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 three goals as the New York Rangers beat Philadelphia 5-2 on Saturday for their seventh straight win over the Flyers.
Jeremy Lin hit a free throw with 4.9 seconds left to overcome a dreadful second half and lift the New York Knicks to their fifth straight victory, 100-98, over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday night.
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.
CFT: Jordan Jefferson makes it clear he wasn't happy with LSU's game plan in the Tigers' BCS Championship Game loss to Alabama.
Move over, Hollywood and NFL types, golf's two real A-listers take center stage Sunday at Pebble Beach, both in need of a win.
The United States swept favored Switzerland out of the Davis Cup on Saturday when Mardy Fish and Mike Bryan beat Roger Federer and Stanislas Wawrinka 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 6-3.
Luis Suarez's refusal to shake hands with Patrice Evra overshadowed Manchester United's 2-1 win over rival Liverpool that lifted the defending champions to first place in the Premier League on Saturday.
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.
The last time Chicago won in Philadelphia, Alex Zhamnov was in his first season with the team. The Blackhawks won’t have him around this time.
Zhamnov will make his first appearance against his former club since being traded last week as the Flyers try to keep the Blackhawks winless in Philadelphia since the 1996-97 season.
“They (the Blackhawks) are like family to me,” Zhamnov said. “But I understand it’s a business. I play for Philly and I’m going to try to win. I don’t know what to expect. Right now I’m on the other side. I know I have to play hard and help this team win.”
The Flyers acquired Zhamnov on Thursday in a deal that sent center Colin Fraser and defenseman Jim Vandermeer to the Blackhawks. Philadelphia also received a fourth-round pick in the June draft, and Chicago got a second-round pick.
The trade fills a big need for the Flyers, with centers Jeremy Roenick (concussion, broken jaw) and Keith Primeau (concussion) sidelined.
Zhamnov played in his first game for Philadelphia on Saturday, going scoreless in a little less than 17 minutes as the Flyers ended a a three-game losing streak with a 5-4 victory over Atlanta on a successful penalty shot by Simon Gagne with 1:01 left in regulation.
Zhamnov, who had six goals and 12 assists in 23 games with lowly Chicago prior to the trade, said it felt good to finally play in a meaningful game.
In his 11 seasons, Zhamnov has been to the playoffs only three times, including just once (2001-02) in seven full years with the Blackhawks.
“I’m excited to be on a team contending for the Stanley Cup,” Zhamnov said. “The last couple of months were tough. I knew I’d be traded. I just didn’t know where. I’m happy to be here.”
Zhamnov was a member of the last Chicago team to win in Philadelphia, 4-1 on Nov. 9, 1996. The Blackhawks have since lost five straight road games to the Flyers.
Chicago, however, has played well of late. The Blackhawks beat St. Louis 3-2 in overtime at home on Sunday for their fourth win in six games.
Kyle Calder tied it at 2-2 with 1:28 left in regulation, and Stephane Robidas gave Chicago the win with 19.5 seconds left in overtime.
Robidas, a low-scoring defenseman, has scored only one other goal this season. In 253 NHL games, he has 12 goals and 30 assists.
“I don’t get a lot of chances to play on the power play,” Robidas said. “When you get a chance in a four-on-three late in the game, you want to go out there and prove to yourself and everyone you can do a job.”
Chicago is just 5-22-3-1 on the road this season, but has won two of its last three away from home.
Ryan Callahan scored three goals as the New York Rangers beat Philadelphia 5-2 on Saturday for their seventh straight win over the Flyers.
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Jeremy Lin hit a free throw with 4.9 seconds left to overcome a dreadful second half and lift the New York Knicks to their fifth straight victory, 100-98, over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday night.
Doron Lamb hit a 3-pointer with 3:18 left to put No. 1 Kentucky ahead to stay, and the Wildcats took a big step toward a Southeastern Conference regular-season title by beating Vanderbilt 69-63 Saturday night for their 17th straight win.
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.