Rotoworld: Oregon RB LaMichael James and Oklahoma State WR Justin Blackmon among top 10 players who are being overhyped for the 2012 draft.
SportsTalk: Albert Pujols signs with the Angels and Prince Fielder joins the Tigers. Which team is better now?
The Detroit Red Wings equaled an NHL record with their 20th straight win at home, beating the Philadelphia Flyers 4-3 Sunday night on the strength of Johan Franzen's tiebreaking goal early in the third period.
PBT: Boston's Rajon Rondo continues to be named in trade talks, which is madness. The Celtics guard creates offense and makes everyone around him better, which was evident in Sunday's win over the Bulls.
Arc: Syracuse is among a solid group of No. 1 seeds in our latest tournament projections, but the middle of the pack is much more murky.
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.
Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods greeted their Sunday pairing at Pebble Beach with optimism. But the day would end happily only for one.
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.
AFP/Getty Images
HELSINKI - Antti Niemi and the Chicago Blackhawks made the best of their opportunities against the Florida Panthers.
The Blackhawks had three power-play goals and the Finnish goalie stopped 23 shots in a 4-0 victory over the Panthers before 12,000 of his countrymen on Saturday.
A day after losing the season opener in a shootout, Chicago started Niemi in goal in place of Cristobal Huet.
“It was a good opportunity to play him in front of his own countrymen,” Chicago coach Joel Quenneville said. “He got a good challenge and we loved the response.”
“You can give him a lot of credit to stand up during two barrages early in the second period and with a couple of cutthroat situations when he makes spectacular saves in the third.”
Niemi was playing in just his fourth NHL game.
“Niemi showed us that he is a NHL-level goalie,” the Blackhawks’ Brian Campbell said.
Campbell, Patrick Kane, Patrick Sharp and Dustin Byfuglien scored for Chicago.
Set up by Kane, Campbell opened the scoring 3:05 into the game while Finn Ville Koistinen, the star in Florida’s win Friday, was off for interference. Campbell fired low from the point, with Byfuglien providing a screen.
“It was nice to score early,” Quenneville said. “We had more energy early in the game now, we got a lot of loose pucks and had four lines capable of scoring and making plays. Some guys were dangerous in both games, but it was more consistent now.”
Florida came back with a strong start to the second period, but Kane’s opportunism led to the second goal 5:12 into the period. Sharp fired at full speed from the right wing, and Kane was a split-second faster to the rebound than defenseman Keith Ballard and put it into the net for his second goal in as many games.
“You have to be pleased ... for our team, and for myself,” Kane said. “I was able to help the team well.”
The Blackhawks couldn’t convert on a two-man advantage for 55 seconds a few minutes later, but went up 3-0 with less than a minute left in the period when Michael Frolik was off for tripping.
The Panthers threatened while short-handed, but after a second try the puck got loose, Kris Versteeg chased, beat Ballard to it and passed to Sharp, who shot past goalie Tomas Vokoun. He finished with 29 saves.
Florida coach Peter LeBoer wasn’t happy with the split.
“A month ago I would have taken it, but after winning the last game you get greedy and want the four points,” he said. “We’re a skating, forechecking team and need legs. Part of it was that we didn’t have the legs and part that Chicago played a great game and made us look bad.”
The Detroit Red Wings equaled an NHL record with their 20th straight win at home, beating the Philadelphia Flyers 4-3 Sunday night on the strength of Johan Franzen's tiebreaking goal early in the third period.
ProHockeyTalk headlines |
 | Video: NHL from NBC Sports |
 |
 | Slideshow |
 | NHL All-Stars Take a look at the players who competed in Team Chara's 12-9 victory over Team Alfredsson. more photos |
| Slideshow |
 | more photos |
| Slideshow |
 | more photos |
| Slideshow |
 |
| Slideshow |
 | more photos |
 | Slideshow |
 |
The Week in Sports Pictures The Giants on top of the football world, getting ready for the London Olympics and more. more photos |
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.
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.
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.