Arizona Daily Star from Tucson, Arizona • Page B003

SPORTS B3 ARIZONA DAILY STAR Wednesday, December 14, 2011 CARDINALS Defense sparks surprising revival UP NEXT What: Browns at Cardinals When: 2:15 p.m. Sunday TV, radio: Ch 13; 1290-AM PAUL CONNORS THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Big plays on offense, notably by wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald, have also helped the Arizona Cardinals turn their season around. The Cardinals have won five of their last six games. By Bob Baum THE ASSOCIATED PRESS TEMPE Given up as a lost cause seven weeks into the season, the Arizona Cardinals have won five of six to climb within a game of .500. Consecutive victories over Dallas and San Francisco have stamped Arizona's resurgence with legitimacy.

If the Cardinals win out, they will have a winning season and maybe even make the playoffs. It's a turnaround based on defense and big plays, as well as the steady hand of coach Ken Whisenhunt, who reminded everyone after Sunday's 21-19 victory over San Francisco that he and his team never wavered from their approach in the six-game slide that left the Cardinals 1-6. "I'm proud of our guys, the way they have played, and the way they have hung together after facing a lot of criticism," Whisenhunt said at his Monday news conference. "That's tough, in this league and today's NFL, everyone is going to have a media outlet or a forum to make judgments about your players and your team, and that is a tough environment. A lot of times that will frac- NHL ture your team, but our guys believed in it and stuck together." The victory over San Francisco, a week after the 49ers clinched the NFC West title, came without Arizona quarterback Kevin Kolb, who went out with concussion-like symptoms on the Cardinals' third play of the game after taking a knee to the head.

Kolb will be evaluated under the strict NFL concussion rules through the week before it's determined whether he can play Sunday against Cleveland. Backup John Skelton, who was so bad in the team's Nov. 20 23-7 loss at San Francisco that he was benched after three quarters, came on and, after a slow start, threw three touchdown passes. But this victory belonged chiefly to the Cardinals' ever-improving defense. San Francisco had the ball inside the Arizona 10 -yard Colorado can do no wrong in shootouts NFL NOTEBOOK League suspends Steelers' Harrison THE ASSOCIATES PRESS PITTSBURGH Steelers linebacker James Harrison has carved out a niche as one of the NFL's most feared defenders over the last five years by straddling the line between clean and dirty.

After one dangerous hit too many, the league apparently has seen enough. The NFL suspended Harrison for one game after his helmet-to-face-mask hit on Browns quarterback Colt McCoy last Thursday, making Harrison the first player to miss game time as a penalty under the league's revamped policy on such collisions. Harrison's agent Bill Parise said Tuesday that Harrison has already filed an appeal and expects it to be heard this week by Art Shell or Ted Cottrell, jointly appointed by the NFL and the players' association to hear such cases. They'll have to determine Harrison's intent when he laid out McCoy late in the fourth quarter of Pittsburgh's 14-3 victory. The 2008 NFL Defensive Player of the Year was penalized for roughing the passer on the play and said Monday he believed the hit didn't warrant further punishment.

NFL Executive Vice President Ray Anderson disagreed, pointing out the violation marked the fifth illegal hit on a quarterback by Harrison in the last three seasons. The four-time Pro Bowler has also been fined on two other occasions for unnecessary roughness over the same period. Extra points Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is questionable for Monday's game at San Francisco because of a sprained left ankle. Coach Mike Tomlin said Roethlisberger is "day-to-day" but is working "tirelessly" to be on the field Monday. Roethlisberger left Thursday's 14-3 win over Cleveland in the second quarter after turning the ankle while being sacked.

He returned and threw for 178 yards and a touchdown in the second half. The Cowboys placed running back DeMarco Murray and safety Barry Church on season-ending injured reserve and signed veterans Sammy Morris and Mana Silva as replacements. Murray broke his right ankle, and Church injured his shoulder in Sunday night's 37-34 loss to the Giants. The Jets signed veteran safety Gerald Alexander, adding depth to the position two days after Jim Leonhard was lost for the season because of a knee injury. In the last six games, the Cardinals defense has allowed six touchdowns.

The win over the 49ers was Whisenhunt's 42nd as Arizona's coach, tying him with Don Coryell for most in the franchise's history. Whisenhunt said center Lyle Sendlein gave him one of the game balls after the contest. "It was very meaningful that our team did that," the coach said, "but it's a team game, so we are worried about focusing on Cleveland this week." The playoffs remain a longshot. The Cardinals (6-7) trail Detroit and Atlanta by two games. Dallas and the New York Giants share the NFC East lead at 7-6, so one of them could get the wild card nod.

Chicago also is 7-6. But playoffs aside, just having a winning season "would be incredible," Whisenhunt said. "It would be very significant for the character of our football team." Cowen scored 45 seconds into overtime to give Ottawa the victory. Cowen pinched into the slot and redirected a pass from Erik Karlsson in the right corner. Maple Leafs 2, Hurricanes 1, OT: In Toronto, Tim Connolly scored his second goal of the game at 44 seconds of overtime to lift Toronto.

The Maple Leafs center went to the crease and had an empty net to shoot at when Joffrey Lupul's shot dribbled past Cam Ward, who made 36 saves. Blue Jackets 2, Canucks 1, SO: In Columbus, Ohio, James Wisniewski had the last of Columbus' three shootout goals and Steve Mason made several big stops in his first game after a 27-day benching to lead Columbus. Devils 3, Panthers 2, SO: In Sunrise, IlyaKo-valchuk and Patrik Elias scored in the shootout for New Jersey and Martin Brodeur stopped both Florida attempts. Canadiens 5, Islanders 3: In Montreal, Petteri Nokelainen scored with 6:15 remaining as Montreal recovered after giving up a two-goal lead in the third period. Carey Price made 29 saves for the Canadiens, who won for the fifth time in 13 home games to end a four-game skid at the Bell Centre (0-1-3).

