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Peterson returns from injury with 17 points, leading No. 21 KU past Mizzou despite flu-like symptoms

Kansas has proven over the past month that it can hang with the nation's best without Darryn Peterson on the floor. The Jayhawks showed Sunday they are capable of beating anybody when he's out there. The potential No. 1 pick in the NBA draft, Peterson returned from a lingering hamstring injury to score 17 points in 23 minutes against Missouri, leading the No. 21 Jayhawks to an 80-60 rout of their biggest rival in the latest edition of the Border War.

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Avalanche Hold Off Late Flyers Push to Secure 3–2 Win

Brock Nelson buried the go-ahead goal with 52 seconds remaining in the first period, and the Colorado Avalanche capped a flawless back-to-back set with a 3–2 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers on Sunday at Xfinity Mobile Arena. 

Brent Burns opened the scoring for Colorado, while Valeri Nichushkin extended the lead with an insurance marker early in the second period. Mackenzie Blackwood delivered another outstanding performance between the pipes, turning aside 24 shots. 

Philadelphia’s offense came from captain Sean Couturier and Travis Konecny, the latter firing a game-high nine shots on goal. Samuel Ersson—usually slotted as the backup—stood tall in defeat, recording 25 saves to keep the Flyers within striking distance. 

First Period 

The Flyers struck just 2:08 into the game when Noah Juulsen unloaded a slap shot from the point that was redirected by captain Couturier past Blackwood, giving Philadelphia an early 1–0 lead. 

A little more than six minutes later, Burns responded with his fourth goal of the season, wiring a wrist shot through traffic—thanks in part to Nichushkin’s heavy screen in front—that prevented Ersson from seeing the shot. Martin Nečas remained poised on the left circle and threaded a pinpoint pass to Burns, whose ability to get shots through, even at age 40, continues to defy logic. 

After Juulsen was whistled for tripping Parker Kelly, Colorado capitalized on the ensuing power play. Nelson and Nathan MacKinnon both took hacks at a loose rebound, but it was Nelson who delivered the decisive tap to put the Avalanche ahead 2–1. Nečas nearly added another goal moments before, but his one-timer rang off the post. Nelson now has 10 points in his last 10 games. 

Second Period 

Just 1:47 into the frame, Nichushkin extended the lead. He corralled a cross-ice feed from Devon Toews that glanced off the skate of Victor Olofsson, then snapped a wrister from the right circle past Ersson to make it 3–1 Colorado. 

Konecny trimmed the deficit with a clever move, selling a pump-fake toward the far post and slipping the puck five-hole as Blackwood bit on the fake, cutting the score to 3–2. 

Burns nearly restored the two-goal cushion midway through the period, springing Victor Olofsson on a breakaway, but Ersson stood tall with a blocker save. Minutes later, Burns hammered another shot from the point, only to hear it ring off the post. On the same sequence, Trevor Zegras was called for slashing Nichushkin, sending Colorado back to the power play. The Avalanche couldn’t convert, and late in the period, Nečas took a slashing penalty of his own. 

Colorado carried a 3–2 lead into intermission, while the Flyers entered the third with 1:53 remaining on the man advantage. 

Third Period 

After the Avalanche killed off the penalty, MacKinnon was assessed a hooking infraction on Zegras, who was sprung on a breakaway 4:54 into the period. The officials awarded a penalty shot, a dangerous situation considering Zegras’ 68% shootout success rate (17-for-25). 

But Blackwood shut the door, reading the move perfectly and turning aside the attempt to preserve Colorado’s one-goal lead. 

The remainder of the game evolved into a tactical showcase, but the Avalanche remained composed and resolute. Philadelphia pulled Ersson twice in the final minutes, pressing desperately for the equalizer, yet their efforts came up short as Blackwood stood tall and refused to yield. 

Next Game 

The Avalanche (21-2-6) end their Tour De USA on Tuesday when they take on the Nashville Predators (10-14-4) at Bridgestone Arena. Coverage begins at 7:30 p.m. local time.  

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Say What? 'Who Cares,' Players React To Olympic Rink News And More Quotes From This Week

Every week in the NHL delivers goals, chaos, and occasionally, absolute gems on the microphone. Our “Say What?” series features some of the strangest, funniest, and most telling quotes from players, coaches, and executives around the league. 

Here are the lines that made us stop scrolling and say… what?,

"I think he was disappointed with your guys' coverage on his offensive ability, or not shooting the puck. Maybe that stirred it up. I know if I've got a problem with any other players, I'll just address it with you guys." - Kris Knoblauch. 

The Edmonton Oilers head coach was responding to coverage by the media, many asking why Connor McDavid wasn’t shooting more. That was Knoblauch’s reply after McDavid scored a hat trick in the following game.

