UPI NewsTrack Sports

Bruins end Atlanta's four-game winning streak

ATLANTA, Nov. 19 (UPI) -- Patrice Bergeron scored the only shootout goal Thursday, giving the Boston Bruins a 4-3 victory that ended Atlanta's four-game winning streak.

Boston took a 2-0 lead after the opening period on deflections for goals by both Marco Strum and Michael Ryder but the Bruins let the lead slip away in the second period, and then gave up a game-tying goal to Maxim Afinogenov with 41 seconds left in the third.

Goaltender Tuukka Rask was perfect in the shootout, however, allowing the Bruins to snap a three-game skid.

Nik Antropov and Ilya Kovalchuk scored in the second for the Thrashers to tie it. Kovalchuk's goal, which came on the power play with 5:37 left in the second, was his 13th of the season.

Ryder produced his second goal of the game with 3:15 remaining in the second to put Boston back in front and the Bruins protected the lead until the final minute of regulation.

Rask made 32 saves to get the win. Ondrej Pavelec turned aside 39-of-42 shots for Atlanta.

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Kentucky survives 3-point shooting barrage

LEXINGTON, Ky., Nov. 19 (UPI) -- DeMarcus Cousins scored 27 points Thursday and fifth-ranked Kentucky survived Corey Allmond's 3-point shooting exhibition to defeat Sam Houston 102-92.

This was a first-round game in the Cancun Challenge and it was not far from being a huge upset.

Allmond made 11-of-16 3-point attempts and scored 37 points for the Bearkats (2-1). Sam Houston made 18 shots overall from 3-point range and just 11 from inside the arc.

The Bearkats also forced 21 Kentucky turnovers while committing just 11.

Cousins, however, helped fight off Sam Houston by grabbing 18 rebounds while John Wall added 21 points for the Wildcats (3-0). Wall hit a last-second shot Monday to give Kentucky a victory over Miami (Ohio).

A dunk by Wall finished off an early 11-0 Kentucky run but the Bearkats remained close by hitting 12-of-21 from long range in the first half. Allmond's 11 3-pointers set a Rupp Arena record.

Sam Houston trailed by only eight points with 7 minutes remaining but could not pull closer.

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Ochoa leads LPGA Tour Championship

HOUSTON, Nov. 19 (UPI) -- Lorena Ochoa, trying to rally and win her fourth Player of the Year title, grabbed the lead Thursday after one round of the LPGA Tour Championship at Houston.

Ochoa birdied three of her last four holes to shoot a 6-under 66 at the Houstonian Golf & Country Club.

The event suffered a significant loss, however, with the withdrawal of Michelle Wie -- who won her first tour event last week in Mexico. Wie released a statement saying she had hoped to play through the pain caused by a recurring ankle injury.

"I realized today that I wouldn't be able to continue to play," she said. "I want to make sure that I'm being smart with it, so I will return home to have it looked at by my doctors and follow their advice."

Ochoa, the world's No. 1 ranked female golfer, trails Jiyai Shin by eight points in the battle for the Player of the Year award. This is the final event of the year on the LPGA Tour schedule.

Reilley Rankin was alone in second at 67, followed by Taylor Leon at 68. Shin was part of a 15-way tie for ninth with a score of 69.

"It's very important to get a good start to give myself a good chance," Ochoa said. "That's all I was trying to do. So tomorrow is a new start and I'm gonna play like I'm a few shots behind and continue being aggressive."

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Vikings extend Childress contract

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn., Nov. 19 (UPI) -- Minnesota Vikings Coach Brad Childress has received a contract extension, the team announced Thursday.

Terms were not disclosed but ESPN reported the contract will run through the 2013 season and will be worth between $4 million and $5 million per year.

"I value the opportunity to continue to lead this team over the next several years as we work toward our ultimate goal of winning a Super Bowl for our passionate fans everywhere," Childress said.

Childress had signed a five-year, $10 million contract in January 2006. With an 8-1 record this season, he appears on the verge of guiding the Vikings to a second straight NFC North Division title and possibly the home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs.

"Brad has done a tremendous job leading this football team and we value the positive environment he has created for the Minnesota Vikings on and off the field," said Zygi Wilf, the Vikings owner and chairman.