PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. — Preparing for his first PGA Tour event of the 2012 season, Tiger Woods stated Tuesday that a poor final round in Abu Dhabi two weeks ago when he had a chance to win has not deterred him and that he is pleased with the say of his game.

Woods failed to close out a win despite holding a share of the 54-hole lead with unheralded Englishman Robert Rock.

Tiger Woods feels good about himself and it shows as he brings his improved game to Pebble Beach, Gene Wojciechowski writes. Story

But Woods took the positives out of the result, which he viewed as a continuation of strong play toward the end of 2011, when he was third at the Australian Open, had a solid Presidents Cup and won the unofficial Chevron World Challenge.

His tie for third at the European Tour event gives him a run of three consecutive top-3s in stroke-play events.

“Even though I lost, I was very pleased with the [fact] that was my bad day of ballstriking, and it was not that bad,” Woods stated of a final-round 72 that left him 2 strokes back.

Woods noted that the stats did not look good — just two fairways hit in the final round and only six greens in regulation. That naturally led to wondering if the changes he is been working on under coach Sean Foley were not quite ready for such a test.

But Woods also stated that several of his tee shots ran through fairways, and that he putted from off of several greens. Regardless, he is taking the positives out of the experience as he looks to play this week’s AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am for the first time in 10 years.

“If I can have that as my bad ballstriking day, then we are looking pretty good,” Woods said. “I’m excited about that. The previous three days were very good.”

He has gone 26 tournaments dating to November 2009 without winning an official event.

Woods will play the first round at Spyglass Hill on Thursday (10:01 a.m. local time), followed by Monterey Peninsula on Friday (9:17) and Pebble Beach on Saturday (8:22).

Woods will play with Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo in the pro-am format that requires each team to play at Pebble Beach, Spyglass Hill and Monterey Peninsula Country Club over the first three rounds. The cut is then made after 54 holes, with all pros and the top amateur teams advancing to the final round on Sunday at Pebble Beach.

Get all the latest news, highlights and commentary about the world’s most talked-about golfer on ESPN.com. Tiger Tracker

This is Woods’ first PGA Tour event since a tie for 30th in October at the Frys.com Open. After a run of six straight years at Pebble Beach, which saw him win the 2000 tournament as well as the 2000 U.S. Open here, Woods has not played the tour event since 2002. He tied for fourth here at the 2010 U.S. Open.

Woods stated he is excited about playing with Romo, who has a solid enough game that he has made it through local qualifying for the U.S. Open. Woods stated he was shocked to learn that organizers were originally set to give Romo a plus-3 handicap — which means Romo would have to add 3 strokes to his score for handicap purposes.

“He’s been calling me quite a bit, sending me video of his golf swing, ‘What can I do, what can I do,’ ” Woods said. “He’s competitive and he is been grinding hard. It’s been cool to see.”

Woods also weighed in on the issue of belly and long putters, which the United States Golf Association stated at its annual meeting Saturday would be reviewed. The rules-making body will study whether the clubs should be granted to be anchored against the body.

“I’ve never been a fan of it,” Woods stated of the putters which have become more popular lately. Keegan Bradley was the first player to capture a major championship at last year’s PGA using an anchored putter. “I believe it’s the art of controlling the body and club and swinging the pendulum motion. I believe that is how it should be played. I’m a traditionalist when it comes to that.”

Woods stated he has talked to R&A and USGA officials about a rule that would prevent a putter from being longer than the shortest club in the bag.

The USGA, however, stated it is not looking at the clubs so much as it is determining if it is OK for them to be anchored to the stomach or chest.

Bob Harig is a senior golf writer for ESPN.com

source : espn.go.com

updated 10:37 p.m. ET Feb. 7, 2012

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Colt Ryan gave Evansville the lead for good by making a 17-footer with 3:08 to play Tuesday night, and the Purple Aces closed the game on a 13-1 run to pull off a 65-57 upset of No. 17 Creighton.

The nation’s ideal shooting team was out of sync all night and wound up losing a second straight game for the first time this season. Creighton (21-4, 11-3 Missouri Valley Conference) was led by Doug McDermott with 21 points.

Kenny Harris scored 15 points to lead Evansville (12-12, 7-7), which ended a six-game losing streak against the Bluejays. The Purple Aces limited Creighton to 40.4 percent shooting from the field, including 4 of 22 on 3-pointers, and did not trail until early in the second half.

Evansville was behind 48-41with 12:56 to go but rallied with a 9-2 run to tie the score at 50.

Creighton rebuilt a 56-52 lead with 5:23 to go, but the Purple Aces’ defense dominated the rest of the way.

Harris hit a 15-footer to tie the score at 56 with 4:15 left. Sixty-seven seconds later, Ryan hit the midrange jumper to break the tie and Harris followed that with another basket to make it 60-56 with 2:16 to go.

Austin Chatman then missed three of four free throws for Creighton, and Evansville closed it out by making five free throws in the final minute.

The Bluejays entered the game with the nation’s top field goal shooting percentage (51.2), top 3-point shooting percentage (44.8) and was ranked in the top 10 in scoring (81.0). Against the Aces, they missed their first eight 3-point attempts and started the game 6 of 17 from the field. Worse, they committed eight turnovers in less than 12 minutes and struggled to play defense against an Evansville team that had lost three of its last four games.

Lewis Jones gave the Aces an unexpected boost by making his first two 3-pointers of the season during a 10-2 run that gave Evansville a 29-19 lead with 5:07 left in the first half.

That’s when Creighton finally turned things around.

Down 31-21, Antoine Young made a 15-footer and McDermott followed with Creighton’s second 3 of the game. The Bluejays closed the half on a 10-2 run to get within 33-31.

Creighton changed everything with a easy adjustment.

By repeatedly pushing the ball inside to Gregory Echenique, the Bluejays opened the second half by making their first five shots and taking a 37-35 lead, their first of the game, on McDermott’s short jumper with 16:59 to go.

