Ovechkin reaches 800 career goals in 7-3 win over Blackhawks – Wednesday Morning Sports Update

capitals-blackhawks-hockey

NHL – National Hockey League
Last Night
Washington Capitals 7, Chicago Blackhawks 3
Carolina Hurricanes 1, Detroit Red Wings 0

Washington Capitals’ Alex Ovechkin holds his 798, 799, and 800th career goal pucks in the locker room next to hats collected for his hat trick after an NHL hockey game against the Chicago Blackhawks Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2022, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

Capitals 7, Blackhawks 3 – Ovechkin reaches 800 goals as Capitals beat Blackhawks 7-3
Alex Ovechkin scored three times to become the third NHL player with 800 career goals, and the streaking Washington Capitals beat the lowly Chicago Blackhawks 7-3. Nic Dowd, Anthony Mantha, Trevor van Riemsdyk and Dmitry Orlov also scored as Washington earned its fifth straight win. Conor Sheary had two assists, and Charlie Lindgren made 26 stops. The Capitals went 6-2-1 during a nine-game stretch that had only one home date. They play seven of their next nine at home, beginning Thursday night against Dallas. Chicago dropped to 1-11-1 in its last 13 games. It has scored just four goals during a four-game slide.

Detroit Red Wings goaltender Ville Husso (35) stops a Carolina Hurricanes right wing Stefan Noesen (23) shot in the first period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2022, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Hurricanes 1, Red Wings 0 – Skjei gives Carolina 1-0 win; Detroit’s Larkin leaves game
Brady Skjei scored the only goal and Pyotr Kochetkov made 27 saves in the Carolina Hurricanes’ 1-0 win over the Detroit Red Wings 1-0 in the 100th career meeting between the teams. Carolina improved to 5-0-1 on its current road swing, tying a record for most wins and setting a record for points on the road — passing Hartford’s 10-point trip from Jan. 30-Feb. 11, 1996. Ville Husso made 26 saves for the Red Wings. Detroit captain Dylan Larkin blocked a shot earlier in the game and did not return for the third period. Coach Derek Lalonde said Larkin would not be able to play on Wednesday but didn’t elaborate.

Tonight
Detroit Red Wings at Minnesota Wild, 7:30 p.m.

NCAAFB – Mississippi State football coach Mike Leach dies at 61
Mississippi State football coach Mike Leach has died following complications from a heart condition. The pioneering coach helped revolutionize the college football passing game with the Air Raid offense. Leach had been hospitalized over the weekend and had a bout of pneumonia late this season. He died Monday night. In 21 seasons as a head coach at Texas Tech, Washington State and Mississippi State, Leach went 158-107. Six of the 20 best passing seasons in major college football history were by quarterbacks who played for Leach, including four of the top six. Mike Leach was 61.

NCAAFB – Mississippi St faces tough decisions following Leach’s death
No. 24 Mississippi State will be playing in the ReliaQuest Bowl against Illinois on Jan. 2 in Tampa, Florida. That is one of the few solid things around the football program following the sudden death of coach Mike Leach at the age of 61. Mississippi State is facing a search for a new coach. The annual signing day for recruits is coming up next week. Some players may transfer. And MSU is already looking for a permanent athletic director. Bracky Brett is serving in an interim role since John Cohen left to become AD at Auburn.

NCAAFB – CFP – Ryan Day, Buckeyes feel urgency behind second chance at CFP
Ohio State didn’t get to control its playoff destiny after losing to rival Michigan at the end of the regular season. No matter. The Buckeyes are in the postseason and they’re yearning for redemption. Coach Ryan Day said Tuesday the No. 4 Buckeyes had productive practices last week and realize the opportunity they have in front of them with a semifinal showdown against top-ranked Georgia. The Buckeyes took the back door into the College Football Playoff, benefiting from USC’s second loss this year to Utah in the Pac-12 Championship game. Defending champion Georgia will host Ohio State on New Year’s Eve in the Peach Bowl in Atlanta.

