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.
Eleven shots separated Phil and Tiger Sunday at Pebble Beach as Lefty secured his 40th Tour win. Jason Sobel had 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.
Zambia has won the African Cup of Nations, beating pre-tournament favorite Ivory Coast 8-7 on penalties in a dramatic final at Stade de l'Amitie.
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.
Dan Boyle (flu) is ready to return to the Sharks' lineup.
"My parents were here and they both had it, my daughters and my wife had it," the defenseman said. "Not sure what it was, but it ran it's course." He has four goals and 29 points in 50 games this season.
Sportsnet's Nick Kypreos thinks the Edmonton Oilers should shutdown Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (shoulder) for the remainder of the 2011-12 season.
Nugent-Hopkins was sidelined for 13 games due to a sprain shoulder before returning on Feb. 4. Unfortunately, he only lasted two games before his shoulder injury sidelined him again. "They got to be so careful with his kid. ' And if it was me, I wouldn't have any problems shutting him down," Kypreos said. He went onto add, "Do you want this guy having shoulder problems the rest of his career? He's got to get physically stronger going into next September." The Oilers stated on Tuesday that Nugent-Hopkins would be out for up to 10 days due to his latest setback. Nugent-Hopkins has been great this season and if it weren't for his injury troubles, he'd probably be the clear frontrunner for the Calder Trophy. As it is, he still might win the award.
It doesn't sound like James van Riemsdyk (concussion) is even close to returning.
There was some speculation that van Riemsdyk would return as early as Thursday, but he said on Friday that he feels like he's in a fog. van Riemsdyk hasn't played since Jan. 14 and he should still be considered out indefinitely.
Jordan Staal (knee) is expected return to the Pittsburgh Penguins' lineup on Saturday.
Staal has been sidelined for 15 straight contests because of the injury. "I think the knee feels really strong and everything feels really good," Staal said. He'll have a significant role on Saturday, according to Penguins coach Dan Bylsma, but he isn't expected to log 20 minutes of ice time. To cut back on Staal's playing time on Saturday, he might not be used much to kill penalties. However, he is still projected to play on the second power-play unit.
Nathan Horton's concussion symptoms returned once he started to skate.
Horton started to skate on Sunday, but he will stop for the time being. "He's back to square one," Bruins coach Claude Julien said. "We're giving him some time here." Horton hasn't played since Jan. 22.
Sergei Bobrovsky will probably play between the pipes on Saturday.
Ilya Bryzgalov is still dealing with the flu and isn't expected to be ready for the Flyers' afternoon game. Bobrovsky allowed three goals on 27 shots in a 4-3 victory Thursday.
Curtis Sanford will not participate in Saturday's game because he's dealing with a back injury.
Sanford has a 2.52 GAA and .915 save percentage in 29 games this season. The severity of his injury is not yet known.
Zambia has won the African Cup of Nations, beating pre-tournament favorite Ivory Coast 8-7 on penalties in a dramatic final at Stade de l'Amitie.
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.
After leading by 18 points in the first half, the Los Angeles Lakers were staring at a four-point deficit with less than two minutes to play.
