November 27, 2021 4:28 am
NEW YORK (AP) – Tristan Jarry made 25 saves, Kasperi Kapanen scored in the second period and the Pittsburgh Penguins kept the depleted New York Islanders winless at their new arena with a 1-0 victory. Pittsburgh won its fifth straight, with Jarry driving the hot streak. His shaky play cost the Penguins in a six-game first-round playoff loss to the Islanders in May, but he’s allowed two goals over his last five starts and is 5-1-1 on the road this season. Kapanen took a pass from captain Sidney Crosby and rifled a high shot from the left faceoff circle past goalie Ilya Sorokin at 16:41 of the second period for his fifth of the season.
November 26, 2021 3:54 am
UNDATED (AP) – The Buffalo Bills were back in gear following Sunday’s 41-15 loss to visiting Indianapolis. Josh Allen threw for four touchdowns and the Bills allowed just 190 total yards in a 31-6 thrashing of the Saints in New Orleans. Allen shook off two interceptions to complete 23 of 28 passes for 260 yards. Dawson Knox grabbed two scoring passes for the Bills, who controlled the ball for more than 34 1/2 minutes and didn’t allow a point until Trevor Siemian’s scoring pass on the first play of the fourth quarter. Stefon Diggs and Matt Breida also had TD grabs for the 7-4 Bills, who are currently in a first-place tie with the Patriots in the AFC East. The 5-6 Saints suffered their fourth straight loss, all since Siemian replaced injured quarterback Jameis Winston. Siemian was 17 of 29 passing for 163 yards and one interception.
November 26, 2021 3:50 am
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) – The Las Vegas Raiders are back over .500 after surviving a wild finish against the Dallas Cowboys. Daniel Carlson drilled a 29-yard kick with 4:28 showing on the clock in overtime to give the Raiders a 36-33 victory over the Cowboys. Carlson’s fifth and final field goal of the game was set up by cornerback Anthony Brown’s fourth penalty of the day, a pass interference call on 3rd-and-18. Greg Zuerlein tied it for Dallas with a field goal in the final minute of regulation. The Raiders racked up over 500 yards of total offense, with quarterback Derek Carr completing 24 of 39 passes for 365 yards and a TD. Josh Jacobs carried 22 times for 87 yards and a score for the 6-5 Raiders, who hadn’t scored more than 16 points while dropping their previous three games.
Dak Prescott engineered a pair of fourth-quarter TD drives and threw for 209 yards in the period. Prescott was 32 of 47 for 375 yards and two touchdowns. Michael Gallup and Cedrick Wilson each had over 100 yards receiving, but Ezekiel Elliott carried just nine times for 25 yards and a score with Dallas trailing most of the game. The Cowboys have dropped three of their last four since a six-game winning streak. All three losses have been against AFC West teams.
November 26, 2021 3:52 am
DETROIT (AP) – The Detroit Lions were seconds away from their first win since last December. Instead, the Chicago Bears ended a five-game losing streak as Cairo Santos made a 28-yard game-ending field goal to complete their 16-14 victory at Detroit. Andy Dalton led the Bears on an 18-play, 69-yard drive that took the final 8:30 off the clock. Dalton finished 24 of 39 for 317 yards with a go-ahead, 17-yard touchdown pass to Jimmy Graham late in the first half. Jared Goff was 21 of 25 for 171 with two touchdowns. Goff threw a 39-yard touchdown pass to Josh Reynolds on his first drive and a 17-yard pass to T.J. Hockenson late in the third. The Lions are 0-10-1 this season and winless in their last 15 games. The Bears are 4-7.
November 25, 2021 4:13 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) – Tristan Jarry stopped 36 shots to lift the Pittsburgh Penguins past the Vancouver Canucks 4-1. The Penguins have won four straight behind Jarry, who has allowed just two goals during the surge. Bryan Rust, Evan Rodrigues, Zach-Aston Reese and Brock McGinn scored for Pittsburgh. Thatcher Demko made 33 saves for the Canucks. Bo Horvat’s late goal spoiled Jarry’s bid for a shutout but couldn’t stop Vancouver from losing for the sixth time in seven games.