But Evansville turned the game with the run midway through the second half and put it away with the closing run.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

More newsJohn Sommers Ii ReutersNo. 1 Kentucky flies by Florida

  Freshman Michael Kidd-Gilchrist had 13 points and 13 rebounds and top-ranked Kentucky easily passed its toughest Southeastern Conference test to date with a 78-58 victory over No. 8 Florida on Tuesday night.

source : nbcsports.msnbc.com

Missouri’s guard Marcus Denmon (12) shoots in front of Oklahoma’s Romero Osby during the first half of an NCAA…

Points7168FG Made-Attempted27-48 (.563)26-51 (.510)3P Made-Attempted7-21 (.333)7-12 (.583)FT Made-Attempted10-18 (.556)9-23 (.391)Fouls (Tech/Flagrant)18 (0/0)17 (0/0)Largest Lead106

Missouri escaped Norman with a 71-68 win largely thanks to its strong play inside the arc. The Tigers made almost 75 percent of its 2-pt field goals and outscored the Sooners by 16 points in the paint, overcoming a 7-for-12 effort from beyond the arc by Oklahoma.

[+]4 Missouri vs OklahomaInside the BoxscoreTotal pts71682-pt FG pct74.148.73-pt FG pct33.358.3Pts in paint2812

NORMAN, Okla. — Sandwiched between an emotionally charged victory against archrival Kansas and a top 10 showdown with first place on the line, Missouri faced a test of its collective focus.

The Tigers got a passing grade — barely.Marcus Denmon scored 25 points, Ricardo Ratliffe added 15 points and 10 rebounds and No. 4 Mizzou claimed first place in the Big 12 by edging Oklahoma 71-68 on Monday night.”We comprehend that this game was just as important as the last one,” Denmon said. “Pretty much, we have a veteran group and we just wanted to make sure everybody came out and understood how important this game would be for us to play after a huge win like the one at home against Kansas.”Chatmon: Distraught in Oklahoma

Distraught is the ideal word to describe the reaction of Steven Pledger after Oklahoma’s 71-68 loss to Missouri at the Lloyd Noble Center on Monday. Story

Coach Frank Haith required his players to report to a hotel by 2 a.m. after their late-night victory against the then-No. 8 Jayhawks, trying to temper the celebration and get a head begin on a road game less than 48 hours later against an opponent they had beaten by 38 points earlier this season.Asked whether it was the right move, Denmon and Ratliffe looked at each other and did not state a word.Finally, Denmon answered and got a pat on the back from his first-year coach.”Whether I wanted to go to the hotel or not, I understood,” Denmon said. “I understood that it was a good decision by Coach and it seems like it helped us.”The Tigers host Baylor on Saturday.Oklahoma (13-10, 3-8) still had the ball with a chance to tie with 5 seconds left. Romero Osby was fouled with 2.5 seconds left and missed both free throws, and Steven Pledger missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer when the offensive rebound was tapped back to him.Pledger slumped to the ground and put his hands over his face after his potential tying shot clanged off the rim to end the game. He stayed on the floor until two Missouri players and teammate Barry Honore came over to lift him up.”It was perfect. The play was designed to miss the free throw and get the tip-out and we actually got the tip-out,” stated Pledger, who led Oklahoma with 22 points.”It was on line. It felt good when it left my hand. It did not go in.”Sam Grooms had a career-high 17 points and matched his career-best with 10 assists, and Andrew Fitzgerald scored 12 points for the Sooners.Michael Dixon chipped in 13 points for Missouri.The Tigers (22-2, 9-2) moved a half-game ahead of No. 6 Baylor and Kansas (No. 10 ESPN/USA Today, No. 7 AP) in the standings. Those teams meet Wednesday night for a chance to pull even with Missouri, and the Tigers host the Bears on Saturday.This one was nothing like Oklahoma’s previous meeting with Missouri, won 87-49 by the Tigers on their home court. Missouri held a 15-rebound advantage in that one but Oklahoma came out ahead 36-22 on the boards on Monday.The Tigers made up for it by holding a 28-12 scoring edge the paint and getting the only 10 fast-break points of the game.”There’s no question you had to fight against all of that — the emotional win and then you have a game at your place where you just played incredible and they did not play their ideal game,” Haith said.”So, you get a false sense. You worry about that false sense of what it’s going to be like when they get here.”In Norman, they found a half-full Lloyd Noble Center and a student section with dozens of empty seats that had newspapers draped over the backs that the occupants would usually hold up during pregame introductions.It still got loud when the Sooners pulled within 66-64 after Pledger’s 3-pointer from the left side with 3:33 to play.Denmon followed with a jumper from the right side with 2 seconds left on the shot clock before Grooms and Pledger both went 1 for 2 at the free throw line to get Oklahoma back within two.Kim English then hit a 3-pointer from the right side off Phil Pressey’s seventh assist to provide what proved to be the game-winner with 53.6 seconds left.Fitzgerald hit two free throws for Oklahoma with 41.6 seconds remaining and Dixon missed on a drive to the basket to give the Sooners their last chance with 5 seconds left.”We never let them take the lead, and that was a sign of a good team,” Haith said. “I think once they made runs, we executed when we needed to make a shot.”Oklahoma connected on its first six shots, and eight of 10 to get out to a 17-12 lead before Missouri surged back with seven straight points to take its first lead. The Sooners had an answer a few minutes later, getting two jumpers from Fitzgerald and a 3 by Pledger to go back up 29-23 with 5:27 left before halftime.At that point, it did not seem like the hotel strategy was working.”I felt like we came with energy,” Denmon said, “but it has to be on both ends.”As hot as Oklahoma started from the field, it was equally cold at the foul line — missing all seven of its free throws in the first half.The Tigers finally took charge, scoring the final six points of the first half and the first six of the second to build a 42-33 lead after Denmon’s three free throws.Dixon’s jumper from the right side of the key gave Missouri a momentary 10-point lead before Pledger hit consecutive 3-pointers to get the crowd involved. Oklahoma got within 55-52 after Grooms’ jumper from the right wing with 12 minutes left before coming up empty on three possessions with the chance to tie it.”You want to win at this point in time,” Grooms said. “We just have certain plays and certain mishaps on the court that do not grant us to do that right now. … When we are ready to do it, we will do it. It’s up to us at the end of the day.”

Copyright by STATS LLC and The Associated Press

source : sports.espn.go.com

updated 10:38 p.m. ET Feb. 6, 2012

NORMAN, Okla. – For an uncontrollable situation with 2.5 seconds left on the clock, Oklahoma’s last chance to forge overtime against No. 4 Missouri went about as well as it could — until Steven Pledger’s 3-point shot refused to go down.

Pledger slumped to the ground and put his hands over his face after his potential tying shot clanged off the rim to end the Sooners’ 71-68 loss.

Romero Osby was forced to miss a free throw with 2.5 seconds left to set up one last unlikely shot for Oklahoma, and Pledger got the ball when the offensive rebound was tapped back to him on the right wing.

