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.
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.
AP fileMighty in goal for Ducks
You have to like Anaheim with the way goalie Jean-Sebastien Giguere is playing, bringing back memories of his stellar performance in the 2002-03 postseason when he won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the playoff MVP.
The Mighty Ducks also have firepower up front with center Andy McDonald and right winger Teemu Selanne. And I don't think their younger players such as Ryan Getzlaf, Corey Perry and Joffrey Lupul will play uptight in the playoffs since I've watched them down the stretch and they have played some nice, loose hockey.
Also in Scott Niedermayer, Anaheim has the best defenseman in the Western Conference.
Sharks have some bite
San Jose can't be overlooked since it's anyone's guess if a way can be found to stop center Joe Thornton, who led the league with 125 points, and right winger Jonathan Cheechoo, who had a NHL-best and franchise-record 56 goals.
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And the Sharks closed out the regular season on a real roll, winning eight of their final nine games.
A difference in the Devils
I don't know where to start to describe the difference between the Devils now and the team they were before Christmas.
For one thing, their style of play is different. Coach Lou Lamoriello has allowed his players far more offensive freedom than perhaps they have ever had in New Jersey. Center Scott Gomez and right winger Brian Gionta have had incredible breakout seasons. They now have to be considered among the elite players in the league.
And typical of the great Devils teams of the recent past, New Jersey has a solid checking line in John Madden, Jay Pandolfo, and Grant Marshall.
After the offseason losses of Scott Stevens and Scott Niedermayer, I think New Jersey's defense has developed and evolved to the point where Colin White is their mainstay. And with Martin Brodeur between the pipes, the Devils are the only team in the Eastern Conference that shouldn't be concerned or at least holding its breath over goaltending.
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.
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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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