VILLANOVA, PA (AP) – Cole Swider scored the free throw 1.9 seconds ahead and Collin Gillespie scored 22 points to help Villanova No. 3 win his first game in 27 days, 76-74 against Seton Hall. Jermaine Samuels had 20 points for Villanova. The Wildcats remained stable in the top 25 when their schedule collapsed due to COVID issues. Two-time national coach Jay Wright tested positive over Christmas and the Wildcats took their season off because the players tested positive. Villanova had postponed four games since defeating Marquette on December 23.
PITTSBURGH (AP) – Sidney Crosby scored 1:11 in overtime to help the Pittsburgh Penguins beat the Washington Capitals 5-4. Crosby scored his third goal of the season when he pounced on a rebound from Kris Letang and flipped it into the open net from Vitek Vanecek to give the Penguins their second win over their rivals in three days. Colton Sceviour, Evgeni Malkin, Teddy Blueger and Jake Guentzel also scored goals for Pittsburgh. Tom Wilson scored twice for the Capitals. Evgeny Kuznetsov and Lars Eller both scored their first goals of the season, but Washington missed a 3-1 and 4-2 lead.
PITTSBURGH (AP) – The Pittsburgh Pirates are confident the rebuilding process will pick up pace after a three-team deal with the Mets and Padres. Pittsburgh sent the starting pitcher Joe Musgrove to the Padres as part of an exchange that brought five players to the Pirates, including four prospects. According to General Manager Ben Cherington, the team’s focus is on stocking up young talent. He believes the club’s minor league system is deeper than it was when he was hired in Fall 2019. Cherington added that the Pirates may add a veteran or two in free hands before spring training begins
PHILADELPHIA (AP) – Brian Ellliott made 40 saves, Travis Konecny scored his fourth goal in four games and the Philadelphia Flyers beat the Buffalo Sabers 3-0. Jakub Voracek also scored and Kevin Hayes added a blank-nice for Philadelphia who recovered from their 6-1 loss to the Sabers on Monday night. Konecny broke the goalless tie with 2:09 a second after a breakaway and hit Carter Hutton with a backhand that went through the goalkeeper’s legs. Oskar Lindblom prepared the goal with a long bench pass from the depths of the defensive zone, which landed perfectly on Konecny’s stick in Buffalo’s zone.
UNDATED (AP) – Chad Henne came off the bench cold in the heat of a tense playoff game, delivering the sealed games for Kansas City in his most consistent performance in a win since 2013. Henne was just the youngest understudy quarterback to deliver a memorable feat in the postseason when he relieved an injured Patrick Mahomes and completed a 22-17 win over Cleveland that sent the defending champions Chiefs into the AFC championship game. If Mahomes stays on the concussion log and can’t start this week, Henne will be looking to follow in the footsteps of other playoff fill-ins at quarterback like Nick Foles and Jeff Hostetler.
CHAMPAIGN, IL (AP) – Kofi Cockburn had 21 points and 12 rebounds, leading No. 22 Illinois past Penn State 79-65. Cockburn leads the country with 11 double doubles this season. Ayo Dosunmu and Trent Frazier added 13 points apiece for Illinois. Myreon Jones scored 20 points and Seth Lundy 13 for Penn State. Illinois took the lead 13-5 and never gave up the lead. The Illinois led 42-28 at halftime.
