Streaking Stars own best record in NHL
NHL: Michael Ryder scored twice, Adam Burish had the tiebreaking goal early in the third period, and the surprising Dallas Stars beat Washington 5-2 Tuesday night to snap the Capitals’ six-game home winning streak.
Kari Lehtonen stopped 30 shots for the Stars, who have won four straight and own the best record in the NHL (11-3-0).
Burish put Dallas ahead to stay at 34 seconds of the third period, and Jamie Benn and Eric Nystrom scored in a 32-second span to make it 5-2 with 11:55 left.
Trevor Daley had two assists for the Stars, giving him 100 for his career. Benn also had two assists.
Alexander Semin and John Carlson scored for the Capitals, whose 6-0 start at home was the best in franchise history.
• Panthers continue torrid start: The Florida Panthers took advantage of shaky Maple Leafs goalie Jonas Gustavsson and routed host Toronto 5-1.
Jack Skille, Marco Sturm, Tomas Kopecky, Sean Bergenheim and Shawn Matthias had the goals for Florida (7-4-3), off to its best start since the 1996-1997 season.
• Hitchcock wins debut as Blues coach: Jaroslav Halak shrugged off his shaky start to the season, making 29 saves as the St. Louis Blues won coach Ken Hitchcock’s debut with a 3-0 victory over the visiting Chicago Blackhawks.
Barret Jackman had two assists for the Blues, whose 6-7 start cost coach Davis Payne his job.
Francona interviews for Cardinals job
Baseball: Former Boston Red Sox manager Terry Francona interviewed in Cincinnati with the St. Louis Cardinals for their manager opening, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press.
The person spoke on condition of anonymity because no announcement was made.
Francona managed the Red Sox for eight seasons and left after they wasted a nine-game September lead in the A.L. wild-card race.
St. Louis is seeking a replacement for Tony La Russa, who retired two days after winning his second World Series in 16 seasons with the Cardinals.
More interviews are planned for today, believed to be with third-base coach Jose Oquendo and Hall of Fame second baseman Ryne Sandberg, who managed the Phillies’ Triple-A team last season.
The Red Sox, meanwhile, plan to interview Torey Lovullo and Gene Lamont for their managerial opening.
• Maddux will interview with Cubs: Texas Rangers pitching coach Mike Maddux is slated to interview today in the Chicago Cubs’ search for a new manager.
• Orioles pitcher Simon acquitted: Baltimore Orioles reliever Alfredo Simon was acquitted of an involuntary manslaughter charge in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.
Defense attorney Dinora Dilone said Simon was acquitted in the New Year’s Eve shooting death of 25-year-old Michel Castillo Almonte.
Dilone says experts testified that the fatal bullet did not come from Simon’s gun and that no witnesses saw the pitcher fire his weapon.
Champions Tour captures challenge
Golf: Kenny Perry made nine birdies and led the Champions Tour to the title at the Wendy’s 3-Tour Challenge at Henderson, Nev.
The Champions Tour team, made up of Perry, Jay Haas and Mark Calcavecchia, were a combined 15 under in the two-player, best-ball format that allowed each team to discard one score per hole. The group shot 8 under over the final nine holes to overtake the PGA Tour team of Boo Weekley, Gary Woodland and Jonathan Byrd, which finished at 12 under at the par-72 Rio Secco Golf Club (par 72).
Paula Creamer, Cristie Kerr and Natalie Gulbis of the LPGA Tour also topped the PGA Tour threesome by going 14 under.
Federal judge punishes Mayweather
Boxing: Prizefighter Floyd Mayweather Jr. must perform 40 hours of community service after he angered a federal judge in South Carolina who learned Mayweather was burning money in a nightclub on the day he was supposed to give a deposition and not resting up from injuries he sustained in a fight, as he had claimed.
Mayweather must help the Las Vegas Habitat for Humanity Project by the end of January or face further penalties, U.S. District Judge Joseph F. Anderson Jr. ruled Monday.
Mayweather, along with his production company and World Wrestling Entertainment Inc. are being sued by Anthony Dash, who accused the boxer of stealing a beat he created in 2005 for a song Mayweather used as he entered the ring at wrestling events.
Senators approve nickname change
College athletics: State senators voted in Bismarck to let the University of North Dakota scrap its Fighting Sioux athletics nickname, but ordered the school to wait three years to pick a replacement for a name the NCAA says is offensive to American Indians.
State law requires UND’s athletics teams to be known as the Fighting Sioux. The school has sought to retire its nickname for years, and UND has been under sanctions from the NCAA since August for keeping the name and a logo that depicts the profile of an American Indian warrior.