NHL – National Hockey League
Last Night
Chicago Blackhawks 2, Winnipeg Jets 1 – OT
Minnesota Wild 6, Detroit Red Wings 3
Blackhawks 2, Jets 1 – OT – Connor Bedard scores 1st overtime goal, powers Blackhawks past Jets 2-1
Connor Bedard scored his second goal of the game at 2:15 of a frantic overtime, leading the Chicago Blackhawks to a 2-1 win over the Winnipeg Jets. Bedard, who leads NHL rookies in scoring, sent a wrist shot under the glove of Winnipeg’s Connor Hellebuyck for the first OT goal of his career and his 15th of the season as Chicago earned just its second win in eight games. Morgan Barron scored in regulation for Winnipeg, which lost for the second time in 11 contests (8-1-2). Petr Mrazek made 37 saves for Chicago. Hellebuyck finished with 23 shots.
Wild 6, Red Wings 3 – Kirill Kaprizov scores in 4th straight game as Wild beat the Red Wings 6-3
Ryan Hartman and Marcus Foligno scored 52 seconds apart in the third period to break a tie and Minnesota Wild defeated the Detroit Red Wings 6-3. Kirill Kaprizov extended his goal-scoring streak to four games, Marcus Johansson scored twice and Matt Boldy added a goal for Minnesota, which has won four in a row and seven of eight. Filip Gustavsson made 25 saves. Patrick Kane scored for the fourth straight game and Alex DeBrincat and Daniel Sprong added goals as the Red Wings lost for the sixth time in seven games.
NBA – National Basketball Association
Tonight
Detroit Pistons at Boston Celtics, 7:30 p.m.
Indiana Pacers at Chicago Bulls, 8:00 p.m.
NBA – Herb Kohl, former US senator and owner of the NBA’s Bucks, has dies at 88
Herb Kohl, a former Democratic U.S. senator from Wisconsin and former owner of the Milwaukee Bucks, has died. He was 88. His death Wednesday was announced by Herb Kohl Philanthropies. The foundation did not give a cause but said he died after a brief illness. Kohl was a popular figure in Wisconsin. He purchased the Bucks to keep them from leaving town and spent generously from his fortune on civic and educational causes throughout the state. He also used his money to fund his Senate races, allowing to him to portray himself as “nobody’s senator but yours.”
NFL – National Football League – Week 17
Tonight
New York Jets at Cleveland Browns, 8:15 p.m.
NFL – Denver Broncos bench QB Russell Wilson and will turn to Jarrett Stidham
The Denver Broncos are benching quarterback Russell Wilson for their game against the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday. Wilson will serve as a backup to Jarrett Stidham. Coach Sean Payton said he made the move because the offense needs a spark. Payton has been vocal about his displeasure over the team’s offensive struggles and two weeks ago had a sideline blowup directed at Wilson. The Broncos could move on from Wilson in the offseason, but it would be costly as they’d have $85 million in dead cap money over the next two years.
NFL – Chiefs’ Andy Reid and Travis Kelce hash things out after sideline outburst
Kansas City Chiefs coach Andy Reid says he has talked with Travis Kelce after the star tight end’s sideline outburst in which he chucked his helmet toward the benches during a loss to the Las Vegas Raiders on Christmas. Reid didn’t elaborate on what was said during the conversation. Kelce said on his “New Heights” podcast earlier Wednesday that he “reacted in a bad way” to the way the Kansas City offense continued to underperform. The Chiefs have lost three of their past four games to fall to 9-6, leaving them still in need of a win to clinch the AFC West. KC plays the Bengals next.
MLB – Yamamoto joins Dodgers, vows to compete for championships alongside Ohtani
The Los Angeles Dodgers have finalized their 12-year deal with Yoshinobu Yamamoto. They’ve teamed the prized free-agent right-hander with Shohei Ohtani in their prolific winter spending spree. The 25-year-old Yamamoto was coveted by teams across the majors after he elected to leave the Orix Buffaloes this offseason. The big-budget Dodgers landed him with a mammoth deal after already acquiring Ohtani and Tyler Glasnow this month. Yamamoto has posted spectacular numbers in Japan’s top league in recent years, winning three straight Most Valuable Player awards in the Nippon Pacific League.
