Vanek scores in OT, Sabres make playoffs
NHL: Thomas Vanek scored 1:16 into overtime to cap a two-goal comeback and clinch the Buffalo Sabres a playoff berth with a 4-3 victory over the slumping Philadelphia Flyers on Friday night in Buffalo, N.Y.
Vanek finished with a goal and two assists, while Nathan Gerbe scored twice, including a highlight reel spin-around goal that tied it midway through the third period.
With the win, they’ve clinched at least seventh place in the Eastern Conference standings.
Danny Briere and Scott Hartnell had a goal and assist, and Kris Versteeg also scored for Philadelphia, which is winless in its past five games (0-3-2).
• Seabrook, Hossa lead Blackhawks past Red Wings: Brent Seabrook and Marian Hossa each had a goal and an assist to help the Chicago Blackhawks beat the host Detroit Red Wings 4-2.
Chicago can clinch a playoff berth with a point in its final game against Detroit on Sunday.
• Hurricanes beat Atlanta to inch toward playoffs: Jeff Skinner and Tuomo Ruutu each had a goal and two assists and the Carolina Hurricanes moved closer to an playoff spot with a 6-1 victory over the host Atlanta Thrashers.
Carolina needs a home win Saturday over Tampa Bay or a regulation loss by the New York Rangers to make the playoffs.
• Ducks beat Kings to clinch postseason berth: Teemu Selanne scored his second goal of the game with 14:06 left in the third period, Dan Ellis made 23 saves in place of the injured Ray Emery, and the Anaheim Ducks clinched a playoff spot with a 2-1 victory over the Los Angeles Kings in Anaheim, Calif.
• Coyotes beat Sharks to clinch playoff spot: Shane Doan had a goal and an assist, Ilya Bryzgalov made some tough saves late and the Phoenix Coyotes clinched a playoff spot by holding off the San Jose Sharks 4-3 in Glendale, Ariz.
Grizzlies top Kings to earn playoff spot
NBA: Zach Randolph had 27 points and 15 rebounds and the Memphis Grizzlies clinched the Western Conference’s final playoff spot with a 101-96 win over the Sacramento Kings in Memphis, Tenn.
Randolph’s two free throws with 4.8 seconds left sealed the victory for the Grizzlies, who head to the postseason for the first time since the 2005-06 season. The victory eliminated Houston from the playoff chase.
• Bulls beat Cavs, clinch best record in East: Carlos Boozer had 24 points and 11 rebounds, and the visiting Chicago Bulls clinched the top seed in the Eastern Conference with a 93-82 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Chicago, which has won 18 of 20, will have home-court advantage through the first three rounds of the playoffs.
• Aldridge, Wallace lead Blazers over Lakers: LaMarcus Aldridge had 24 points and 11 rebounds, and the host Portland Trail Blazers prevented the Los Angeles Lakers from locking up the second seed in the Western Conference with a 93-86 win.
• Durant helps Thunder throttle Nuggets: Kevin Durant scored 28 points, Russell Westbrook added 17 and the host Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Denver Nuggets 104-89 for their second win this week over their potential first-round playoff opponent.
• Gores to buy Pistons: The Detroit Pistons announced that billionaire California investor Tom Gores has agreed to buy the struggling franchise.
The tentative deal must be approved by the NBA. Terms were not disclosed, but the deal is expected to close by June 30.
Fredette, Moore each win Wooden Awards
College basketball: Jimmer Fredette of BYU has won the John R. Wooden Award as college basketball’s player of the year, easily outpolling Kemba Walker of national champion Connecticut. Fredette received 3,761 votes in the poll of nearly 1,000 national media who cover the sport. Walker was second with 3,356.
Maya Moore of Connecticut won the women’s award, becoming the third player to win it twice, joining LSU’s Seimone Augustus and Tennessee’s Candace Parker. Moore received 678 votes. Britney Griner of Baylor was second with 566 and Courtney Vandersloot of Gonzaga was third with 283.
Edwards again wins N’wide race at Texas
NASCAR: Carl Edwards escaped a crash that wiped out primary challenger Kyle Busch and won his second consecutive Nationwide race at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas.
Edwards held off a charge by Brad Keselowski for his 30th career Nationwide victory. He won by 0.482 seconds. Paul Menard finished third and Joey Logano was fourth.
Lawyers, players talk mediation with judge
NFL: Attorneys for the NFL and the players held a conference call to discuss mediation with U.S. District Judge Susan Richard Nelson, who is deciding whether to lift the lockout.
The most notable development was the formal addition of DeMaurice Smith as an attorney for the players. Smith is the executive director of the NFL Players Association, which is now officially a trade association and not a union.
NFLPA spokesman Carl Francis confirmed that the move allows Smith to participate in any mediation sessions that might take place under Nelson’s supervision.
Bonds’ jurors hear recording again
Miscellany: The jurors who will decide Barry Bonds’ fate have requested the full written transcript of a digital recording of a 2003 conversation between Bonds’ friend Steve Hoskins and his personal trainer Greg Anderson.
In that secretly recorded conversation at the San Francisco Giants’ ballpark, Hoskins and Anderson discuss steroids, injections and drug testing.
U.S. District Court Judge Susan Illston had previously refused to give jurors the full transcript of the tape because one wasn’t placed in evidence during the trial that began March 21. But she allowed them to rehear the recording Thursday during the prosecution’s closing.
• Phelps pulls double at Michigan Grand Prix: Michael Phelps won the 200 freestyle and 100 butterfly at the Michigan Grand Prix swimming meet in Ann Arbor, Mich.
Phelps came from behind to beat Ryan Lochte in the 200 free, finishing in 1:48.45. Phelps led wire-to-wire in the 100 butterfly, finishing in 52.30.