Predators 2, Flames 1: In Nashville, Colin Wilson scored a power-play goal at 3:31 of the third period to give Nashville the victory. The Predators won their third straight, while the Flames' three-game winning streak ended. Aluminum awning kits Assorted roofing materials in stock Custom orders No problem Variety of colors available Do-lt- line three times in the second quarter and managed only field goals. In the second half, the 49ers had two first downs, one on Frank Gore's 37-yard touchdown run that put them up 19-7 early in the third quarter, the other on an unnecessary roughness penalty. "There wasn't any bickering or yelling, we just said we were going to win the game in the fourth quarter," defensive tackle Darnell Dockett said.

tle scored with 5 minutes remaining as Winnipeg snapped Minnesota's seven-game winning streak. Stars 1, Rangers In New York, Trevor Daley broke up a scoreless game with 4:59 left and Richard Bachman made 34 saves to win his second straight start for Dallas. Senators 3, Sabres 2, OT: In Buffalo, N.Y., Jared meniscus in his left knee and couldbe out for two months. Pistons center Ben Wallace was sentenced Tuesday to a year of probation but avoided jail time on drunken driving and gun possession charges stemming from a September traffic stop in suburban Detroit. Retired NBA point guard Kenny Anderson has been charged in South Florida with leaving the scene of an accident, police said.

Anderson, 41, was arrested late Sunday after crashing into two trees and walking away, Miramar, police said in a report. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS DENVER For some reason, the Colorado Avalanche are just about unbeatable in a shootout. Semyon Varlamov made 27 saves, Gabriel Landeskog scored the decisive goal in the shootout and Colorado beat the San Jose Sharks 4-3 on Tuesday night. Matt Duchene, Stefan Elliott and Daniel Winnik had regulation goals for the Avalanche. Milan Hejduk also scored in the shootout.

The Avalanche improved to 5-0 in shootouts this season and are 16-1 since December 2009. Landeskog provided the latest winner when he beat Antti Niemi in the fifth round before Varlamov stopped Brad Winchester to end it. "I had my plan to come down the right side and kind of go low block," Landeskog said. "Luckily it was open and got the shot off. It was a great feeling when I saw it go in." It was the rookie's first chance in a shootout.

"It was clutch," Duchene said. "It's his first-ever shootout attempt and he goes in and buries it." Niemi made 30 saves, Dan Boyle had a goal and an assist and Jamie McGinn and Patrick Marleau also scored for the Sharks. San Jose is 2-5-2 in its last nine games. The Avalanche snapped a three-game losing streak and won their fourth straight at home. Red Wings 4, Penguin 1: In Pittsburgh, Pavel Dat-syuk had a goal and an assist and Jimmy Howard stopped 25 shots to lead Detroit over injury-depleted Pittsburgh.

It was Detroit's first victory NBA NOTEBOOK BARRY GUTIERREZ THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Colorado's Stefan Elliott celebrates a first-period goal against San Jose. The contest eventually went to a shootout, which the Avalanche won. Colorado is 5-0 in shootouts this season. of the season as Los Angeles lost in its first game under interim coach John Stevens. Flyers 5, Capitals 1: In Washington, Scott Hartnell extended his goal-scoring streak to six games and Marc-Andre Bourdon got his first NHL goal as Philadelphia won its sixth straight.

Jets 2, Wild 1: In Winnipeg, Manitoba, Bryan Lit Former Bobcat Brown agrees to join Warriors in Pittsburgh in three seasons. The Penguins played without captain Sidney Crosby, who missed his third straight game and 23rd overall this season following a recurrence of concussionlike symptoms. Bruins 3, Kings In Boston, Brad Marchand scored twice and Tuukka Rask earned his first shutout was a huge step to come back and play for Michael." Dallas sends Brewer, Fernandez to Denver DENVER The Nuggets acquired versatile swing-man Rudy Fernandez and forward Corey Brewer from the Mavericks for a future second-round pick. The trade gives the Nuggets added depth as the team attempts to work out an agreement with guard Arron Afflalo, who is a re-strictedfree agent. The team signed Brazilian center Nene to a five -year deal.

Yoursel Awnings Patio Covers Siding Facia Screen Enclosures www.westernerproducts.com 005 Rim shots The Suns have waived backup point guard Zabian Dowdell, have signed guard Ronnie Price and have added forward Marcus Landry to the roster. The Timberwolves have traded forward Lazar Hay-ward to the Thunder for two conditional second-round draft picks and guard Robert Vaden. The Lakers have signed veteran guard Gerald Green and rookie free agent forward Malcolm Thomas The Lakers also said forward Derrick Caracter will have surgery on a torn THE ASSOCIATED PRESS CHARLOTTE, N.C. -Free agent center Kwame Brown has agreed to terms on a one -year, $7 million contract with the Warriors. Agent Mark Bartelstein says the offer in Golden State was "too good to pass up." The loss of Brown leaves the Bobcats with a hole at center.

Gana Diop, who is coming off a torn Achilles tendon, is the only center on the Bobcats roster. Bartelstein says Brown is "extremely grateful" for the opportunity the Bobcats gave him, adding that "it esterner PRODUCTS INC. 201 E. Grant Rd. 622-6722 LIC 057449.