NCAAFB – College Football Bowls
Yesterday
Military Bowl Presented by GoBowling.com – Navy-Marine Corps Stadium, Annapolis, MD
Virginia Tech 41, Tulane 20
Duke’s Mayo Bowl – Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, NC
West Virginia 30, North Carolina 10
DirecTV Holiday Bowl – Petco Park, San Diego, CA
USC 42, (15) Louisville 28
TaxAct Texas Bowl – NRG Stadium, Houston, TX
(20) Oklahoma State 31, Texas A&M 23
Today
Wasabi Fenway Bowl – Fenway Park, Boston, MA
(24) SMU vs. Boston College, 11:00 a.m.
Big Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl – Yankee Stadium, Bronx, NY
Rutgers vs. Miami, 2:15 p.m.
Pop Tarts Bowl – Camping World Stadium, Orlando, FL
(18) NC State vs. (25) Kansas State, 5:45 p.m.
Valero Alamo Bowl – Alamodome, San Antonio, TX
(14) Arizona vs. (12) Oklahoma, 9:15 p.m.
NCAAFB – Harbaugh, Michigan savor trip to Disneyland after wild journey to Rose Bowl
Top-ranked Michigan has shown during its journey to the College Football Playoffs that whatever obstacles are put in its way, it ends up galvanizing the team. That included two suspensions to coach Jim Harbaugh that ended up being a total of six games. The unbeaten Wolverines face Alabama in the Rose Bowl on Monday. Even though Harbaugh’s suspensions have ended, questions about his future at his alma mater remain. When asked if he would entertain offers from the NFL during the offseason, including one from the Los Angeles Chargers after they fired Brandon Staley on Dec. 14, Harbaugh deflected both questions and said his singular focus is on the upcoming game.
NCAAFB – Notre Dame announces Mike Denbrock as new offensive coordinator
Mike Denbrock is back for a third coaching stint at Notre Dame, this time as offensive coordinator. The school announced Denbrock’s hiring Wednesday. He spent the past two seasons as LSU offensive coordinator under former Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly. The Tigers led the country in offensive yards and points scored behind Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback. Denbrock worked with current Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman at Cincinnati.
MHSAA – Michigan High School Athletic Association
Yesterday
Boys Basketball
Earl McKee Holiday Tournament, Benton Harbor
Detroit Douglas 74, Kalamazoo Phoenix 31
Benton Harbor 69, Lansing Everett 54
Cornerstone University Holiday Showcase, GR
Benzie Central 77, Fennville 41
Schoolcraft 94, Fruitport Calvary Baptist 48
Motor City Roundball Classic at Ferndale
Riverview Gabriel Richard 57, Brandywine 55
Girls Basketball
Chuck Turner Fieldhouse Classic at Battle Creek Central
BC Calhoun Christian 34, BC Academy 24 – 2 OT
Battle Creek Central 65, Union City 11
Michigan Hardwood Classic at Romulus
East Kentwood 63, Kalamazoo Central 26
Brandywine 45, Blissfield 43
Today
Boys Basketball
Earl McKee Holiday Tournament, Benton Harbor
Inkster International vs. Kalamazoo Phoenix, 5:15 p.m.
Benton Harbor vs. Detroit Douglas, 7:00 p.m.
Cornerstone University Holiday Tournament – Silver Division
Coldwater vs. Jenison, 6:00 p.m.
Byron Center vs. Otsego, 7:30 p.m.
Chuck Turner Fieldhouse Classic at Battle Creek Central
Battle Creek Lakeview vs. Harper Creek, 6:00 p.m.
BC Pennfield vs. Battle Creek Central, 8:00 p.m.
Girls Basketball
Chuck Turner Fieldhouse Classic at Battle Creek Central
Battle Creek Lakeview vs. Harper Creek, 2:00 p.m.
BC St. Philip vs. Battle Creek Central, 4:00 p.m.