“It was perfect. The play was designed to miss the free throw and get the tip-out and we actually got the tip-out,” stated Pledger, who led the Sooners with 22 points.

“It was on line. It felt good when it left my hand. It did not go in.”

Marcus Denmon scored 25 points and Ricardo Ratliffe added 15 points and 10 rebounds for Missouri, which claimed first place in the Big 12 with the victory. The Tigers (22-2, 9-2 Big 12) had moved into a tie for first with No. 6 Baylor and No. 7 Kansas by beating the archrival Jayhawks on Saturday night.

“We comprehend that this game was just as important as the last one,” Denmon said. “Pretty much, we have a veteran group and we just wanted to make sure everybody came out and understood how important this game would be for us to play after a huge win like the one at home against Kansas.”

Oklahoma (13-10, 3-8) still had the ball with a chance to tie with 5 seconds left, after Michael Dixon missed on a drive to the basket. Osby was fouled with 2.5 seconds left and missed both free throws, the second one intentionally.

That finished an uncharacteristic night when Oklahoma missed 14 of 23 free throws, after making 75 percent on the season. Missouri, fifth in the nation at 77 percent, was not much better at 10 for 18.

“It’s hard to explain because we have shot free throws very well,” Sooners coach Lon Kruger said. “When you play the game long enough, it will happen. Unfortunately, it happened kind of with everyone, it seemed.”

Sam Grooms had a career-high 17 points and matched his career ideal with 10 assists, and Andrew Fitzgerald scored 12 for the Sooners.

Michael Dixon chipped in 13 points for Missouri in a game nothing like the teams’ previous meeting, won 87-49 by the Tigers on their home court.

Missouri held a 15-rebound advantage in that one but Oklahoma came out ahead 36-22 on the boards on Monday. The Tigers made up for it by holding a 28-12 scoring edge the paint and getting the only 10 fast-break points of the game.

It was Oklahoma’s third straight loss at home and fifth in the last six games overall.

“It is frustrating, I know, to the players, coaches and fans — to everyone — to not get the result that we want,” Kruger said. “We just have to keep getting better. We keep telling our guys afterwards, ‘Good battle and good work,’ but we have got to keep doing things from a habit standpoint to have more good possessions in a ball game, enough to get over the hump against good basketball teams.”

After rallying to beat Kansas in front of a noisy, sold-out home crowd less than 48 hours earlier, the Tigers arrived to find a half-full Lloyd Noble Center and a student section with dozens of empty seats that had newspapers draped over the backs that the occupants would usually hold up during pregame introductions.

It still got loud when the Sooners pulled within 66-64 after Pledger’s 3-pointer from the left side with 3:33 to play.

Denmon followed with a jumper from the right side with 2 seconds left on the shot clock before Grooms and Pledger both went 1 for 2 at the free throw line to get Oklahoma back within two.

Kim English then hit a 3-pointer from the right side off Phil Pressey’s seventh assist to provide what proved to be the game-winner with 53.6 seconds left.

Fitzgerald hit two free throws for Oklahoma with 41.6 seconds remaining and Dixon missed on a drive to the basket to give the Sooners their last chance with 5 seconds left.

“We never let them take the lead, and that was a sign of a good team,” Missouri coach Frank Haith said. “I think once they made runs, we executed when we needed to make a shot.”

The Tigers scored the final six points of the first half and the first six of the second to build a 42-33 lead after Denmon’s three free throws.

Dixon’s jumper from the right side of the key gave Missouri a momentary 10-point lead before Pledger hit consecutive 3-pointers to get the crowd involved. Oklahoma got within 55-52 after Grooms’ jumper from the right wing with 12 minutes left before coming up empty on three possessions with the chance to tie it.

“You want to win at this point in time, right now,” Grooms said. “We just have certain plays and certain mishaps on the court that do not grant us to do that right now. … When we are ready to do it, we will do it. It’s up to us at the end of the day.”

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

More newsLatest NCAA tourney projections

Beyond the Arc: Missouri rises to a No. 1 seed in our bracket, but there are plenty of surprises in store for those wondering if their team is in.

source : nbcsports.msnbc.com

For all the pomp and excess of Madonna’s Super Bowl halftime extravaganza a single extended middle finger by guest singer M.I.A. is likely to be the most remembered piece of the show.

The gesture, accompanied by a barely disguised expletive, came during a performance of Madonna’s new single, “Give Me All Your Luvin.” At the end of her lines, M.I.A. appeared to sing “I do not give a (expletive),” even though it was hard to hear clearly.

The incident was reminiscent of Janet Jackson’s infamous “wardrobe malfunction” eight years ago — a surprise risque moment in front of tens of millions of unsuspecting viewers. The brief exposure of Jackson’s nipple during the 2004 halftime show raised a storm of controversy and put CBS in hot water with the Federal Communications Commission.

The Super Bowl, shown on NBC this year, is routinely viewed by more than 100 million people, the biggest TV event of the year. The screen briefly went blurred after M.I.A.’s gesture in what was a late attempt — by less than a second — to cut out the camera shot.

“The NFL hired the talent and produced the halftime show,” NBC spokesman Christopher McCloskey said. “Our system was late to obscure the inappropriate gesture and we apologize to our viewers,”

The NFL blamed a failure in NBC’s delay system for allowing the gesture to be seen. Spokesman Brian McCarthy stated M.I.A. did not do anything similar during rehearsals and the league had no reason to believe she would pull something like that during the actual show.

“The obscene gesture in the performance was completely inappropriate, very disappointing, and we apologize to our fans,” McCarthy said.

The British singer M.I.A. is ideal known for her 2007 hit “Paper Planes,” a Grammy nominee for record of the year that memorably features a sample of the Clash song, “Straight to Hell.” It was featured on the soundtrack to the motion picture “Slumdog Millionaire.”

Madonna had admittedly been nervous about her performance, hoping to position herself as the queen of a new generation of pop stars with an opulent show and a sharp performance that blended her new release with more familiar songs. She seemed like Roman royalty when muscle-bound men carried her extravagant throne across the football field to the stage for her opening song, “Vogue.”

Guests Cee Lo, Nicki Minaj and dance rockers LMFAO also appeared with Madonna. The singing and dancing on “Vogue” was smartly choreographed, as Madonna moved more deliberately — she is 53 — but still adroitly. She briefly appeared to stumble at one point while trying to make a step on the stage set, but recovered in time.

