: Bryan McCabe
Top returning scorer: C Stephen Weiss (14 goals, 47 assists, 61 points)
Top returning goalie: Tomas Vokoun (26-23-6, 2.49, .926)
Key additions: G Scott Clemmensen; D Ville Koistinen; D Jordan Leopold; D Clay Wilson; LW Jeff Taffe; D Dennis Seidenberg; C Stephen Reinprecht.
Key subtractions: D Jay Bouwmeester; G Craig Anderson; D Karlis Skrastins; D Nick Boynton; RW Anthony Stewart; LW Tanner Glass; D Steve Eminger; D Jassen Cullimore; LW Ville Peltonen; C Brett McLean; LW Richard Zednik; C Drew Larman.
Top line: LW David Booth, C Stephen Weiss; RW Nathan Horton
Top defensive pairing: Keith Ballard, Bryan Allen
Goaltending: Vokoun became the 53rd goalie in NHL history to reach 500 career games played as he nearly backstopped the Panthers to the playoffs. Altered his game over the years to where he’s more of a stand-up netminder than his past almost-exclusive butterfly style. Among the game’s greatest improvisers, will make spectacular saves when it looks a certainty that he’s beaten.
Player to watch: RW Michal Repik. Played on top line with Rochester (AHL) last season right out of junior and led club with 49 points. Capable of playing either wing, scored twice during a five-game call-up to Panthers. Incredible speed and change of pace in his skating. Only 5-foot-10, 180 pounds, but unafraid to venture into high-traffic areas to get puck and create scoring chances.
Icing: Booth has gone from three goals in the 2006-07 season to 22 the following season to a team-high 31 last season. Under DeBoer in his first season as coach, the Panthers posted their best record in nine years. Florida earned points in 31 of its last 45 games.
Outlook: The Panthers continue to ride the treadmill and last season’s second-half surge will likely be scuttled by the offseason loss of Bouwmeester and the uncertainty over the club’s ownership situation.
Prediction: 84 points (4th in Southeast, 13th seed in East)
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Ryan Callahan scored for the fifth time in four days and defenseman Ryan McDonagh snapped a second-period tie to lift the New York Rangers to a 3-2 victory over the Washington Capitals on Sunday.
Check out highlights from the Rangers 3-2 win over the Capitals.
Special feature |
 Getty Images file |
The Kings, Wild, Stars stand best chance of reaching postseason |
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 NHLI via Getty Images |
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The Week in Sports Pictures The Giants on top of the football world, getting ready for the London Olympics and more. more photos |
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Wesseling: Each NFL team enters the offseason with a series of pressing needs. Sometimes a team can address them all, sometimes they ignore them all. But if a team's smart, they'll listen to us. These are the most crucial aspects for AFC teams.
Ryan Callahan scored for the fifth time in four days and defenseman Ryan McDonagh snapped a second-period tie to lift the New York Rangers to a 3-2 victory over the Washington Capitals on Sunday.
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