NEW YORK, N.Y. - Henrik Lundqvist and the New York Rangers take a seven-game winning streak into the Christmas break.They will need the rest after withstanding a frenetic third period to beat the Washington Capitals 4-2 on Tuesday night. Trailing 3-0, the Capitals fired 21 shots at Lundqvist in the final 20 minutes.It was perfect, Lundqvist deadpanned. I have a lot of Christmas food here, so I needed a good workout in the third.He certainly got it.When the game was on the line, Lundqvist was really good for them, Capitals coach Barry Trotz said.Rick Nash and Martin St. Louis each scored twice for the Rangers. Lundqvist finished with 30 saves in a game that matched two of the NHLs hottest teams in their final outing before the holiday break. Washington had won three in a row, picking up points in nine straight games (7-0-2).Mats Zuccarello and Derick Brassard had two assists apiece for New York.Evgeny Kuznetsov and Alex Ovechkin scored for Washington.It was the first meeting of the season between the Metropolitan Division rivals. The Rangers and Capitals are tied with 40 points in third place — the last guaranteed playoff spot in the division. New York has two games in hand on the Capitals.Nash got the only goal of the opening period at 3:32, deflecting Zuccarellos shot past Braden Holtby. It came moments after Rangers defenceman Ryan McDonagh won a 1-on-1 battle with Ovechkin, standing up the Washington star as he broke toward the net.Ovechkin and linemate Nicklas Backstrom almost tied it later in the period when they had consecutive point-blank shots that Lundqvist denied.Ovechkin was called for boarding Zuccarello 27 seconds into the second period, and the Rangers capitalized.St. Louis got the goal at 1:03, converting a brilliant pass from Dan Boyle at the point. Boyle faked a shot before sending the puck to St. Louis, positioned below the right circle. He whipped a sharp-angle shot past Holtby to give New York a 2-0 lead.The Capitals came out flying to start the third period, peppering Lundqvist with nine shots in the first 3 minutes.He stood his ground, and got some breathing room when Nash, using Washington defenceman John Carlson as a screen, fired home his second goal at 5:12 for a 3-0 lead. It was his team-leading 22nd of the season.Lundqvist lost his shutout bid when Kuznetsov scored 41 seconds later, a soft shot that Lundqvist missed as he tried to make a kick save.The Capitals kept coming, pulling within one on Ovechkins power-play goal at 10:58.We were frustrated a little bit with ourselves, Trotz said. Between periods, I said, Lets take a deep breath here. Weve got 20 minutes to see if we could reclaim this. There was no quit in us. I liked our determination.The momentum, at that point in Washingtons favour, changed with a spate of Capitals penalties. Backstrom got a double-minor for high-sticking Brassard at 14:35. Jason Chimera at the same time picked up a faceoff-violation penalty, giving the Rangers a 5-on-3 power play.St. Louis cashed in, knocking in the rebound of Nashs shot after it hit the post at 16:12 to put the Rangers up 4-2.And the winning streak continued.Its a great feeling in here, St. Louis said. Weve done a great job of going out there and earning it every day.With each victory, the Rangers see emerging signs of the team that advanced to the Stanley Cup finals last spring.Its a great feeling to go into this break after playing really well these last couple of weeks, Lundqvist said. We all feel were getting closer to where we want to be.NOTES: The teams dont meet again until March 11, but they play three times in the final month. ... Both teams resume play Saturday. Washington will be in Pittsburgh; New York hosts New Jersey. ... The New York City police honour guard presented the colours for the national anthem and received a prolonged ovation from the crowd. Connor McGovern Cowboys Jersey . Team officials travelled to Los Angeles on Thursday night to meet with the free agent, a person with knowledge of the plans said. Charles Haley Jersey . Got Jacks? Pulling off a comeback for the ages, feisty Stephen F. Austin became the latest No. 12 seed to pull off an upset, tying the game on Desmond Haymons did-that-just-happen four-point play with 3. http://www.cowboysrookieproshop.com/Cowb...Dorsett-Jersey/. -- Howie Kendrick had a two-run single in his first game batting leadoff this season, Chris Iannetta hit a pair of RBI singles and the Los Angeles Angels beat Cleveland 6-4 Tuesday night, sending the Indians to their fifth straight defeat. Tony Pollard Cowboys Jersey . - Steve Stricker usually doesnt show up at a tournament on Sunday. Deion Sanders Cowboys Jersey . Atletico Madrid made it three wins from three thanks to a double from in-form