November 25, 2021 4:14 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) – Trey Thomas scored 14 points, Scotty Pippen Jr. added 11 and Vanderbilt pulled away midway through the second half to beat Pittsburgh 68-52. It was Vanderbilt’s (4-1) first road game and Power Five opponent this season. Pitt (2-3) entered having won its last two. Jordan Wright and Tyrin Lawrence added nine points apiece for the Commodores. The Commodores took the lead for good with 2:05 remaining in the first half and pulled away in the second half with a 25-6 run. Femi Odukale scored 14 points to lead Pitt. Nate Santos added 11 points.
November 25, 2021 3:42 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) – The Pittsburgh Steelers are hopeful to get some familiar faces back in the lineup before they visit Cincinnati. Coach Mike Tomlin says there’s a chance linebacker T.J. Watt, safety Minkah Fitzpatrick and defensive back Joe Haden will be available against the Bengals. All three sat out a 41-37 loss to the Chargers last week. Fitzpatrick is currently on the COVID-19 list. Watt is dealing with hip and knee injuries and Haden has a sprained foot. Without the three veterans, the Steelers gave up a whopping 533 yards. That’s the most they’ve allowed in a game in eight years.
November 25, 2021 4:15 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) – The Pittsburgh Pirates are bringing back first baseman/outfielder Yoshi Tsutsugo. A person with direct knowledge of the deal tells The Associated Press that Pittsburgh has agreed to terms with Tsutsugo on a $4 million, 1-year deal. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because it had not been formally announced. The deal is pending a physical. Tsutsugo, 29, joined the Pirates in August after being released by the Los Angeles Dodgers. He played well over the final six weeks of the season, hitting .268 with eight home runs and 25 RBIs in 43 games while splitting time between first base, left field and right field.
November 24, 2021 2:15 am
The Pittsburgh Pirates on Tuesday, confirmed the passing of former Pirates great Bill Virdon. Virdon was 90 years old. “Bill Virdon was a man who took such great pride in being a member of the Pittsburgh Pirates family,” said Pirates Chairman Bob Nutting. “Every fan who followed our 1960 team will always remember the instrumental role that he played to bring a third World Series championship to the city of Pittsburgh. “We are also eternally grateful for everything that Bill did representing the Pirates following his playing days not only as a successful manager, but also in helping a countless number of our young players that he so proudly instructed and mentored as a coach and one of our long-time Spring Training guest instructors,” added Nutting. “We send our thoughts and prayers to Bill’s wife of 70 years, Shirley, his children Debbie Virdon Lutes, Linda Virdon Holmes and Lisa Virdon Brown, along with his seven grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.” Virdon recorded a total of 1,596 hits, 237 doubles, 91 home runs and 502 RBI in 1,583 games in the big leagues as a member of the St. Louis Cardinals and Pittsburgh Pirates from 1955-68. He ranks sixth all-time in Pirates history in games played as an outfielder with 1,376. After being acquired by the Pirates from the St. Louis Cardinals, he went on to be recognized for his outstanding play in center field two years later when he took home Gold Glove honors in 1962. Following his playing days, Virdon made the transition to being one of the most successful managers in the Major Leagues. Virdon won a total of 995 games as a manager, led the Pirates to the 1972 National League Championship Series, was named the American League Manager-of-the-Year in 1974 (New York Yankees) and the National League Manager-of-the-Year in 1980 (Houston Astros). Virdon also served as a coach for the Pirates at the big league level in four separate stints (1968-71, 1986, 1992-95 and 2001-02).
November 24, 2021 3:41 am
Penn State football coach James Franklin has agreed to a new 10-year contract that will guarantee him at least $75 million through 2031. Franklin and Penn State’s Board of Trustees agreed to the terms, which include a yearly base salary of $7 million, retention bonuses of $500,000 each year and a $1 million annual loan for life insurance. Franklin is 67-32 at Penn State with seven bowl appearances in his eight seasons. The Nittany Lions won the Big Ten championship in 2016.
