WPPA/T102 SPORTS-CHRISTMAS EVE

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Blair Betts and Mike Richards both scored two goals and the Philadelphia Flyers beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 5-2 last night. Simon Gagne had a late empty-net goal for Philadelphia, which stopped a four-game losing skid and also picked up its fourth win in the last 18 games.

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Evgeni Malkin had his fourth career hat trick, Bill Guerin added two goals and two assists, and the Pittsburgh Penguins headed into the holiday break tied atop the league standings after routing the Ottawa Senators 8-2 last night. Guerin and Chris Kunitz tied a club record with 4 points apiece during Pittsburgh's five-goal second period.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Eagles running back Brian Westbrook has been cleared to play after two concussions and is expected to return for this week's game. Coach Andy Reid says Westbrook did "perfect" on his testing and is "ready to roll" for the NFC East-leading Eagles who host former teammate Brian Dawkins and the Denver Broncos this Sunday.

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Ben Roethlisberger made it official yesterday, declaring the Steelers are a throwing team first and a running team second, a significant change in character and philosophy that one of the NFL's most venerable franchises has rarely dared to make. The evidence: His club-record 503 yards Sunday against Green Bay.

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Left-handed reliever Jack Taschner has signed a minor league contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates and will be invited to spring training. The 31-year-old Taschner was 1-1 with a 4.91 ERA and a .317 opponents batting average in 24 games with Philadelphia last season.

VILLANOVA, Pa. (AP) — Scottie Reynolds scored 22 points, Reggie Redding had 16 and No. 8 Villanova cruised in its final nonconference game, beating Delaware 97-63 last night. The Wildcats used some big baskets from Reynolds, who keyed their Final Four run last season, to turn a tighter-than-expected game into an easy win in their final tuneup for the Big East.

NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION

Wednesday's Scores

Final Orlando 102 Houston 87
Final Minnesota 103 New Jersey 99
Final Toronto 94 Detroit 64
Final Miami 80 Utah 70
Final New Orleans 108 Golden State 102
Final Washington 109 Milwaukee 97
Final Portland 98 San Antonio 94
Final Denver 124 Atlanta 104
Final Oklahoma City 117 Phoenix 113
Final OT Cleveland 117 Sacramento 104

Thursday's Games

No games scheduled

NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE

Wednesday's Scores

Final Boston 6 Atlanta 4
Final Washington 5 Buffalo 2
Final Minnesota 3 Edmonton 1
Final N-Y Rangers 4 Florida 1
Final Montreal 5 Carolina 1
Final Pittsburgh 8 Ottawa 2
Final N-Y Islanders 3 Toronto 1
Final Chicago 3 Detroit 0
Final Philadelphia 5 Tampa Bay 2
Final Dallas 3 Columbus 1
Final Phoenix 4 Anaheim 0
Final 2OT St. Louis 2 Calgary 1 (SO St. Louis 2-0)

Thursday's Games

No games scheduled

TOP-25 COLLEGE BASKETBALL

Wednesday's Scores

Final ( 3) Kentucky 86 Long Beach St. 73
Final ( 6) West Virginia 76 (15) Mississippi 66
Final ( 8) Villanova 97 Delaware 63
Final Oral Roberts 75 (13) New Mexico 66
Final (14) Georgetown 86 Harvard 70
Final (16) Tennessee 99 N. Carolina A&T 78

Thursday's Games

No Games Scheduled

TOP-25 WOMEN'S COLLEGE BASKETBALL

Final ( 1) Connecticut 80 ( 2) Stanford 68
Final (15) Xavier 87 Austin Peay 41

Thursday's Games

No Games Scheduled