WPPA / T-102 SPORTS / Wednesday

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin and the Steelers are dealing with a number of hurt linebackers. Starters James Farrior, LaMarr Woodley and James Harrison are all nursing injuries as the Steelers prepare for Sunday's AFC North rematch against the Baltimore Ravens.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Nearly halfway through the season, only one team in the NFC East has a winning record. The New York Giants are 5-2 while Philadelphia, Dallas and Washington each are 3-4. No other division has produced more Super Bowl winners or conference champions, but there's no beast in the East this season.

UNDATED (AP) — Penn State is off to a surprisingly strong start. The Nittany Lions are the last team unbeaten in Big Ten play at 5-0 in the conference. Penn State has a bye this week before a three-game gauntlet to close the regular season begins November 12th against Nebraska. Road games also loom at Ohio State and Wisconsin.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — A person familiar with the decision says the Big East will invite Boise State, Navy and Air Force for football only and SMU, Houston and Central Florida for all sports. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the conference was not ready to announce which schools its members had voted yesterday to extend invitations to in the upcoming days.

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) — First-year coach Patrick Chambers will be relying heavily this season on a player from the old regime at Penn State. Point guard Tim Frazier is the lone returning starter from Penn State's team in 2010-11 that went to the NCAA tournament. Frazier took a supporting role on that team to four seniors. Now it's Frazier's turn to take the shots and the spotlight.


NHL
Tuesday's Games
Boston 5, Ottawa 3
Carolina 4, Tampa Bay 2
Washington 5, Anaheim 4, OT
Minnesota 2, Detroit 1, OT
Vancouver 5, Calgary 1

Wednesday's Games
Philadelphia at Buffalo, 7:30 p.m.
Toronto at New Jersey, 7:30 p.m.
Phoenix at Colorado, 9:30 p.m.

MLS Playoffs
WILD CARDS
Wednesday, Oct. 26: New York 2, FC Dallas 0
Thursday, Oct. 27: Colorado 1, Columbus 0

EASTERN CONFERENCE
Semifinals
Sporting Kansas City vs. Colorado
Sunday, Oct. 30: Sporting Kansas City 2, Colorado 0
Wednesday, Nov. 2: Colorado at Sporting Kansas City, 7 p.m.
Houston vs. Philadelphia
Sunday, Oct. 30: Houston 2, Philadelphia 1
Thursday, Nov. 3: Philadelphia at Houston, 8:30 p.m.

Championship
Sunday, Nov. 6: TBD

WESTERN CONFERENCE
Semifinals
Los Angeles vs. New York
Sunday, Oct. 30: Los Angeles 1, New York 0
Thursday, Nov. 3: New York at Los Angeles, 11 p.m.
Seattle vs. Real Salt Lake
Saturday, Oct. 29: Seattle 0, Real Salt Lake 3
Wednesday, Nov. 2: Real Salt Lake at Seattle, 10 p.m.

Championship
Sunday, Nov. 6: TBD

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