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.
APWestern Conference
Canucks: Roberto Luongo (G) -- The ex-Panther could capture both the Vezina (top netminder) and Hart (MVP) this season after posting astounding numbers with his new club. One of the game's elite backstops, sent west on the eve of the 2006 draft, the 6-foot-3 Luongo has been every bit the franchise goalie Vancouver sought for so long. One of the few goalies who can win games all by himself, he kept the Canucks from slipping into oblivion early this season when they struggled to find their scoring touch. Their goal-scoring in gear, they could be poised for their best run since their trip to the finals in 1994.
Ducks: Chris Pronger (D) -- A fractured toe kept the towering, 6-foot-6 blueliner out of the Ducks’ lineup for most of March, but he's back playing his dependable 25-30 minutes per night. With fellow Duck Scott Niedermayer, Pronger gives Anaheim the most impressive 1-2 defensive duo in the league. Last season, he helped lead the Oil to a berth in the finals, before asking out of Alberta due for personal reasons (a wife that didn't like long, cold Edmonton winters). The sun was shining in SoCal before he got there, but it's brighter these days.
Flames: Dion Phaneuf (D) -- He's tough. He's smart. He's also the Flames' top-scoring defenseman in only his second season. Phaneuf doesn't have the sensational backline moves of Sergei Gonchar or Scott Niedermayer, but he plays with enough strength and spirit to make him one of the prized backliners. He might not catch your eye in a game or two, but over a long series, when consistency is the key, he will look like he's been doing the job back there for 10 years. Not bad for a guy who will just turn 22 when the postseason starts.
Predators: Peter Forsberg (C) -- Leading up to the trade deadline, the Preds acquired the fierce Swedish competitor for a package that amounted to three first-round picks, including already-drafted Scott Upshall and Ryan Parent. All of a sudden, Nashville went from could win the Cup to should win the Cup. The only question is, can the 33-year-old Forsberg remain healthy? With two Cups already in his dossier, he has logged a lot of NHL miles, and chronic foot/ankle problems could flare up at any time. For what he brings, he was worth the risk.
Red Wings: Pavel Datsyuk (C) -- Now 28 years old, the brilliant Russian center never has fulfilled his promise in Hockeytown, and has been especially disappointing in the playoffs (42 games/15 points). Down the stretch, though, he has been the Winged Wheel's most consistent scorer and matched his career high of 87 points. Now, can Datsyuk put up the numbers when they count the most? He hasn't scored a single postseason goal since the spring of 2002, when the Wings last won the Cup, going 0-9-9 in 21 games ever since. Connect now and he'll score big time as an unrestricted free agent July 1.
Sharks: Joe Thornton (C) -- Could this be the season Jumbo Joe finally proves his playoff mettle? The first pick in the '97 draft, the ex-Bruin was last year's MVP after being dealt to the Sharks, but he has yet to take full command of a playoff team and show the greatness predicted of him a decade ago. Thornton broke 100 points this year for a second season in a row. He rarely plays with fire and grit, but if he decides to button down and play at full intensity, he easily could lead the Sharks to their first Cup. Talent by the ton, but for all that weight, it has been a long wait in the playoffs.
Stars: Jussi Jokinen (LW) -- The Stars playing a grinding, defensive-minded game that makes them the Devils of the west. Effective, but by and large boring. In the midst of that mundane attack, however, the 24-year-old Finn has a way of standing out, which was especially true during regular-season shootouts. Jokinen has dazzling moves. He has touch. In a more open game plan, he might become one of the game's true offensive focal points. He had only three points in five first-round games last season, but the Stars scored only 15 goals in the series loss to the Avs.
Wild: Marian Gaborik (RW) -- The Slovak superstar helped carry Jacque Lemaire's Trappist Wonks to the conference final in '03, connecting for 17 points in 18 playoff games. Neither he nor the Wild have seen the postseason since. One of the game's fastest and most highly skilled skaters, Gaborik once again was hindered by injuries this season, and was sidelined for all of November and December. Stronger and faster than his early years, he is certain to someday score 100 points if he can stay healthy for 82 games. A Conn Smythe candidate if the Wild can catch a wave.
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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The Week in Sports Pictures The Giants on top of the football world, getting ready for the London Olympics and more. more photos |
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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