Week in sports: Dec. 16-22

Indianapolis Colts' Reggie Wayne exults after his touchdown catch during the fourth quarter against the Houston Texans on Thursday, Dec. 22, 2011, in Indianapolis. Indianapolis won 19-16.

Jeff Carter scores for his third goal of the game to earn a hat trick i — AP Photo/Mark Humphrey

Columbus Blue Jackets center Jeff Carter, left, scores against Nashville Predators goalie Pekka Rinne (35) for his third goal of the game to earn a hat trick in the first period on Thursday, Dec. 22, 2011, in Nashville, Tenn. Defending for the Predators at right is Shea Weber (6). Martin Erat scored with 8.4 seconds remaining to give the Predators a 6-5 comeback victory over the Blue Jackets.

Tyson Chandler and Damion James fight for loose ball — AP Photo/Kathy Kmonicek

New York Knicks center Tyson Chandler (6) and New Jersey Nets forward Damion James (10) reach for a loose ball as Stephen Graham (26) and Johan Petro (27) watch from right during the first half, Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2011, in New York. Carmelo Anthony had 21 points and eight rebounds, and the Knicks tuned up for the NBA season opener by beating the Nets 88-82.

Vernon Fiddler reaches for the puck — AP Photo/Brandon Wade

Dallas Stars center Vernon Fiddler (38) reaches for the puck as Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Matt Carle (25) defends during the second period, Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2011, in Dallas. Claude Giroux had a goal and three assists in his comeback from a four-game absence due to a concussion as the surging Flyers beat the Stars 4-1.

Barret Jackman tussles with Stefan Elliot — AP Photo/Chris Schneider

St. Louis Blues defenseman Barret Jackman, center, tussles with Colorado Avalanche defenseman Stefan Elliot, bottom, as a referee and Avalanche teammates Matt Duchene, left, and Gabriel Landeskog, top, try to break it up in the third period on Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2011, in Denver. The Avalanche won 3-2.

Matthew Tucker tries to sail over the Louisiana Tech defense — AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi

TCU running back Matthew Tucker (29) tries to sail over the Louisiana Tech defense but is stopped just short of the goal line in the fourth quarter of TCU's 31-24 victory during the Poinsettia Bowl on Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2011, in San Diego. TCU won 31-24.

Tim Sestito is knocked off the puck by — AP Photo/Bill Kostroun

New Jersey Devils' Tim Sestito, left, is knocked off the puck by New York Rangers' Ruslan Fedotenko during the first period on Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2011, in Newark, N.J. Marian Gaborik snapped a third-period tie with the first of his two goals and then sealed New York's win with an empty-netter as the Rangers beat the New Jersey Devils 4-1.

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger walks around the field during a second power outage of the night, in the second quarter against the San Francisco 49ers in San Francisco, Monday, Dec. 19, 2011. The 49ers rode their top-ranked run defense once again to keep ailing Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger off balance and maintain a hold on the NFC's No. 2 playoff seed and a first-round bye. The 49ers won 20-3.

NFL: Week 15

Candlestick Park is dimly lit during a power outage before an NFL game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Pittsburgh Steelers in San Francisco, Monday, Dec. 19, 2011. San Francisco's lights-out return to prime time in a 20-3 victory against the Steelers helped salvage what could have been an embarrassing evening for everyone involved on the NFL's biggest stage after a pair of power outages delayed the game for close to 35 minutes in all.

NFL: Week 15

Brad Malone checks Andrej Meszaros into the boards — AP Photo/Chris Schneider

Colorado Avalanche center Brad Malone, right, checks Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Andrej Meszaros, left, into the boards in the second period on Monday, Dec. 19, 2011, in Denver. Jean-Sebastien Giguere had 31 saves and turned away a shot by Matt Read in a shootout, making Ryan O'Reilly's shootout goal standup in Colorado's 3-2 victory against the Philadelphia. Colorado remained undefeated in six shootouts this season.

Troy Polamalu tackles Kyle Williams — AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez

Pittsburgh Steelers strong safety Troy Polamalu (43) tackles San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Kyle Williams (10) in the second quarter in San Francisco, Monday, Dec. 19, 2011. The 49ers beat the Steelers 20-3.

