Alben » winners of the Sugar Bowl and Rose Bowl on New Years

ANAHEIM, Calif. - Chicago and Anaheim had the NHLs two best records and a combined 15 Olympians on the ice at Honda Center. Before all that world-class talent heads to Sochi this weekend, the Blackhawks demonstrated why theyre still the team to beat when the NHL gets back to work in three short weeks. Corey Crawford made 29 saves in his first shutout of the season and Chicago pulled within one point of Anaheim for the overall NHL lead with a 2-0 victory over the Ducks on Wednesday night. Marian Hossa scored in the second period and captain Jonathan Toews added a late goal for the defending Stanley Cup champion Blackhawks, who improved to 3-0-2 on their six-game trip before the Olympic break. Chicago followed up its victory in Los Angeles two days ago with another solid effort against the Ducks, suggesting the defending champs are hitting their stride right before Sochi. "The last handful of games on this trip, weve got back to the way we need to play," Toews said. "Thats a tough team to do that to, and we have to feel good about what we were able to accomplish." After keeping the Ducks off the scoreboard in a fast, well-played game, the Blackhawks also won the Western Conference powers season series, taking two of three from Anaheim. Chicago (35-10-14, 84 points) is right behind Anaheim (40-14-5, 85 points) with one game left before the break. "(Crawford) made some key saves, and we had some breaks and some fortunate bounces," Chicago coach Joel Quenneville said. "(Anaheim) had that run there, 19 of 20 (wins), but I think this trip really put us in a spot where were back in the mix. We played the right way, and were getting some good points." Quenneville also announced Patrick Kane wont be with the Blackhawks when they wrap up their trip in Phoenix. The American Olympians grandfather, Donald, died two days ago, and Kane is going back home to Buffalo before heading to Sochi. Jonas Hiller stopped 23 shots for the Ducks, who have lost four of five. Anaheim also has lost three straight home games after starting the season 20-0-2 at Honda Center. "We will overcome this," Anaheim coach Bruce Boudreau said. "I thought we put in a great effort. We just didnt score goals. Were not going to cry about it. Were just going to get back to work and put another big run together." Chicago mostly beat the Ducks with defence, a minor surprise in a meeting between two of the NHLs highest-scoring teams. Crawford turned away every chance generated by the Ducks, who hadnt been shut out in their first 56 games this season before getting blanked twice in their last three games by Dallas and Chicago. Anaheim improved its effort from recent games, yet struggled mightily to get clean scoring chances. The Ducks had a 15-3 shots edge early on, but couldnt score during 40 seconds of 5-on-3 play in the scoreless first period. "We were doing a lot of things right, but unfortunately we cant buy a goal right now," Ducks defenceman Cam Fowler said. "All we can do is continue to push, continue to work on it." Both rosters are dotted with Olympic talent, including five key members of the Canadian team headed to Sochi. In addition, two members of the Swedish team — Chicagos Johnny Oduya and Anaheims Jakob Silfverberg — were scratched. Just 39 seconds into the second period, Hossa sneaked into Anaheims defence and beat Hiller for his 24th goal. The Slovak Olympian also had two goals in Chicagos win over the Ducks last month. The Blackhawks matched the Ducks effort after the midway point of the game. Anaheims Daniel Winnik had an outstanding short-handed chance in the slot in the third period, but couldnt settle a bouncing puck in time. Toews wrapped it up with 2:31 to play with a slippery move off the wall. After Hossa grabbed a turnover by Fowler, Toews went toward the middle and put a shot past Hillers left arm for his 19th goal. NOTES: Oduya missed his first game of the season with a lower-body injury. Quenneville said the injury shouldnt prevent Oduya from playing in Sochi. ... Hossa has scored in five consecutive games. ... Ducks C Nick Bonino missed his third straight game with an apparent wrist injury. Before the game, Anaheim recalled F Emerson Etem for his first game with the Ducks since Dec. 9. Courtney Lee Jersey .com) - Blake Griffin led five Clippers in double figures with 24 points and the LA Clippers got back on track with a 101-97 win over the Utah Jazz. Bernard King Jersey . The Toronto Maple Leafs forward and Nashville Predators goaltender highlighted Mondays waiver transactions, with Calgarys Chuck Kobasew and Edmontons Philip Larsen also being placed on waivers. http://www.knickssale.com/kids-anthony-mason-knicks-jersey/ . As if he had been rehearsing it, Vasquez looked around with a grimacing stare as he clinched two fists and flexed his muscles. What do you think of DeMar DeRozans face after he hits a big shot, he was asked moments earlier. Mitchell Robinson Jersey .Y. -- Major League Soccer has agreed to new measures to protect gay players from discrimination and harassment as a result of meetings with New Yorks attorney general. Carmelo Anthony Jersey .com) - Jimmie Johnson won Sundays AAA Texas 500 while championship contenders Jeff Gordon and Brad Keselowski as well as their teams were involved in a post-race fight on pit road after the two clashed in the closing laps at Texas Motor Speedway.Mississippi State tops the first College Football Playoff rankings. The Bulldogs, who are also No. 1 in the Associated Press and coaches polls, led the rankings announced Tuesday after a vote by a 12-member selection committee. Florida State, which won the last BCS National Championship Game, is No. 2 in the rankings followed by Auburn and Ole Miss. Oregon is fifth and Alabama sixth. It was the first of seven rankings that will be announced, culminating on Dec. 7 when the four semifinal teams will be announced. Auburn and Ole Miss, both one-loss teams, will play Saturday in Oxford in what will presumably be an elimination game, with the loser knocked from contention for a spot in the national semifinal games on Jan. 1. Theres a lot more football to be played, said Arkansas athletic director Jeff Long, who chairs the selection committee. The winners of the Sugar Bowl and Rose Bowl on New Years Day will move on to the national championship game on Jan. 12 at AT&T Stadium in Arlingtton, Texas.dddddddddddd. Florida State (7-0) will put its unbeaten record on the line on Thursday night against Louisville, the No. 25 team in the playoff rankings. Mississippi State (7-0) is the only other unbeaten in the playoff rankings and faces Arkansas on Saturday. The playoff replaces the oft-criticized Bowl Championship Series, which was in place from 1998 until last season. The rankings will be determined by a 13-member committee -- one member, Archie Manning, is on a health-related leave of absence this year -- who meet in person on Monday and Tuesday during the selection process. The current voters include five university athletic directors and former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. TCU, Michigan State, Kansas State and Notre Dame rounded out the top 10 in the first rankings. Georgia, Arizona, Baylor, Arizona State, Nebraska, Ohio State, Utah, Oklahoma, LSU, West Virginia, Clemson, UCLA, East Carolina, Duke and Louisville completed the top 25. ' ' '