She let a tightrope walker make the more acrobatic moves during a performance of “Music.”

Madonna carried gold pompons for a performance of her new single. Twitter was alight with questions about the vocals being lip synched or augmented by tapes, particularly during this song.

The ideal guest was clearly Cee Lo, who joined Madonna for the final song, “Like a Prayer.” They were joined by a robed chorus in the show’s most soaring performance. With a puff of white smoke, Madonna disappeared down a trap door in the stage, and lights on the field spelled out “World Peace.”

The performance was also carried live on SiriusXM Radio, giving Madonna the biggest single audience of her career. For all the elaborate choreography and flashy effects, the finger incident is the more likely headline from the event.

Earlier, Kelly Clarkson, Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert offered some pregame patriotism. Shelton and Lambert did a twangy duet on “America the Beautiful” and Clarkson, in a easy black dress, sang “The Star Spangled Banner” without a hitch after last year’s performer, Christina Aguilera, flubbed a line.

Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press

source : espn.go.com

updated 10:58 p.m. ET Feb. 5, 2012

INDIANAPOLIS – Take that, Brady. You too, Peyton.

Eli Manning is the huge man in the NFL after one-upping Tom Brady and leading the New York Giants to a 21-17 victory over the New England Patriots in Sunday’s Super Bowl — in older brother Peyton’s house, at that.

Just as Manning did four years ago when the Giants ruined New England’s perfect season, he guided them 88 yards to the decisive touchdown, which the Patriots did not contest as Ahmad Bradshaw ran 6 yards with 57 seconds left.

Patriots coach Bill Belichick reasoned the Giants would run the clock down and kick a short field goal, so he gambled by allowing the six points.

And now Manning not only has stamped himself as the elite quarterback he claimed to be when the season began — in the same class as Brady — he is beaten the Patriots in two thrilling Super Bowls. The Giants (13-7), who stood 7-7 in mid-December, now own the football world, and Manning owns two Super Bowl MVP awards, the same number as Brady.

“It’s been a wild game, a wild season,” Manning said. “This is not about one person. It’s about one team, a team coming together.”

Manning led six comeback victories during the season and set an NFL record with 15 fourth-quarter touchdown passes. He showed that brilliance in the clutch on the winning drive. He finished five passes, including a sensational 38-yard sideline catch by Mario Manningham to open the drive.

On second down at the Patriots 6 and with only one timeout remaining, Belichick had his defense stand up as Bradshaw took the handoff. Bradshaw thought about stopping short of the end zone, then tumbled in untouched.

“I was yelling to him, ‘Don’t score, do not score,’” Manning said. “He tried to stop, but he fell into the end zone.”

Brady could not answer in the final 57 seconds, even though his desperation pass into the end zone on the final play fell just beyond the grasp of All-Pro tight end Rob Gronkowski. New England (15-4), winner of 10 straight since a loss to the Giants in November, was done.

“I thought we played very competitive. … We were in the lead for a good part of the game. We just came up a couple of plays short,” Belichick said. “You do not feel good after you lose this game.”

Brady headed off with his head bowed, holding his helmet, while around him was the wild celebration by the Giants, NFL champions for the eighth — and perhaps most unlikely — time.

“Great toughness, great faith, and great plays by a number of guys today,” Manning said, deflecting some of the attention. Still, he one-upped Brady. And Peyton.

“It just feels good to win a Super Bowl, it doesn’t matter where you are,” Manning said.

It was the fifth trip to a Super Bowl for Brady and Belichick, tying the record. And it looked like a successful one when they stormed back from a 9-0 deficit and led 17-9 in the third quarter. But the Giants, who reached New England territory on every possession except a kneeldown at the end of the first half, got field goals of 38 and 33 yards from Lawrence Tynes. And it looked like Tynes, who kicked them into the Super Bowl four years ago at Green Bay and again this year at San Francisco, both in overtime, would get called on again.

Then Belichick, known to try just about anything in a game, took a risk that did not pay off.

The Giants are the first Super Bowl winner that was outscored during the regular season. They were 6-2 after that 24-20 victory at New England, then lost four straight and five of six.

Coach Tom Coughlin insisted “the prize” was still within reach. Now the Giants are holding tight to that Vince Lombardi Trophy.

“What I was concerned with was these guys making their own history,” Coughlin said. “This is such a wonderful thing, these guys carving their own history.”

New England had the ball for all of one play in the first 11 1-2 minutes, and that play was an utter failure, a rare poor decision by Brady. After Steve Weatherford’s punt was downed at the New England 6, Brady dropped to pass in the end zone and had time. With everyone covered and Giants defensive end Justin Tuck finally coming free to provide pressure, Brady heaved the ball downfield while still in the pocket.

Only problem: No Patriots receivers were anywhere near the pass. The Giants were awarded a safety for Brady’s grounding in the end zone.

Manning, meanwhile, could not have been more on target early, hitting six receivers in the first period, completing his first nine throws, a Super Bowl record. He also was aided by Ahmad Bradshaw, who hardly looked like a running back with a bad foot. Bradshaw broke a 24-yard run, and New England made another critical mistake by having 12 men on the field on a third-and-3 on which the Giants fumbled.

Instead, New York got a first down at the 6, and two plays later Victor Cruz beat James Ihedigbo on a slant to make it 9-0, prompting Cruz to break into his signature salsa move.

Manning’s first incompletion did not come until 1:19 into the second quarter.

At that point, it was 9-3 after Stephen Gostkowski’s 29-yard field goal. The Patriots got to the Giants’ 11, but All-Pro DE Jason Pierre-Paul blocked a third-down pass.

Soon after, when the Patriots had a three-and-out and Pierre-Paul blocked another throw, Belichick and offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien had a quick discussion. Then O’Brien, soon to take over as Penn State coach, went over to the struggling Brady.

The speak must have helped. On the final series of the opening half, Brady was masterful. Starting at his 4, and ignoring the last time the Patriots began a series in the shadow of the end zone, he was vintage Brady.

With New York’s vaunted pass rush disappearing, Brady went 10-for-10 for 98 yards, capping the drive that included two Patriots penalties with Woodhead’s 4-yard TD reception with 8 seconds to go in the half. Hernandez and Woodhead each had four catches on the drive that, stunningly, put New England ahead despite being outplayed for so much of the first 30 minutes.

