WPPA / T-102 SPORTS / WEDNESDAY

UNIONDALE, N.Y. (AP) — Pascal Dupuis and Richard Park had goals, and Marc-Andre Fleury was sharp in making 33 saves in his 20th NHL shutout as the Pittsburgh Penguins earned their fourth straight win by beating the New York Islanders 3-0 last night. Star center Evgeni Malkin returned to the Penguins' depleted lineup after missing five games because of his troublesome right knee.

PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Steelers are off to a 5-2 start and lead the AFC North. Coach Mike Tomlin is pleased with the progress his team has made in recent weeks, but says it's only October. Tomlin knows the Steelers will have to continue to improve if they want to beat the Patriots on Sunday.

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) — A preseason hit still has Joe Paterno sore, and the Penn State quarterback job still remains open. Yet through all the drama, the 21st-ranked Nittany Lions find themselves in first place in the Leaders Division heading into Saturday's game against Illinois.

PITTSBURGH (AP) — New Pittsburgh coach Todd Graham gave his team a little history lesson to show the struggling Panthers they're not out of the Big East race. Graham pointed to last year's Connecticut team that lost its first two conference games then rolled off five straight wins to take the conference title. It's a lesson new UConn coach Paul Pasqualoni could draw on as well heading into tonight's game at Heinz Field.

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — NBC Sports is receiving a $20 million loan with a 1 percent interest rate from the state of Connecticut to move much of its production from New York. Officials announced the deal yesterday. It's expected to create 450 jobs.



WORLD SERIES
(Best-of-7; x-if necessary)
All games televised by Fox

Texas 3, St. Louis 2

Wednesday, Oct. 19: St. Louis 3, Texas 2
Thursday, Oct. 20: Texas 2, St. Louis 1
Saturday, Oct. 22: St. Louis 16, Texas 7
Sunday, Oct. 23: Texas 4, St. Louis 0
Monday, Oct. 24: Texas 4, St. Louis 2

Wednesday, Oct. 26: Texas (Lewis 14-10) at St. Louis (Garcia 13-7), 8:05 p.m.
x-Thursday, Oct. 27: Texas (Harrison 14-9) at St. Louis (TBA), 8:05 p.m.

NHL
Tuesday's Games
Ottawa 3, Carolina 2, SO
Chicago 3, Anaheim 2, SO
Dallas 3, Phoenix 2, SO
Pittsburgh 3, N.Y. Islanders 0
Columbus 4, Detroit 1
Tampa Bay 4, Buffalo 3
San Jose 3, Nashville 1
Edmonton 3, Vancouver 2
New Jersey 3, Los Angeles 0
Wednesday's Games
Philadelphia at Montreal, 7:30 p.m.
Colorado at Calgary, 10 p.m.
St. Louis at Vancouver, 10 p.m.

MLS PlayoffS
WILD CARDS
Wednesday, Oct. 26: New York at FC Dallas, 9 p.m.
Thursday, Oct. 27: Columbus at Colorado, 10 p.m.

EASTERN CONFERENCE
Semifinals
Sporting Kansas City vs. higher-seeded Wild Card winner
Saturday, Oct. 29: Sporting Kansas City at FC Dallas, 7:30 p.m.
or
Sunday, Oct. 30: Sporting Kansas City at Colorado-Columbus winner, 7 p.m.
Wednesday, Nov. 2: FC Dallas-Columbus-Colorado winner at Sporting Kansas City, TBA
Houston vs. Philadelphia
Sunday, Oct. 30: Houston at Philadelphia, TBA
Thursday, Nov. 3: Philadelphia at Houston, 8:30 p.m.
Championship
Sunday, Nov. 6: TBD

WESTERN CONFERENCE
Semifinals
Los Angeles vs. lower-seeded Wild Card winner
Saturday, Oct. 30: Los Angeles at Colorado-Columbus-New York winner, TBA
Thursday, Nov. 3: Colorado-Columbus-New York winner at Los Angeles, 11 p.m.
Seattle vs. Real Salt Lake
Saturday, Oct. 29: Seattle at Real Salt Lake, 10 p.m.
Wednesday, Nov. 2: Real Salt Lake at Seattle, TBA
Championship
Sunday, Nov. 6: TBD

MLS CUP
Sunday, Nov. 20: Conference Champions at Carson, Calif., 9 p.m.