AVS SNAP LOSING STREAK IN NASHVILLE
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – Gabriel Landeskog scored two goals in regulation and then netted the winner in the shootout to lead the Colorado Avalanche to a 5-4 victory over the Nashville Predators on Tuesday night.
Cody McLeod and Nick Holden also for Colorado, which ended a three game losing streak.
NICASIO SHARP IN ROCKIES WIN OVER CHISOX
GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) – Juan Nicasio held the Chicago White Sox hitless for five innings and Jordan Pacheco homered, helping the Colorado Rockies to a 4-1 victory on Tuesday.Nicasio struck out six of the first eight batters and eight overall. He was removed after 82 pitches and walking just one – that runner was erased on a double play. The only other Chicago player to reach base was Adam Eaton, who struck out but made it to first on a wild pitch.
ANOTHER NUGGET BITES THE DUST
DENVER (AP) – The Denver Nuggets say forward J.J. Hickson had surgery to repair a torn ligament in his right knee on Tuesday. Hickson hurt his ACL early in the fourth quarter of Denver’s loss at Dallas last Friday, when he went down along the baseline. This has been an injury-riddled season for the Nuggets, who were already without Danilo Gallinari, JaVale McGee and Nate Robinson after they each had season-ending operations. The 25-year-old Hickson averaged 11.8 points and 9.2 rebounds this season. He also had a team-high 26 double-doubles. Nuggets general manager Tim Connelly said of Hickson: “We know he will attack his rehab with the same energy and hard work that he displays on the court every night.”
ELSEWHERE IN SPORTS…..
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) – NFL owners have passed a rule allowing referees to consult with director of officiating Dean Blandino and his staff to help determine whether a call should be upheld or overturned. NFL officials said the change should speed up the process. Blandino and other staff will be monitoring the games from league offices in New York, and they will immediately begin reviewing challenges before the referee even gets to his monitor.
BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) – Buffalo Bills owner and American Football League co-founder Ralph Wilson has died at 95. He was instrumental in the AFL/NFL merger and watched his team win four consecutive AFC championships from 1990-93 without winning the Super Bowl. Wilson had been in failing health for several years after hip surgery in 2011, two years after he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
SURPRISE, Ariz. (AP) – Texas Rangers ace Yu Darvish has been scratched from his scheduled start in Monday’s season opener because of stiffness in his neck. Darvish is scheduled to return to Texas to be examined by a spine and back specialist. The Rangers haven’t said who will start the opener in Darvish’s place.
NEW YORK (AP) – People familiar with the negotiations tell The Associated Press that baseball players and management hope to reach a new drug agreement by Sunday. The new agreement would increase initial penalties for muscle-building steroids and decrease suspensions for some positive tests caused by unintentional use. The deal would also eliminate the loophole allowing Alex Rodriguez to earn almost $4 million during his season-long ban.
PITTSBURGH (AP) – Pittsburgh Penguins center Evgeni Malkin will miss two to three weeks while recovering from a foot injury. The club says the former MVP was hurt during his first shift in Sunday’s 1-0 loss to St. Louis. Malkin is seventh in the league with 72 points despite missing 11 games for various reasons.