Brady kept firing — and hitting — in the third quarter, with five more completions. The Giants did not come within shouting distance of the record-setting quarterback. He capped a 79-yard drive to open the second half with a 12-yard TD to Hernandez, but then the game turned. Again.

Consecutive field goals by Lawrence Tynes of 38 and 33 yards brought New York within 17-15. Brady then threw deep for his tight end after weaving away from two pass rushers. His throw was short, and Chase Blackburn picked it off early in the fourth quarter.

Although the Giants moved into New England territory again, as they did on every drive to that point, they bogged down and punted.

© 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

More newsEli, Giants beat Brady, Pats again

  Eli Manning and the Giants one-upped Tom Brady and the Patriots again, coming back with a last-minute score to beat New England 21-17 Sunday night for New York’s fourth Super Bowl title.

Jamie Squire / Getty ImagesEli Manning wins 2nd Super Bowl MVP award

INDIANAPOLIS -Eli Manning won his second Super Bowl Most Valuable Player award Sunday night after rallying the New York Giants to a 21-17 victory over the New England Patriots.

source : nbcsports.msnbc.com

The Green Bay quarterback won the 2011 Associated Press award in a landslide. Manning, the hometown hero who did not play a down this season because of neck surgery, handed it to him.

Manning was greeted with a standing ovation when he came on stage at the Murat Theatre during “NFL Honors,” a primetime special on NBC. Moments later, the crowd was back on its feet for Rodgers.

“It means a lot to be recognized as a consistent player and contributing on my team,” Rodgers said. “I think it’s an award that relies on a player having the support of his teammates, obviously, guys blocking, guys running, guys catching, guys making plays. But I’m very honored to receive the award.”

Speaking to Manning, who did not miss a game for 13 seasons before 2011, Rodgers added: “We’re all really excited to see you back on the field next year.”

Rodgers earned 48 votes to two for New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees in balloting by a nation-wide panel of 50 media members who regularly cover the NFL. The Packers star is the first Green Bay player honored since Brett Favre concluded a run of three straight seasons as MVP in 1997.

Brees won Offensive Player of the Year for the second time.

• Baltimore defensive end/linebacker Terrell Suggs, Defensive Player of the Year.

• San Francisco’s rookie coach Jim Harbaugh, Coach of the Year.

• Detroit quarterback Matthew Stafford, Comeback Player of the Year.

The top two picks in last April’s draft took the rookie awards: Carolina QB Cam Newton and Denver linebacker Von Miller.

Rodgers led the NFL in passing with a 122.5 rating built on 45 touchdown passes, six interceptions and a 68.3 completion percentage as the Packers went 15-1 and won the NFC North. The Packers were beaten by the New York Giants at Lambeau Field in the divisional round.

“People really count on me to be consistent each week, to play well. Knowing that my performance, the fact that I touch the ball every play, I have a direct impact on the game, the way I play,” Rodgers said. “And if I’m playing consistent and doing things I know I’m supposed to do, we have been able to have some success because of it.”

He joined former Packers Bart Starr, Jim Taylor and Paul Hornung as MVPs.

Rodgers is the third consecutive quarterback voted MVP, joining New England’s Tom Brady (2007, 2010) and Manning (2008, 2009).

Brees shattered Dan Marino’s 27-year-old mark by passing for 5,476 yards, and his 468 completions broke Manning’s 2010 record of 450. Brees completed the season completing 71.6 percent of his passes, breaking his own 2009 NFL record (70.6). He also surpassed 300 yards passing for seven straight games and 13 times during the season, both beating league marks he already held.

Thanks to Brees’ brilliance, the Saints set several single-season records, including offensive yards with 7,474 and first downs with 416.

“Our ideal is yet to come, not just for our team, but the league,” Brees said.

Suggs had 70 tackles, including 14 sacks, and was a threat all over the field from his hybrid linebacker-end position. He also forced seven fumbles and had two interceptions.

Teammate Ray Lewis, a two-time winner of the award, praised Suggs’ versatility.

“That’s why when you sit back and watch him year after year, week after week, I am just proud to state that I love how he comprehends the game now,” Lewis said.

In his first season as an NFL head coach, Harbaugh guided the 49ers to a 13-3 mark and the NFC West championship. They beat New Orleans in the first round of the playoffs before losing the conference title game to the Giants.

“I’ve stated so often how proud I was of this team. I thought they played their hearts out,” Harbaugh said. “I thought we were a well-coached team. They stand toe-to-toe and fight every time they go out onto the field.”

Stafford beat out six other players who received votes. He fought through injuries his first two seasons, then threw for more than 5,000 yards in 2011 to lead Detroit to its first playoff berth in 12 years.

Newton set an NFL record for touchdowns rushing in a season by a quarterback with 14 and became the first player in league history to throw for 4,000 yards and rush for 500. He helped Carolina improve from 2-14 to 6-10, throwing for 21 touchdowns.

“He set a standard, a very high standard, for any rookie quarterback coming in, and he wants to improve,” Carolina coach Ron Rivera said. “He’s gotten better in so many different areas. … He’s really taken his game to next level, and there is so much room for him to grow. He’s got such a high ceiling.”

It’s special because you only get one rookie season. You do not get two tries at it.

on winning Defensive Rookie of the Year

The second Bronco to win the defensive award — LB Mike Croel got it in 1991 — Miller made 64 tackles and had 11½ sacks despite missing one game and playing the last four contests with a cumbersome cast protecting his surgically repaired right thumb. He teamed with quarterback Tim Tebow to energize the Broncos, who rallied from a 2-5 record to the AFC West title and a playoff win over Pittsburgh.

“It’s special because you only get one rookie season,” Miller said. “You do not get two tries at it. It’s really a one-and-done thing. That was probably the most special thing about it, you only get one shot to accomplish this feat.”

Ravens center Matt Birk is the Walter Payton Man of the Year.

The award honors a player for his off-the-field work as well as for his playing excellence.

Birk, a 14-year NFL veteran, has made 96 consecutive starts and is one of the Ravens team leaders. He also supports youth literacy with a program called “Ready, Set, Read,” through his HIKE Foundation.

Birk also has concurred to donate his brain and spinal cord tissue to the Boston University’s Center for Traumatic Encephalopathy, which researches the effects of repetitive head trauma.

Tebow won the Never Say Never Moment of the Year Award for his performance in Denver’s 13-10 overtime win against the Chicago Bears in Week 14, as voted by fans. The award honors the ideal moment or play of the year that represents determination and perseverance.

