UPI NewsTrack Sports

Washington ends Olympic break with a win

BUFFALO, N.Y., March 3 (UPI) -- Mike Green scored the go-ahead goal with 9:32 to play Wednesday and the Washington Capitals went on to down Buffalo 3-1.

Buffalo goaltender Ryan Miller, who backstopped the United States to a silver medal in the Olympics, received a standing ovation from the home crowd prior to the game. He finished with 37 saves.

Washington lost its final three games prior to the Olympic break, but came through with two third-period goals against the Sabres. Boyd Gordon clinched it by scoring into an empty net with 41 seconds remaining.

Jose Theodore got the win by making 23 saves.

Washington was a party to four deals Wednesday prior to the trade deadline. Among the players obtained were center Eric Belanger from Minnesota and forward Scott Walker from Carolina.

Alex Ovechkin, whose Russian team came away from Vancouver without a medal, had four shots for Washington but did not record a point.

Buffalo has lost eight of its last nine games.

Howard carries Orlando with 48th double-double

ORLANDO, Fla., March 3 (UPI) -- Dwight Howard paced Orlando to a hot shooting performance Wednesday and the Magic romped to a 117-90 victory over Golden State.

Howard put together his 48th double-double of the season, best in the NBA, with 28 points and 12 rebounds. He made 11-of-17 shots and the team as a whole hit 52 percent from the field.

The Magic have won three in row and maintained their two-game lead over Atlanta in the Southeast Division.

Orlando held Golden State scoreless for 4 minutes late in the first half while running off 11 straight points. That gave the Magic a 19-point cushion at intermission.

Rashard Lewis added 17 for the Magic and Vince Carter had 15.

C.J. Watson had 18 points to pace the Warriors, who lost their eighth straight road game. The contest against Orlando was Golden State's second of five in a row away from home.

Manning has pinched nerve repaired

INDIANAPOLIS, March 3 (UPI) -- The Indianapolis Colts announced Wednesday that quarterback Peyton Manning had undergone a procedure to relieve pain caused by a pinched nerve in his neck.

"This condition has existed intermittently for the past four years, but at no time did it interfere with his training, practice or playing regimen," the club said in a statement. "While it never has affected Peyton's activity on or off the field, the medical staff, after post-playoff examination, thought it best to resolve the situation now."

The procedure took place on Tuesday.

Manning led Indianapolis to the Super Bowl, in which the Colts fell to the New Orleans Saints. The Colts began the 2009 season with 14 straight victories. During the recently completed campaign, Manning became the fourth player in league history to throw for 50,000 career yards.

NHL approves sale of Lightning

TAMPA, Fla., March 3 (UPI) -- The NHL Board of Governors voted unanimously Wednesday to approve the sale of the Tampa Bay Lightning to a local group headed by businessman Jeff Vinik.

Vinik has a minority share of the Boston Red Sox. He becomes chairman of the team in a deal that includes the lease to St. Pete Times Forum and ownership of adjacent real estate.

"The Lightning is a great franchise in a terrific community," said Vinik, who had been waiting for league approval since signing sale documents on Feb. 4. "Our goal now is to build a world-class organization, on and off the ice."

Vinik bought the team from a group of partners headed by Oren Koules, a Hollywood producer.

Tampa Bay missed the playoffs in 2008-09 for the second straight season, but with a 26-25-11 record is in contention for a post-season berth in the Eastern Conference.

"As the new owner of the Tampa Bay Lightning, I would like to express my appreciation to the entire community for welcoming me as caretaker of your hockey team and the St. Pete Times Forum," Vinik said in a statement addressed to the team's fans.

"My goal is to return to the days when the entire Tampa Bay area proudly cheered together for its hockey team."

Tampa Bay won the Stanley Cup in 2004 but has not advanced past the conference quarterfinals since.