ew Page 1459 - Sports News, Headlines & Highlights

Lightning out to bolster defense against Flames
Coming off a 2-1 loss, the Tampa Bay Lightning are not focused on their offensive attack heading into a Thursday road clash with the Calgary Flames.,It is the Lightning's defensive game that was under scrutiny after a Tuesday defeat at the hands of the Edmonton Oilers, a result that snapped a two-ga...

Tony Finau (knee) withdraws from Grant Thornton Invitational
Tony Finau pulled out of the Grant Thornton Invitational citing a knee injury on Tuesday, two days before the start of the combined PGA Tour/LPGA event at Naples, Fla.,Finau was scheduled to team with women's world No. 1 Nelly Korda after the pair tied for fourth in the tournament last year. Instead...

Hamady Diop among San Diego FC's expansion draft picks
San Diego FC selected five players, including 2023 MLS SuperDraft No. 1 overall pick Hamady Diop, in the 2024 MLS Expansion Draft on Wednesday as it prepares for its inaugural 2025 season.,Three of the selections -- Diop, Heine Gikling Bruseth and Jasper Loffelsend -- will remain with San Diego, whi...

Bill Belichick, North Carolina agree to five-year deal
Bill Belichick rejoined the coaching ranks at a different level on Wednesday, landing a five-year contract to take over as the head coach at North Carolina.,The deal must be ratified by the university's Board of Trustees and Board of Governors. A special session will be held Thursday, according to m...

On a roll, Utah tries to contain Avalanche's dynamic duo
The Utah Hockey Club make their first visit to Denver since relocating from Arizona and will face a revamped Colorado Avalanche team on Thursday night.,At least part of the team.,Colorado recently turned over its goaltending position, with Justus Annunen and Alexandar Georgiev leaving in separate tr...

Both teams rolling as Oilers visit Wild
Most teams view a matchup against the Edmonton Oilers as a measuring-stick game.,The Oilers, however, have a few teams they want to measure up against, also. They will face one of those teams when they meet the Minnesota Wild on Thursday night in Saint Paul, Minn. Both teams have won six of their la...

Golden Knights open difficult trip against formidable Jets
Following a rare five-day break, the Pacific Division-leading Vegas Golden Knights depart for arguably their toughest road trip of the season., ,Vegas will play three games in four days, including games against the two teams that are tied for the NHL lead in points. It starts Thursday against the Wi...

Texas attempts to get back on track vs. NMSU
Texas looks to rebound and take another step back toward the Top 25 when it hosts New Mexico State on Thursday in Austin, Texas.,The Longhorns (7-2) have four nonconference games remaining before starting Southeastern Conference play with the new year. Texas lost to two-time defending champion UConn...

High-scoring Kings, hot from long range, face skidding Pelicans
The Sacramento Kings have averaged 140.5 points in their past two games and 127.2 points over their past five games.,The New Orleans Pelicans have allowed an average of 122 points in their past four games.,The potential for lighting up the scoreboard will be high when the Kings visit the Pelicans on...

Hoping not to make franchise history, Predators visit Stars
If the Nashville Predators are to avoid setting the franchise record for most consecutive losses, they might have to do it without their undisputed leader.,They would also have to find a way to beat the Dallas Stars on their home ice.,The Stars are looking for their fifth straight home win while sen...

Reports: Texans S Jalen Pitre (pectoral) done for season
Houston Texans standout safety Jalen Pitre will undergo season-ending pectoral surgery, according to published reports on Wednesday.,Pitre partially tore the pectoral muscle in the first quarter of a Week 12 loss to the Tennessee Titans. He missed one game and then the Texans had a bye last weekend....

Reports: Rich Rodriguez returning to coach West Virginia
Seventeen years after his successful tenure as West Virginia's coach ended, native son Rich Rodriguez is on the verge of returning to the helm of the Mountaineers, multiple media outlets reported on Wednesday.,After firing Neal Brown following a 6-6 regular season, West Virginia set its sights on br...

Unbeaten at home, Virginia battles rested Bethune-Cookman
Virginia looks to build momentum at home starting with Thursday night's nonconference game against Bethune-Cookman in Charlottesville, Va., ,The Cavaliers (5-4) are 4-0 at home, where they will remain for five straight games through the first week of January., ,Virginia has lost four in a row in roa...

Gus Malzahn: Move to FSU impacted by changes to coaching
Describing himself as an "old-school football coach," Guz Malzahn said he resigned from leading UCF's program to become Florida State's offensive coordinator due to the recent changes in a college head coach's job description.,Malzahn, 59, was set to make $15 million over the next three seasons at t...

As speculation swirls, Jimmy Butler reportedly interested in four teams
Jimmy Butler's name is trending in trade rumors and the six-time NBA All-Star is just with it.,As the Miami Heat consider trading Butler, he reportedly has four destinations in mind, according to ESPN. They are the Dallas Mavericks, Houston Rockets, Golden State Warriors and Phoenix Suns.,"I actuall...

NC A&T, Virginia Tech out to improve shooting, end skids
Two teams struggling to put the ball in the basket will meet when North Carolina A&T takes on Virginia Tech in nonconference action Thursday night in Blacksburg, Va., where one losing streak will end.,Virginia Tech (3-6) has dropped its last six games, failing to score more than 64 points in any of ...

QB Garrett Nussmeier returning to LSU
Quarterback Garrett Nussmeier announced Wednesday that he will return to LSU for his senior season.,"I am officially announcing that I am returning for my final year of eligibility, and I am fully committed to bringing this university a championship," Nussmeier said in a video posted to X. "My teamm...

Blues host Sharks looking to keep winning under new coach
The San Jose Sharks are in the middle of a long-haul rebuilding effort. The St. Louis Blues are trying to retool more quickly.,These Western Conference rivals will each try to continue their process Thursday when the Blues host the Sharks at Enterprise Center.,The Blues are coming off a 3-1-0 road t...

Blackhawks have lots to prove in first of back-to-back games vs. Islanders
Back-to-back games against one of the few NHL teams already likely out of playoff contention seemingly present the New York Islanders with a valuable opportunity to gain ground in the crowded Eastern Conference wild-card race.,But the Chicago Blackhawks began their three-game road trip by proving th...

Caps look to keep record road win streak going vs. Blue Jackets
The Washington Capitals look to extend their franchise-record road winning streak to 10 games when they visit the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday night.,The Blue Jackets have lost four of five games, including a 5-3 defeat to the visiting Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday night.,Kent Johnson had a go...