Information from The Associated Press contributed to this report.

source : espn.go.com

updated 10:55 p.m. ET Feb. 4, 2012

WASHINGTON – Blake Griffin fell two assists shy of a triple-double, and he did not even play in the fourth quarter.

It was that kind of dominating night for the Los Angeles Clippers, who rebounded from a disappointing loss in a huge way, jumping on the Washington Wizards early and cruising to a 107-81 win.

Griffin had 21 points, 11 rebounds and tied a season-high with eight assists to lead Los Angeles, but he was hardly the only Clippers player to pile up huge numbers.

DeAndre Jordan shot 9 for 11 from the field for 18 points and had 11 rebounds. Mo Williams had 17 points and eight assists. The Clippers outrebounded Washington 53-32 and had a 32-17 advantage in assists.

Los Angeles lost to the Nuggets on Thursday and started a six-game road trip at Washington, so this was exactly the type of win the Clippers were looking for.

“We were all disappointed in our performance the other day against Denver,” Jordan said. “We really wanted to jump out on them early and set the tone.”

“It was pitiful,” Wall said. “They could do whatever they wanted — whenever they wanted — all night.”

Los Angeles never trailed and opened up a double-digit lead midway through the first quarter after a 13-2 run. The Clippers led 28-17 after the first quarter and removed any doubt about the outcome by scoring the final nine points of the first half, taking a 58-34 lead into halftime.

The Wizards were not able to regroup after the break, scoring just four points in the first 6½ minutes of the third quarter as Los Angeles opened up a 36-point lead, the largest advantage the Clippers have had in any game this season.

“We came out in the third quarter and kind of put it on them there pretty quickly,” Griffin said. “Guys were hitting shots and we were getting stops and getting out in the open court — I think that is when you feel like we can keep it going.”

Griffin had a number of his usual crowd-pleasing dunks, saving his ideal for last. With a minute to play in the third quarter, Griffin soared high for an alley-oop dunk from Williams.

The monster slam gave Los Angeles a 81-50 lead and earned the biggest cheer of the night from the Verizon Center crowd of 19,419. It was Washington’s largest crowd of the season.

“We all should have been embarrassed. We were on our home court — and they came out and did what they wanted,” stated Wizards forward Rashard Lewis, who had two points. “As a unit, none of us came to play tonight.”

Jordan followed Griffin a few seconds later with an electrifying dunk of his own, flying in after Griffin missed a free throw to slam the ball home.

The Clippers were playing so well it hardly mattered that Chris Paul had an off night on the offensive end, scoring a season-low two points on 1 of 9 shooting. Paul did have seven assists and stated he was pleased by the team’s defensive effort.

“From the tip to the end of the game, we controlled the game,” Paul said. “When we get stops, we are tough to guard in transition. We’ve got the shooters, we have got the high fliers and all that. When we defend teams, we are tough to beat.”

NOTES: Wizards F Trevor Booker was in the starting lineup for the sixth time this season, and the first since Jan. 16. He replaced Jan Vesely, who had started the previous five games. … Washington scored fewer than 20 points in each of the first three quarters for the first time this season. … Clippers coach Vinny Del Negro stated F Kenyon Martin, who signed with Los Angeles Friday, will join the team Sunday in Orlando. Del Negro stated he did not know what role Martin would play until they met and Del Negro assessed Martin’s conditioning. … Caron Butler was facing Washington for the first time since the Wizards traded him to Dallas in 2010. … Griffin was 1 for 7 from the free throw line, missing his first five. Including the Clippers’ previous game against Denver, Griffin missed seven free throws in a row, which tied a career long drought according to STATS LLC.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

  Rookie Nikola Vucevic set a career high with 15 points to lead six Philadelphia scorers in double figures and the Sixers dodged back-to-back losses once again by beating the Atlanta Hawks 98-87 on Saturday night.

Griffin almost gets triple-double in Clippers rout

Blake Griffin had 21 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists, and DeAndre Jordan had 18 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Los Angeles Clippers to a 107-81 victory against the Washington Wizards on Saturday night.

source : nbcsports.msnbc.com

Sunday’s game between his team and the New England Patriots should be the only event making news, but another matter has captivated the media’s attention: the future of Manning’s older brother, Peyton, the Indianapolis Colts quarterback. As much as people have followed the hype of this game, they have been easily seduced by speculation about what the Colts will do with a Pro Bowl-caliber player who missed the entire season.

It seemed likely that Eli’s game in his brother’s backyard would lead to some predictable storylines. But nobody could’ve imagined Peyton would steal the show with his overwhelming presence.

AP Photo/Darron CummingsEli Manning always has been a bit overshadowed in his famous family, which includes his father, Archie, and brothers Peyton and Cooper (left to right).

How familiar this all seems. Peyton always has been the biggest star of the Manning brothers — including oldest brother, Cooper, a star high school receiver in his own right. Eli has had to fight his way out of that shadow. Peyton has been more accessible, more comfortable with his own stardom. Eli has been more elusive and reclusive. We know he is gifted in his own right. We just do not know much else beyond that, largely because he doesn’t grant others to see him as easily as Peyton does.

It’s not a knock on Eli. It’s just who he is. But digging deeper into his life reveals some qualities that have gone unnoticed in a city that scrutinizes its celebrities like no other. A few days ago, Liz Merrill gave you 12 things you did not know about Tom Brady. Now here are 10 things you did not know about Eli:

There was a time when Peyton was known to show up in Nashville nightclubs to sing a number or two onstage with notable country music stars. Eli does his crooning in a different way — through the power of karaoke. Manning is low-key when he is standing in front of a podium at a news conference, but when he is holding a microphone and the music starts blaring from a computerized sound machine, he is an entirely different animal.

The man also apparently has no limits to his versatility. He can do pop music, ’80s hits and his fair share of classic rock. One night he found himself doing a surprisingly impressive rendition of a Johnny Cash song, a performance that was even more eye-opening because — as with other tunes — Eli did not need to follow the words on the video screen. “It’s astonishing that in a world filled with camera phones that Eli Manning hasn’t been caught singing karaoke in some New York nightspots,” one former teammate said. “Mark Sanchez gets caught all the time. But the thing that is really wild about Eli is that he is actually a good singer.”

