NHL - Round-up:Four-star Ovechkin lifts Caps

NHL - Round-up: Four-star Ovechkin lifts Caps

Alexander Ovechkin contributed four goals and an assist to lift the visiting Washington Capitals to an 8-6 victory over the Ottawa Senators.

The Russian scored once in each of the first two periods and twice in the third, hitting the empty net in the final minute to complete his first career four-goal game and reach the 30-goal mark for the season.

Ovechkin had received stitches to close a cut on his leg on Friday before returning on Saturday with his third career hat-trick.

Michael Nylander scored twice for the Capitals, who have won both games played at Ottawa this season.

Mike Fisher scored his first career hat-trick and Daniel Alfredsson scored twice for the Senators in the high-scoring game which ended Ottawa's three-game winning streak.

Experienced goalie Ty Conklin won his fourth straight start, stopping 26 shots as the Pittsburgh Penguins beat the Buffalo Sabres 2-0 in Pittsburgh. Conklin has emerged for the Penguins since starter Marc-Andre Fleury became injured.

The teams meet again on Tuesday in Buffalo when they will stage the Winter Classic in front of over 70,000 people outdoors at Rich Stadium, the home of the NFL's Bills.

Sidney Crosby set up both goals for the Penguins. The Penguins lost 41-year-old left wing Gary Roberts with a broken leg.

Kari Lehtonen made 26 saves for his second shutout of the season as the Atlanta Thrashers beat the visiting Boston Bruins 5-0. Boston lost its sixth straight game. The teams play again on Monday in Boston.

Defenseman Andy Sutton's first goal of the season helped the New York Islanders register a 5-2 home victory over the New Jersey Devils.

It was New York's fourth win in as many games against New Jersey this season and ended a three-game winning streak for the Devils.

NBA - Round-up: Rip tears Paces apart

NBA - Round-up: Rip tears Paces apart


Richard "Rip" Hamilton scored 23 points and delivered nine assists to fire the Detroit Pistons to a 114-101 victory over the Indiana Pacers, their seventh win in a row.

The Pistons blew the game wide open in the second quarter when they scored 40 points to take a 64-41 lead at the intermission.

"That was as good as it gets right there (in the second quarter)," the Pistons' Chauncey Billups said.

"Executing, getting stops, I mean shots were just going and we just really opened the game up."

Reserve forward Jarvis Hayes, who missed Thursday's practice because of food poisoning, scored all 13 of his points in the period, including three three-pointers.

"I got an easy basket when I first got in the game and that kind of triggers a lot of other stuff for me," Hayes said.

Tayshaun Prince added 15 points and Billups had 14 for the Pistons.

Jermaine O'Neal led the Pacers with 25 points.

* The Orlando Magic withstood a career-best equalling 48 points by Dwyane Wade in regulation and beat the Miami Heat 121-114 in overtime. Wade was shut out in overtime.

Dwight Howard had 29 points and 20 rebounds to pace the Magic. Hedo Turkoglu added 22, including five consecutive points in the extra session to give Orlando a 119-114 lead.

Miami's Daequan Cook sent the game into overtime with a three-pointer with 1.9 seconds to play.

* The Portland Trail Blazers rolled to their 12th straight win with a 109-98 home victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves. Brandon Roy paced the win with 22 points.

* Yao Ming's 22 points, 12 rebounds and five blocked shots paced the Houston Rockets to a 103-83 road win over the Memphis Grizzlies.

* Allen Iverson scored 39 points and Carmelo Anthony had 30 and the Denver Nuggets outran the Golden State Warriors for a 124-120 road win. Stephen Jackson had 32 and Baron Davis 29 for Golden State.

* Kobe Bryant had 31 points in three quarters of play as the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Utah Jazz 123-109.

* Ben Gordon's 31 points keyed the Chicago Bulls to a 103-99 win over the visiting Milwaukee Bucks.

* Richard Jefferson scored 26 points and Vince Carter 24 to help the New Jersey Nets edge the Washington Wizards 109-106. Caron Butler contributed 28 and Antawn Jamison 27 for Washington.

* David West provided 20 points and 10 rebounds in the New Orleans Hornets' 99-85 road win over the Charlotte Bobcats. Chris Paul added 17 points and 11 assists. Jason Richardson scored 25 points for Charlotte.

reference: "eurosport"