“How would they know that?” - Rasmus Andersson

The Calgary Flames defenseman talked about reports that said he’s already decided on his future and whether he’s staying or leaving the Flames as his trade value increases with strong production. 

“I saw some reports the other day (saying) ‘Oh, he doesn’t know what to do with his future,' and I’m like, ‘How would you know that?'” Andersson said.

“I talked to my agent before the season started, and then we haven’t talked. How could you possibly know if I’m undecided about my future or not? I’ve come to the point in my life where I just laugh at the things people say online, and honestly, it feels great to come to that point," he added.

“It sucks.” - Matthew Knies, “Beast came in and was unbelievable for us.” - Auston Matthews

The Toronto Maple Leafs captain and power forward talked about Dennis Hildeby taking over for Joseph Woll, who went down with an injury against the Carolina Hurricanes. The Leafs are now without Woll and Anthony Stolarz, making Hildeby the team's starting goaltender. 

It's a huge loss for the Maple Leafs as Woll has been putting up great numbers, but Hildeby has stepped up in relief and with the new role.

Hildeby Is The Leafs' Starter With Woll's Injury, Here's How We Got HereHildeby Is The Leafs' Starter With Woll's Injury, Here's How We Got HereWith Joseph Woll on injured reserve, rookie netminder Dennis Hildeby is now the starting goaltender for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Here is how we got here.

"There's zero truth'' - Ken Holland 

TSN’s Pierre LeBrun said he reached out to the Los Angeles Kings’ GM Ken Holland regarding speculation of a potential coaching change. Peter DeBoer has been linked to the story, but Holland isn’t giving the rumor any more life than it's already taken on. 

The Kings will continue forward with Jim Hiller as the bench boss, with no plans to make changes in the near future.

"If there’s no rink completed, there’s no NHL players going to the Olympics." - Bill Daly

NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly was asked what the percentage chance was that some NHL players might drop out of the Olympics because of the rink issues in Italy.

"Depends on % you want to place on the possibility the rink doesn’t get completed," Daly said. "If there’s no rink completed, there’s no NHL players going to the Olympics."

Nathan MacKinnon (Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images)

“It’ll change things, but who cares?” -Nathan MacKinnon

When asked about the smaller ice surface at the Olympics, Colorado Avalanche superstar Nathan MacKinnon wasn’t overly concerned.  

Maple Leafs' Matthews also chimed in and said, “It can be a 100-by-100-foot sheet. You just want to go out there and play and have that opportunity.”

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For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.

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Darryn Peterson scores 17 in return from injury, No. 21 Kansas beats rival Missouri 80-60

Darryn Peterson scored 17 points in his return after a month lost to a hamstring injury, and No. 21 Kansas used a 23-3 run spanning halftime to seize control against Missouri, before the Jayhawks rolled to an 80-60 victory over their bitter rival Sunday. The potential No. 1 pick in the NBA draft, Peterson had missed the past seven games with the nagging injury. Tre White led the Jayhawks (7-3) with 20 points and 13 rebounds.

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Without Karl-Anthony Towns, Knicks down Magic, 106-100, for third straight win

The Knicks (16-7) defeated the Orlando Magic (14-10) by a final score of 106-100 on Sunday afternoon at Madison Square Garden.

Here are the key takeaways...

-- The Knicks were without Karl-Anthony Towns, as the big man was ruled out before tipoff due to calf tightness. Towns, who went for 35 points and 18 rebounds against Charlotte on Wednesday night, is the team’s leading rebounder and second-leading scorer, so the Knicks were obviously missing a very important piece.

With Towns out, Mitchell Robinson started alongside the usual starting group.

-- Franz Wagner, Orlando’s leading scorer on the season averaging 23.4 points per game, went down hard in the first quarter. On an alley-oop attempt, Wagner was fouled by Ariel Hukporti and landed awkwardly, appearing to injure his left knee or ankle. Wagner had to be helped to the locker room, putting no weight on his left leg. 

The Knicks then suffered an injury scare of their own in the third quarter, when Miles McBride went down and ended up limping off the floor. Shortly after the game, the Knicks announced he hurt his left ankle and they would share more information on his status Monday. McBride, who has been an absolute spark for the Knicks this season, had four points and two assists in 21 minutes.

-- Coming off a 33-point night against Utah,Jalen Brunson led the charge for the Knicks once again. Playing at an MVP-level this season, Brunson had 16 points and five assists in the first quarter alone, attacking the rim and playing well in the mid range. The Knicks led by four points at the end of the first quarter. After getting a rest to start the quarter, Brunson ended up going scoreless in the second frame, as both teams dialed up their defense.

After a back-and-forth first half, the Knicks started the second half on a 9-0 run and went on to outscore the Magic 28-18 in the quarter, with Brunson scoring 10 points. 