HE’S ALWAYS MADE THOSE AROUND HIM BETTER

Former Giants general manager Ernie Accorsi once told a story about scouting Manning during Manning’s senior season at Ole Miss. What Accorsi remembered most about the Rebels’ 24-20 win at Auburn that day was not Manning’s overall numbers, even though he threw for 218 yards and two touchdowns. It was the way Manning operated with such an ordinary supporting cast. Only three other starters on that team were selected in the NFL draft a few months later. Manning overcame a mediocre begin to rally his team with an 80-yard fourth-quarter drive that gave Ole Miss a key victory in what would be a 10-win season.

Accorsi could see that one of Manning’s greatest strengths did not always seem obvious: He can carry a team whenever necessary. This season, Manning’s presence has certainly helped the development of Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz. To hear Cruz tell it, he learned plenty from Manning in offseason workouts the quarterback organized during the lockout, and he is gleaned just as much during Manning’s receivers meetings at the end of every practice week. Said Giants general manager Jerry Reese: “I’ve stated this lot of times since Eli has been with us — one of the most attractive things that we liked about him was making players around him better since his days at Ole Miss. That’s definitely the case here with Victor Cruz.”

HE HAS A PRETTY GOOD SENSE OF HUMOR

Chris Faytok/The Star-Ledger/US PresswireOh, sure, they made nice a huge win, but Eli Manning and kicker Lawrence Tynes once had a spirited prank rivalry.

You would not know it from his docile public persona, but Manning is downright devilish about pulling pranks. Some of his favorites include putting invisible dye in the gloves or helmet of an unsuspecting teammate. He also has dumped a player’s clothes into the cold tub before dropping them into a freezer and returning them to the player’s locker before practice ends. He adores to come back on a teammate when he is had a prank pulled on him.

A few years ago, Manning and Giants kicker Lawrence Tynes had a prank rivalry going through training camp. Manning thought it was time to hit Tynes where it hurt. Because kickers were notorious for leaving the team buildings early after practice — they did not have as many daily scheduled meetings as others — Manning enlisted a couple of teammates to park their vehicles so they boxed Tynes’ automobile in. When Tynes went to his automobile thinking that he was headed for a nice meal and a return to his room, he had to sit there for at least another hour until Manning emerged with a huge grin.

“Like most people, he wants to enjoy what he is doing,” stated Giants offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride. “When the opportunity presents itself, he has always enjoyed a prank being played, especially when he is the one committing it. Now the players love it when it is reversed and he is the recipient of it. It is a good give and take.”

HE’S ALWAYS BEEN COMFORTABLE IN TIGHT SITUATIONS

Frank Gendusa coached all three Mannings at Isidore Newman School in New Orleans, and it did not take long for him to see Eli was as gifted as his older brothers Cooper and Peyton, who played receiver and quarterback, respectively. Manning was only in his freshman year when Gendusa had to turn to him in a pinch. Newman’s starting quarterback was suspended for a game midway through that season. Manning was the next-most talented signal-caller on the roster, so Gendusa gave him the job of leading a team that historically ranked among the ideal in Louisiana.

Manning did the same things that Giants fans have come to expect. He displayed moxie. He completed tough throws and gained the confidence of his older teammates. When the game ended in another Newman victory, Manning did not act as though he had arrived. He just kept working at his craft until he completed his career with just 100 yards fewer than Peyton had produced five years earlier.

So the fourth-quarter success he is enjoyed this year — he is been more efficient and successful than any other quarterback at the end of games — shouldn’t be a surprise. Manning seemed to be born to handle such moments. “Eli told everybody at the beginning of the season that he is a leader,” Giants defensive tackle Chris Canty said. “And he is proven that with his performance.”

HIS STUBBORNNESS AFFECTED BEN ROETHLISBERGER

Most people remember the controversy in the 2004 NFL draft, when Manning — along with his father, Archie — basically told the San Diego Chargers he would not play for them if they used the first overall pick to choose him. What was less documented before this week is how nervous the Giants had been about making the deal that brought him to New York. The Chargers eventually drafted Manning and dealt him to the Giants in exchange for quarterback Philip Rivers and two draft picks. But to hear Giants co-owner John Mara tell it this week, the process behind that transaction was anything but simple.

Said Mara: “I remember the night before the draft, I do not know how many phone conversations I had with Ernie [Accorsi] asking him, ‘Did [Chargers general manager] A.J. [Smith] call yet?’ And there was not [an answer]. A.J. played it pretty cool, and there was not any communication the night before, until I think we were on the clock. So it really did go down to the wire. Our back-up plan was Ben Roethlisberger, so either way we felt like we were in good shape, but we had our hearts set on Eli at the time.”

When that deal was sealed, Archie Manning spoke briefly with Hall of Fame tight end Kellen Winslow, whose own son, Kellen Winslow, was the sixth overall pick in that year’s draft. Winslow’s advice to Archie as the two dads waited for their sons to finish answering media questions moments after being drafted: “I would’ve done the same thing if it was my kid.”

HE HAS A BIG HEART

Ray Tamarra/Getty ImagesEli Manning supports Guiding Eyes for the Blind, which provides guide dogs for the blind as well as autistic children. Patrick Browne Jr. (right) is a longtime family friend; teammate David Diehl (left) attended a 2007 fundraiser.

Manning has spent the past five years hosting a golf tournament in Westchester County, N.Y., that raises money for Guiding Eyes for the Blind, a non-profit organization that provides guide dogs for the blind as well as autistic children. Manning became involved in the event because of his relationship with Patrick Browne Jr., a longtime family friend. Browne played golf with Eli when Eli was a kid growing up in New Orleans. Browne lost his sight almost 50 years ago, so he plays without the benefit of sight.

Browne remains a proficient golfer — he has won the Guiding Eyes tournament 21 times — despite the loss of his vision. Manning, even as a young man, admired Browne as an athlete and did not view him as limited. When Manning has hosted the golf tournament, he has played with a blindfold and used the same golf coaches as Browne and his fellow blind players. During his time with the tournament, Manning also has helped raise awareness for the organization.

The tournament enjoyed its biggest audience in 2007, when Manning succeeded Ken Venturi as the host. Last season, it enjoyed its biggest profit, generating more than $600,000. (Guiding Eyes receives no government assistance.) “Eli really has that Southern charm and chivalry,” stated Guiding Eyes spokesperson Michelle Brier. “He’s always sincerely interested in how our golfers live independent lives.”

