IF IT’S WEDNESDAY, MANNING WON’T BE PRACTICING
ENGLEWOOD (AP) – It’s now been more than a month since Peyton Manning practiced on a Wednesday. The 37-year-old quarterback who hates missing any snaps has had to make some concessions in the backstretch of his stellar career and this is the latest one.
His last Wednesday practice came back on Oct. 16. Manning still participates in the Wednesday morning walkthroughs when the passing plan is introduced. What he misses out on is the team’s lone padded practice of the week where the running plans are installed. Also sitting out this week Wes Welker (concussion) and Julius Thomas (knee). The Broncos (9-1) visit the Patriots (7-3) Sunday for Manning’s 14th meeting with Tom Brady.
AVS BEAT BLACKHAWKS
DENVER (AP) – Semyon Varlamov stopped 36 shots, Paul Stastny had a goal and an assist and the Colorado Avalanche beat the Chicago Blackhawks 5-1 on Tuesday night.
Gabriel Landeskog and John Mitchell also scored during Colorado’s three-goal first period. P.A. Parenteau and Cody McLeod added goals in the second and third for Colorado, which snapped a three-game skid. Brandon Saad scored for the Blackhawks, who failed to get at least two goals for the first time this season. Colorado ended Chicago’s NHL-record streak of 24 consecutive games with at least a point to start a season in a 6-2 win last March. Antti Raanta made 14 saves in his NHL debut for the Blackhawks. He played the final 46:23 in relief of Corey Crawford, who allowed three goals on seven shots.
VONN’S CONDITION UNKNOWN
DENVER (AP) – Reigning Olympic downhill champion Lindsey Vonn has crashed while training ahead of her return to racing following major knee surgery. U.S. Ski Team spokesman Tom Kelly says Tuesday that Vonn is being evaluated at a hospital after being taken off the slope at Copper Mountain, Colo., on a sled. Kelly says he is not sure whether Vonn hurt her surgically repaired right knee. He adds: “We have no reason to believe it’s anything significant right now.” The four-time overall World Cup champion tore her ACL and MCL in a crash at the world championships in February. She has been aiming to return to Word Cup competition next week in Beaver Creek. The Sochi Games are in February.