striker Diego Costa in a 3-0 victory at Austria Vienna, leaving the Spanish side on the brink of the last 16 already to continue its brilliant start to the season.ORLANDO, Fla. -- Scottie Wilbekin sat on the bench for the final minute, holding a bag of ice against his left knee. It was about the only time he wasnt giving Pittsburgh huge problems on both ends of the court. Wilbekin scored 21 points, including 11 of the teams 13 during a 7-minute stretch in the second half, and top-seeded Florida handled the Panthers 61-45 in the NCAA tournament Saturday. The Gators 28th consecutive win put them in the Sweet 16 for the fourth consecutive year. The latest victory followed a lacklustre and head-scratching performance in the teams NCAA opener against Albany two days earlier. The Gators vowed to play with more energy and intensity, and Wilbekin spearheaded the effort. "We just wanted to come out and not let them play harder than us or not play as hard as we can," Wilbekin said. "I think we did a good job of having our energy up at the start of the game, and we played together on offence and played together on defence." Wilbekin took over in the second half, scoring eight consecutive points at one point. Patric Young wasnt too shabby, either, finishing with seven points and eight rebounds. Will Yeguete added eight points -- all in the paint. Michael Frazier II chipped in 10 points for the Gators. Frazier was just 2-of-9 shooting from 3-point range. Had Florida not been cold from behind the arc, the game would have been essentially over much sooner than it was. The Gators finished 5 of 20 from 3-point range, with at least five of those rimming in and out. Florida will face either fourth-seeded UCLA or 12th-seeded Stephen F. Austin on Thursday in the South Regional in Memphis, Tenn. The Bruins and Lumberjacks play Sunday in San Diego. The Gators have the longest current streak of Sweet 16 appearances -- and expect to go further. If Wilbekin continues to play like he did against the Panthers, Florida surely improves its chances of making another deep run in the tournament. "It was good to see him come back and respond the way he did today," coach Billy Donovan said. "I thought all the way around he played very well. ... He was great on both ends of the floor because he really gives it up on the defensive end, and when you give it up like that and youre the point guard, theres a physical toll that your body takes over a period of time." Wilbbekin ended up getting iced down after banging knees with a defender.dddddddddddd He got a well-deserved standing ovation as he limped off the court. "Hes a great point guard," Panthers forward Lamar Patterson said. "He took care of business." Wilbekin hit a running 3-pointer at the first-half buzzer and drained a back-breaking 3 with 8:24 remaining that gave Florida its largest lead at that point, 45-31. His consecutive floaters inside 5 minutes to play were equally troublesome for Pitt. The Panthers, who seemed focused on Young inside and Frazier out, had no answer for Wilbekins dribble penetration. Wilbekin also was a force on the press, which helped force 11 turnovers and got the Panthers out of rhythm. Florida played the kind of defence that had to impress NFL coaches Bill Belichick and Mike Tomlin. The Patriots and Steelers head men were on hand, with Belichick sitting behind Floridas bench in a white Gators visor and Tomlin sitting opposite Pitts bench in Panthers colours. Wilbekin really started to dominate as Pitt steadily wore down in the second half. "Got in the lane -- constantly," Pitt coach Jamie Dixon said. "Hes a senior, hes a really good player, hes been through some ups and downs, obviously, and hes had a great finish to his career, and thats what you hope happens to a kid that learns and gets better. They played well. Im sure theyre proud of him and what hes become, a local guy thats done well." Talib Zanna led the Panthers with 10 points, their only player in double figures. A lot was made of the inside matchup between Young and Zanna, two ripped centres who played well Thursday. But Wilbekin was the story in this one. His best play didnt even show up in the box score. Wilbekin saved one of the many loose balls Florida got to first, turned around and threw a strike to Casey Prather. Prather drove the lane and dropped the ball to Young for a dunk that energized the pro-Florida crowd. "I think just trying to get better in little areas, the small stuff, trying to be a better leader," said Wilbekin, who was suspended five games to start the season. "As far as how it translates on the court, I think its helped me become a better leader, be more connected with my teammates and coach. Its helped me play with a freer mind." ' ' '