NFL – Cardinals QB Kyler Murray out for season with torn ACL
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray has a torn ACL and will miss the remainder of the season. Cardinals coach Kliff Kingsbury confirmed the extent of the injury during his Tuesday news conference. The news is not a surprise after the 25-year-old injured his knee on the third play of Monday night’s 27-13 loss to the New England Patriots. The fourth-year quarterback was flushed out of the pocket and running to his right when he tried to juke past a Patriots defender, but tumbled to the grass in obvious pain. Players from both teams surrounded the quarterback before he was carted off the field with a towel draped over his head.

NBA – National Basketball Association
Tonight
Detroit Pistons at Charlotte Hornets, 7:00 p.m.
Golden State Warriors at Indiana Pacers, 7:00 p.m.
New York Knicks at Chicago Bulls, 7:30 p.m.

NBA – Warriors’ Green says Bucks fan ‘threatened’ him; fan tossed
A fan was ejected following a complaint by Golden State Warriors star Draymond Green during a game at Milwaukee on Tuesday night. The Bucks said they are investigating the incident and consulting with the NBA. Security personnel removed the man, who was sitting a few rows beyond the baseline, during a stop in play in the third quarter. Green said he pointed out the fan’s behavior to a game official, and the situation was taken care of from there. Green said the fan said “some threatening stuff to my life.” The Warriors lost the game 128-111.

NCAA – Michigan State must disclose deals with 2 big sports donors
A judge has ordered Michigan State University to release donor agreements with two alumni who gave or pledged millions of dollars to the athletic department. Michigan State has acknowledged that some of the money will help pay for a $95 million contract with football coach Mel Tucker. Tucker got a new deal in 2021 while leading the Spartans to an 11-2 record. But Michigan State has refused to release the agreements with Mat Ishbia and Steve St. Andre, citing a privacy exemption in the state’s public records law. A judge rejected that argument Monday. Michigan State has 10 days to release the records. The lawsuit was filed by the Detroit Free Press.

MLB – AP source: Carlos Correa, Giants reach $350M, 13-year deal
All Star shortstop Carlos Correa and the San Francisco Giants have agreed to a $350 million, 13-year contract, a person familiar with the negotiations has told The Associated Press. The 28-year-old Correa also was a free agent one year ago after leaving the Houston Astros, and he reached a $105.3 million deal with the Minnesota Twins. That agreement gave him the right to opt out after one year and $35.1 million to hit the market again. Correa batted .291 with 22 home runs and 64 RBIs in his one season with Minnesota.

ECHL – ECHL Hockey League
Today
Kalamazoo Wings at Iowa Heartlanders, 11:35 a.m.
Wheeling Nailers at Indy Fuel, 7:00 p.m.
Toledo Walleye at Norfolk Admirals, 7:05 p.m.

NBAGL – NBA G-League
Tonight
Sioux Falls Skyforce at Grand Rapids Gold, 7:00 p.m.
Windy City Bulls at Motor City Cruise, 7:00 p.m.

FIFA – World Cup 2020 – Qatar
Yesterday
Semifinal 1
Argentina 3, Croatia 0

Argentine 3, Croatia 0 – Messi, Argentina beat Croatia 3-0 to reach World Cup final
Lionel Messi is back in the World Cup final with Argentina on his mission to win soccer’s biggest prize for the first time. He could hardly be playing any better. Messi converted a penalty and had a hand in the other two goals by Julián Álvarez to lead Argentina to a 3-0 win over Croatia. It set up a meeting with either France or Morocco in Sunday’s title match. It will be the 35-year-old Messi’s second World Cup final in what might be his last ever appearance at the tournament. Croatia failed in its bid to reach a second straight World Cup final.

Today
Semifinal 2
France vs. Morocco, 2:00 p.m.