Don’t let Manning’s easygoing personality fool you. He’s been in the NFL and New York long enough to remember some of the less flattering comments. It was not that long ago that many critics questioned whether Manning was tough enough and talented enough to succeed in such a hard-edged city. (Take note, Mark Sanchez.) One former teammate who played with Manning up to the 2007 season remembers only one private rant during Manning’s early years in the league … and that lasted all of five minutes before he went back to preparing for his next opponent.

Yet when Manning led the Giants to an upset win over the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Championship Game during the 2007 season, he revealed just how prickly he can be when pushed too far. When a prominent NFL reporter approached Manning after that game and congratulated him, the writer also mentioned that Manning had taken ample criticism. Manning responded, “That’s right. And you were one of the main ones.”

HE’S SMARTER THAN YOU THINK

AP Photo/Tony GutierrezAt Ole Miss, he impressed his coaches with his intelligence and grasp of the game.

Few people outside football have any idea how bright Manning is at dissecting the game. Duke offensive coordinator Kurt Roper coached him at Ole Miss and swears Manning could see things that few quarterbacks that age could comprehend.

“He has functional intelligence,” Roper said. “He can sit in a film room and break down route combinations, pass protections, defensive fronts, and he can do it all in about three seconds. Coaches like to get into the habit of running tape over and over so players comprehend what you are trying to do. Eli doesn’t need that. We get excited about fast-twitch athletes, guys who are really explosive physically. He’s what you call a fast-twitch thinker.”

As proof, Roper points to Manning’s final college game, a 31-28 win over Oklahoma State in the Cotton Bowl. Roper let Manning run what is known as “freeze” plays, meaning Manning had the opportunity to call whatever he wanted once he reached the line of scrimmage. Manning wound up scorching the Cowboys’ defense, completing 22 of 31 passes for 259 yards and two touchdowns.

The Giants see that same brilliance these days. “For us it’s no surprise our offense goes how Eli directs it,” Giants left tackle David Diehl said. “His understanding and grasp of our offense, his knowledge of things, the way that he is able to recognize blitzes or coverages or different things. When he is watching film, he notices things that the [defensive] line is doing. Not many quarterbacks pay attention.”

Manning has been skewered for being too passive, too unemotional and too willing to let bad body language after critical mistakes define him. He’s never let those criticisms modify his belief in the way he conducts business. He may not be as fiery as Peyton — or even Tom Brady — but his teammates have grown to embrace his dialed-down approach. Gone are the days when former Giants like Tiki Barber would chuckle at Manning’s inability to inspire with his locker room speeches. Today’s Giants see a quarterback who is cool under pressure and consistently gives them what they need.

“Instead of jumping on receivers when they make mistakes, Eli is more likely to pull them aside on the sideline, explain what they had discussed in practice and tell them what he is anticipating from them,” stated former Giants quarterback and current ESPN analyst Tim Hasselbeck. “When you have a guy who doesn’t have a confrontational approach to dealing with things, that is a better way of handling things. One of the reasons he and Kevin Gilbride get along so well is because Eli is the way he is. Kevin can be pretty fiery.”

HE’S ALWAYS BEEN AS DRIVEN AS PEYTON

AP Photo/Eric GayEli Manning has confidence in his laid-back leadership style.

Eli always has suffered by comparison to Peyton. As his high school coach Gendusa said, “They’ve always had the same physical characteristics — tall, good build, good arm — but their personalities have always been different. Peyton has always been outspoken, the rah-rah guy who would get on people in the locker room. Eli was always very quiet and led by example. But the bottom line is that they both got results.”

Gendusa stated Eli’s competitive nature was most apparent in the tiny things he did away from the field. When practice ended, Eli was always the one willing to gather up his receivers for at least 30 minutes of extra throwing. When they were lifting weights together, Eli was more than willing to do his required work instead of, as Gendusa put it, “standing in the corner and acting like a quarterback did not need to do those things.” Gendusa also stated that Eli’s capability to shake off adversity and focus on the task at hand set him apart from most players. “He’s never been one to grant outside forces to affect how he plays,” Gendusa said. “That’s why I always thought he could handle playing in New York.”

Added Hasselbeck: “Eli may be private and guarded, but he is always wanted to be the ideal quarterback he can be. He’d love to be in that conversation with Peyton and Brady, but he also has never let that drive consume him. As great as he wants to be, he is proven that he can still have a life away from the game.”

Senior writer Jeffri Chadiha covers the NFL for ESPN.com.

source : espn.go.com

updated 10:47 p.m. ET Feb. 3, 2012

ST. LOUIS – Jaroslav Halak stopped 22 shots and Jamie Langenbrunner scored in the second period to lead the St. Louis Blues to a 1-0 win over the Los Angeles Kings on Friday night.

Halak recorded his fifth shutout of the season and 21st of his career. He improved to 15-8-5 and has started six of the last seven games. Halak has four shutouts in his last seven starts. St. Louis has a league-best 10 shutouts.

St. Louis improved to a league-best 22-3-4 at home and has not lost a regulation game at home since dropping a 5-2 decision to Chicago on Dec. 3.

The Blues moved into a tie with Vancouver for second in the Western Conference with 67 points.

Jonathan Quick made 32 saves for the Kings. He has granted two goals or less in 12 of his last 14 starts.

The Kings, who fell to 10-6-6 on the road, had a two-game winning streak snapped.

St. Louis, which returned from a nine-day break, was the last team to play following the All-Star break.

Langenbrunner broke a 10-game scoreless string when he converted a pass from Matt D’Agostini at 8:38. It was the 57th game-winning goal of his career.

Halak, who is 12-1-3 in his last 16 starts, made a pair of key pad saves on Dustin Brown and Colin Fraser in the second period. He also stopped Justin Williams from close range with just over five minutes left in regulation.

NOTES: The Kings have a scored a league-low 22 goals in the first period. … Los Angeles began a six-game 11-day road trip on Friday. The Kings’ home, Staples Center, is preparing to host the Grammy Awards. … St. Louis wingers Alex Steen and Andy McDonald remain out with concussions. Steen has missed the last 14 games. … McDonald has not played since Oct. 13. Both will remain home when the team begins a three-game road trip Saturday in Nashville. “It’s really in the player’s hands,” coach Ken Hitchcock said. “They’ll let us know when they are ready.” The Blues have given up a Western Conference-low 102 goals this season.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

More newsGagner still in awe of 8-point night

Sam Gagner was still having trouble Friday believing his name is in the Edmonton Oilers record book alongside the likes of Wayne Gretzky and Paul Coffey.

source : nbcsports.msnbc.com