The All-Star guard finished with 30 points and nine assists.

-- OG Anunoby, playing in his second game back from injury, once again had his minutes limited. But when he was on the floor, he was in All-Star form, finishing with 21 points, seven rebounds, and three assists in just under 28 minutes. His fourth three of the game came early in the fourth quarter, pushing the Knicks' lead to 16 points. Anunoby was a difference-maker on both sides of the floor. 

--The story of the game for Orlando, even before Wagner left the game, was attacking the Knicks in transition. Orlando players beat the Knicks down the floor after made baskets multiple times early on, but the Knicks' defense adjusted and stifled the Magic, holding them to 38.3 percent shooting on the game. Jalen Suggs, Desmond Bane, Anthony Black, and Paolo Banchero all finished in double digits, but it wasn't enough.

-- With Towns out and Robinson dealing with some foul trouble, Josh Hart stepped up and was all over the glass. The veteran finished the game with 17 points and 12 rebounds. Hukporti also gave the Knicks some strong minutes off the bench, finishing with six points, seven rebounds, and three blocks.

-- The Knicks have now won eight of their last nine games, and are now 2.5 games behind Detroit for the top spot in the Eastern Conference.

Game MVP

Anunoby, whose two-way play, even in limited minutes, played a huge role in the New York victory.

Highlights

Upcoming schedule

The Knicks will take on the Raptors in Toronto on Tuesday night at 8:30 p.m.

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Orlando's Franz Wagner leaves game with very concerning apparent knee injury after fall

Just as the Magic get Paolo Banchero back comes this potentially troubling news.

Orlando forward Franz Wagner left Sunday's game against the Knicks in Madison Square Garden after going to the ground when, on a first quarter transition opportunity, New York's Mitchell Robinson came in to block a pass to Wagner, and the German went to the ground and instantly grabbed his left knee. He stayed on the ground for a while before being helped back to the locker room by his brother, Mo Wagner.

The Magic only said that Wagner would not return to the game due to a "lower left leg injury" and "will be re-evaluated upon the team's return to Orlando."

Wagner had been playing at an All-Star level for the Magic, averaging 23.4 points and 6.2 rebounds a game, shooting 35.4% from 3-point range. He had been the best player on the team through the Magic's run of elite play in recent weeks.

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Pittsburgh Penguins At Dallas Stars Preview: Lineup Changes, Where To Watch

The Pittsburgh Penguins have won four of their last five games, including two-straight. 

They recently defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning 4-3 in a wild, chaotic game on Thursday, in which Nikita Kucherov's game-tying goal was taken off the board for a hand pass. The Penguins were able to survive the final minute of regulation and walk away with two points.

The Penguins have responded since head coach Dan Muse called them out following the Nov. 22 3-2 overtime loss to the Seattle Kraken, and will try to carry that strong momentum into Sunday's game against a Dallas Stars team with Stanley Cup aspirations. The Stars are currently in second place in the Central Division with a 19-5-5 record and have won two in a row and seven of 10. 

Stars forward Jason Robertson has been outstanding this year, compiling 18 goals and 37 points in 29 games. He's been doing it all for the Stars and if he's not on Team USA's Olympic team in February, then something is seriously wrong. 

Mikko Rantanen has also been outstanding, racking up 13 goals and 38 points in 28 games. He's very crafty in the offensive zone and can make anyone pay in an instant.

Wyatt Johnston continues to do his thing with 16 goals and 33 points in 29 games and doesn't get talked about enough. He's one of the most underrated players in the NHL. 

Miro Heiskanen leads the Stars defensively and is one of the best defenseman on the planet. He can do everything in all three zones and has exceptional gap control. 

Jake Oettinger and Casey DeSmith have both been good in goal this season and it'll be interesting to see which goalie gets the nod in this one. 

As for the Penguins, there may be a couple of changes coming to the lineup after Saturday's practice. Evgeni Malkin missed practice with a maintenance day and will not play on Sunday due to an upper-body injury. Justin Brazeau was back in his usual spot on the second line during line rushes, and Noel Acciari was back on the fourth line. 

Matt Dumba was also in Connor Clifton's spot on the bottom pairing with Ryan Graves. 

Here's what Sunday's lineup could look like if Brazeau and Acciari are cleared to return: 

Forwards

Novak-Crosby-Rust

Mantha-Hayes-Brazeau

McGroarty-Kindel-Koivunen

Dewar-Lizzote-Acciari

Defense

Wotherspoon-Karlsson

Shea-Letang

Graves-Dumba

Penguins head coach Dan Muse will likely announce a starting goaltender when he meets with the media before the game. Puck drop is set for 6 p.m. ET on SportsNet Pittsburgh, and fans can listen to the game on 105.9 'The X.'

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