FIFA – Morocco faces France in politically charged WCup semifinal
As Morocco faces France in the World Cup semifinal, many players and fans of both diverse teams grapple with family tales of colonial history, challenges of immigration, questions of national loyalty. The match has political and emotional resonance for both nations. It dredges up everything that’s complicated about the relationship in which France still wields considerable influence. For many in the former protectorate, the match against the defending champion is an opportunity to show that Morocco is a formidable foe — on the soccer pitch at least — even though immigration between the two countries has blurred the lines for many in France and in Morocco about who to support Wednesday in Qatar.

MHSAA – High School Sports
Last Night
Boys Basketball
SMAC
Battle Creek Central 52, Lakeshore 28
-J.J. Frakes led Lakeshore with 9 points in a 52-28 loss at Battle Creek Central. Jackson Bushu added 7 in the loss.

Kalamazoo Central 51, St. Joseph 43
-After St. Joe took a 10-5 lead after the first quarter, Kalamazoo Central tied the game at 19-19 at the half and outscored St. Joe 17-4 in the third quarter before holding off a Bear comeback in the 4th quarter of a 51-43 win.  Chase Sanders had 13 points to lead St. Joe while Luke Lehner had 12.  Kai Wyndarden came off the bench and had 11.  Hutch ward had 27 for KC.

Mattawan 69, Kalamazoo Loy Norrix 57
Portage Central 57, Gull Lake 51
Battle Creek Lakeview 67, Portage Northern 54

Wolverine
Otsego 53, Sturgis 43
Edwardsburg 62, Paw Paw 57
Plainwell 57, Three Rivers 33
Niles 49, Vicksburg 28

BCS
Countryside 54, Our Lady of the Lake 42
-Ja’Vrius Gordan scored 23 points for Countryside in a 54-42 win over Our Lady of the Lake.

Eau Claire 88, New Buffalo 45

SAC
Bridgman 53, Coloma 29
Parchment 73, Delton-Kellogg 39
Kalamazoo Hackett 83, Galesburg-Augusta 50
Lawton 48, Gobles 20
Constantine 76, Holland Black River 62
Saugatuck 74, Allegan 44

Southwest 10
Cassopolis 66, Bangor 12
White Pigeon 74, Comstock 50
Lawrence 52, Mendon 49
Centerville 70, Decatur 49
-Jesse Bauschke had 21 points to lead Decatur.

Non-Conference
River Valley 55, Dowagiac 44
Schoolcraft 57, Marshall 53

Girls Basketball
SMAC
Lakeshore 52, Battle Creek Central 26
-Lakeshore had three players in double figures, led by Emily Lockman’s 15 points in a 52-26 win over Battle Creek Central, Paige Lies had 13, while Megan Wurster scored 11.

Kalamazoo Central 64, St. Joseph 41
-Jaslynn Ward had 14 points to lead St. Joe in a 64-41 loss at Kalamazoo Central.

Mattawan 47, Kalamazoo Loy Norrix 34
Portage Central 31, Gull Lake 24
Battle Creek Lakeview 39, Portage Northern 19

Wolverine
Otsego 66, Sturgis 44
Edwardsburg 53, Paw Paw 40
Three Rivers 50, Plainwell 45
Vicksburg 67, Niles 7

BCS
Our Lady of the Lake 59, Countryside 8
-Abby Schrauben had a game high 12 points to lead the Lakers over Countryside Academy 59-8.

Michigan Lutheran 36, Howardsville Christian 28
Eau Claire 19, New Buffalo 17

SAC
Kalamazoo Christian 61, Gobles 27
Martin 39, Kalamazoo Hackett 35
Lawton 42, Saugatuck 35

Southwest 10
Bangor 67, Cassopolis 22
White Pigeon 53, Comstock 22
Mendon 48, Lawrence 29
Centreville 51, Decatur 22

Non-Conference
Watervliet 55, Hartford 6
Dowagiac 50, River Valley 24
GR Ottawa Hills 60, Allegan 35

Tonight
Boys Basketball
Eau Claire at Kalamazoo Phoenix, 8:00 p.m.