Blue Jackets drop Wings in shootout

NHL: Antoine Vermette had the only goal in the shootout and Steve Mason stopped all four shots he faced in the tiebreaker in the Columbus Blue Jackets’ 3-2 victory over the Detroit Red Wings on Friday night in Columbus, Ohio.

Vermette, shooting fourth, slid a backhander between the leg pads of third-string goalie Joey MacDonald, who came on in the first period after starter Jimmy Howard was sidelined by a bruised knee.

• Luongo leads Canucks past Capitals: Roberto Luongo made 25 saves to stretch his regulation unbeaten streak to a career-high 12 games, and Christian Ehrhoff broke a second-period tie with a power-play goal in the visiting Vancouver Canucks’ 4-2 victory over the Washington Capitals.

Ehrhoff and Alexander Edler each had a goal and an assist.

Kings rout lethargic Knicks, snap skid

NBA: Beno Udrih scored 29 points on 11-of-14 shooting and the visiting Sacramento Kings snapped a three-game losing streak with a 93-83 victory over the lethargic New York Knicks.

Rookie DeMarcus Cousins added 16 points and 10 rebounds, and reserve Carl Landry had 15 points for the Kings.

Tyreke Evans managed just nine points on 4-of-15 shooting in his return to the lineup after missing three games with a sprained left ankle.

• Nash’s 3-pointer helps Suns beat Portland: Steve Nash had 23 points, including a 3-pointer that put Phoenix ahead for good with 1:11 to play, and handed out 13 assists, directing the Suns to a 115-111 victory over the visiting Portland Trail Blazers.

Andre Miller scored all 19 of his points in the second half for the Trail Blazers.

Six players, including all five starters, reached double figures for Phoenix.

• O’Neal, Allen lead Celtics over Bobcats: Shaquille O’Neal had 23 points, five rebounds and five blocks in a season-high 35 minutes for the short-handed Boston Celtics as they held off visiting Charlotte 99-94, ending the Bobcats’ four-game winning streak.

Rajon Rondo added 18 points and 13 assists and Ray Allen scored eight of his 19 in the fourth quarter.

Keenum gets sixth year from NCAA

College Football: The NCAA has granted a sixth year of eligibility to Houston quarterback Case Keenum, who missed the final nine games of the 2010 season with a torn knee ligament.

Keenum tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee while attempting a tackle in a loss at UCLA on Sept. 18.

• Pasqualoni embraces new job at UConn: New UConn football coach Paul Pasqualoni described his new position as “absolutely the right fit.”

Pasqualoni, a Connecticut native and former Syracuse coach, said at a news conference that he has significant ties in the region and will recruit around the Northeast.

Fielder, Hamilton head arbitration list

MLB: Prince Fielder, A.L. MVP Josh Hamilton, major league home run champion Jose Bautista and Boston closer Jonathan Papelbon headed 119 players who filed for salary arbitration.

About half the players in arbitration are expected to settle by Tuesday, when players and their clubs swap proposed salaries.

• A’s agree to terms with Balfour: The Oakland Athletics agreed to terms with free agent right-handed reliever Grant Balfour on an $8.1 million, two-year deal.

The contract will not be finalized until Balfour passes a physical.

Li beats Clijsters at Sydney tourney

Miscellany: Li Na won her fourth career WTA title, overcoming a 5-0 deficit in the first set to beat third-seeded Kim Clijsters 7-6 (3), 6-3 at the Sydney International.

Clijsters took an early lead, but the Belgian collapsed in the opening set and played poorly in the second set.

Earlier, Gilles Simon of France won all but three points in the second set to defeat third-seeded Ernests Gulbis of Latvia 7-6 (1), 6-0 and advance to the men’s final, where he will face Viktor Troicki of Serbia.

• Phelps beats Lochte in butterfly: Michael Phelps beat Ryan Lochte in the final of the men’s 100-meter butterfly in the Austin (Texas) Grand Prix.

Phelps won in 52.55 seconds. Lochte was second at 53.65.

• Appleby takes early lead in Sony: In Honolulu, Stuart Appleby holed a long shot and a long putt toward the end of his round and turned a good day into an even greater one at the Sony Open. He opened with a 6-under 64 and had a one-shot lead among the early starters.

Ferris High and University of Washington graduate Alex Prugh shot an opening-round 70.

The start of the tournament was delayed one day because of heavy rain that flooded the golf course.

• Kostelic wins super- combined: Ivica Kostelic won a World Cup super-combined event in Wengen, Switzerland, to extend his lead in the overall standings with a third victory in 12 days. Bode Miller was the top American in sixth place.

Kostelic had a combined two-leg time of 2 minutes 40.44 seconds. Carlo Janka of Switzerland was second, 0.58 seconds back.