NASHVILLE, Dec. 20 (UPI) -- Steve Sullivan scored in his fifth consecutive game and Tomas Vokoun made 24 saves Tuesday as the Nashville Predators beat the Colorado Avalanche, 3-2.
MONTREAL, Dec. 20 (UPI) -- Alexei Kovalev, in the Montreal lineup after missing six weeks with a knee injury, had a big night and a shootout goal as the Canadiens beat Ottawa, 4-3.
DETROIT, Dec. 20 (UPI) -- Pavel Datsyuk and Jason Williams each scored in Detroit's first ever shootout Tuesday as the Red Wings posted a 4-3 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Cardinals put Kurt Warner on injured reserve ... Packers claim wide receiver Rod Gardner ... White Sox acquire Vazquez from Arizona ... Cincinnati signs veteran reliever Hammond ... Sports from United Press International.
AUBURN HILLS, Mich., Dec. 20 (UPI) -- Richard Hamilton scored 23 points to lead five Detroit players in double figures Tuesday as the Pistons posted a 93-89 victory over Portland.
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J., Dec. 20 (UPI) -- Vince Carter had 35 points, nine assists and seven rebounds Tuesday while leading the New Jersey Nets to a 99-85 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers.
MEMPHIS, Dec. 20 (UPI) -- Rodney Carney, who made five three-pointers, scored 37 points Tuesday while leading the fourth-ranked Memphis Tigers to a 76-58 win over Louisiana Tech.
MIAMI, Dec. 20 (UPI) -- Shaquille O'Neal scored 28 points in Coach Pat Riley's 2005 home debut Tuesday as the Miami Heat routed the Atlanta Hawks, 111-92.
RALEIGH, N.C., Dec. 20 (UPI) -- Matt Cullen broke a tie early in the third period and Eric Staal had two goals Tuesday as the Carolina Hurricanes beat the Tampa Bay Lightning, 6-4.
LOUISVILLE, Ky., Dec. 20 (UPI) -- Brandon Jenkins scored 20 points Tuesday to lead the 10th-ranked Louisville Cardinals to a 76-68 victory over the Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders.
GREEN BAY, Wis., Dec. 20 (UPI) -- The Green Bay Packers announced Tuesday they claimed wide receiver Rod Gardner off waivers from the Carolina Panthers.
CINCINNATI, Dec. 20 (UPI) -- The Cincinnati Reds signed veteran relief pitcher Chris Hammond to a one-year contract Tuesday with an option for 2007. Hammond, 39, had a 5-1 record with a 3.84 earned run average in 2005 with the San Diego Padres.
Rockets' Yao Ming out with toe surgery... Lawyer: Univ. of Texas players not charged... Soccer's Di Canio suspended for one game... Sports from United Press International.
HOUSTON, Dec. 20 (UPI) -- Rockets' center Yao Ming will be out "several weeks" because of toe surgery -- the latest woe for the injury-riddled team, the Houston Chronicle reported.
AUSTIN, Texas, Dec. 20 (UPI) -- A lawyer for two University of Texas football players says Austin, Texas, police plan no charges against Cedric Griffin and Ramonce Taylor, a report said. Attorney Ken Oden told the San Antonio American-Statesman that police had completed their investigat
ROME, Dec. 20 (UPI) -- Italy's soccer association has banned Paolo Di Canio for one game and fined him nearly $12,000 for allegedly making a fascist salute, reports Sky News.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Dec. 20 (UPI) -- Alexander Frolov recorded the lone shootout goal as the visiting Los Angeles Kings topped the Vancouver Canucks, 4-3.
EDMONTON, Alberta, Dec. 20 (UPI) -- Fernando Pisani scored the go-ahead goal with 45 seconds left to edge the Edmonton Oilers past the visiting Calgary Flames, 5-4.
BALTIMORE, Dec. 20 (UPI) -- Kyle Boller threw for 253 yards and three touchdowns as the Baltimore Ravens trounced the visiting Green Bay Packers, 48-3, at M&T Bank Stadium.
SEATTLE, Dec. 20 (UPI) -- Rashard Lewis dropped in 30 points to lead the Seattle SuperSonics to a 111-101 victory over the visiting Washington Wizards at KeyArena.
ST. PAUL, Minn., Dec. 20 (UPI) -- Todd White and Marian Gaborik each scored goals in the third period Monday to give the Minnesota Wild a 2-1 victory over the Dallas Stars.
Fans react and hold up signs as floats carrying the New York Giants rides down the Canyon of Heroes for the Giants victory ticker tape parade 2 days after the New York Giants defeated the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLVI in New York City on February 7, 2012 . UPI /John Angelillo