NFL: Week 15

Caron Butler attempts to knock the ball away from Kobe Bryant — AP Photo/Danny Moloshok

Los Angeles Clippers' Caron Butler, right, attempts to knock the ball away from Los Angeles Lakers' Kobe Bryant during the first half in Los Angeles on Monday, Dec. 19, 2010. Chris Paul had 17 points, nine assists and seven rebounds in his Los Angeles Clippers debut and Chauncey Billups made an equally impressive first impression with his new club, scoring 23 points in a 114-95 victory.

Tom Brady and Tim Tebow — AP Photo/Jack Dempsey

New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) and Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow (15) meet at midfield after an NFL game, Dec. 18, 2011, in Denver. New England won 41-23.

NFL: Week 15

LeSean McCoy celebrates with wide receiver Jason Avant — AP Photo/Michael Perez

Philadelphia Eagles running back LeSean McCoy (25) celebrates with wide receiver Jason Avant (81) after McCoy scored his third touchdown during the second half of an NFL game against the New York Jets, Dec. 18, 2011, in Philadelphia. McCoy ran for three touchdowns to set two team records, and the Eagles routed the Jets 45-19 to stay in the playoff chase.

NFL: Week 15

Beanie Wells is upended by free safety Mike Adams — AP Photo/Paul Connors

Arizona Cardinals running back Beanie Wells (26) is upended by Cleveland Browns free safety Mike Adams (20) and D'Qwell Jackson (52) during the second half of an NFL game on Dec. 18, 2011, in Glendale, Ariz. The Cardinals won with a 20-17 victory over the Cleveland Browns in their third overtime win in seven games.

NFL: Week 15

Justin Durant forces Darrius Heyward-Bey to fumble — AP Photo/Paul Sakuma

Detroit Lions linebacker Justin Durant (52) forces Oakland Raiders wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey (85) to fumble during the third quarter of an NFL game in Oakland, Calif., Dec. 18, 2011. The Lions rallied to beat the Raiders 28-27.

NFL: Week 15

Johnny Knox lies on the ground after being hit — AP Photo/Kiichiro Sato

Chicago Bears wide receiver Johnny Knox (13) lies on the ground after being hit in the first half of an NFL game against the Seattle Seahawks in Chicago, Dec. 18, 2011. Knox is to have surgery to stabilize a vertebra in his lower to mid back after being taken from the field on a cart after the play.

NFL: Week 15

Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow (15) reacts after a touchdown run by Denver Broncos running back Lance Ball (35) against the New England Patriots in an NFL game, Dec. 18, 2011, in Denver. New England won 41-23.

NFL: Week 15

Kansas City Chiefs interim coach Romeo Crennel is congratulated by defensive back Reshard Langford (48) and linebacker Derrick Johnson (56) following the Chiefs' 19-14 win over the Green Bay Packers, Dec. 18, 2011, in Kansas City, Mo.

NFL: Week 15

Andre Drummond celebrates — AP Photo/Fred Beckham

Connecticut's Andre Drummond (12) celebrates during the second half of an NCAA college game in Hartford, Conn., Dec. 18, 2011. Drummond scored a game-high 24 points in his team's 77-40 victory over Holy Cross.

Spain's FC Barcelona midfielder Lionel Messi holds the Golden Ball trophy for the best player during the award ceremony after the final match at the Club World Cup soccer tournament in Yokohama, near Tokyo, Dec. 18, 2011.

Brett Baer kicks a 50-yard field goal — AP Photo/Gerald Herbert

Louisiana-Lafayette kicker Brett Baer (40) kicks a 50-yard field goal at the end of regulation to beat San Diego State in the New Orleans Bowl NCAA college football game in New Orleans, Dec. 17, 2011. Louisiana-Lafayette won 32-30.

Tino Edelmann soars through the air — AP Photo/Matthias Schrader

Tino Edelmann of Germany soars through the air during the Nordic Combined World Cup competition in Seefeld, Austria, Dec. 18, 2011.

Teemu Selanne tosses his stick into the crowd — AP Photo/The Canadian Press, John Woods

Anaheim Ducks forward Teemu Selanne (8) tosses his stick into the crowd after an NHL game against the Winnipeg Jets in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Dec. 17, 2011. Selanne, the former Winnipeg Jets star, received a standing ovation from the crowd on his return to the city where he began his NHL career, despite the fact he now wears an Anaheim Ducks uniform. Winnipeg won 5-3.

Martellus Bennett and Laurent Robinson celebrate — AP Photo/Margaret Bowles

Dallas Cowboys tight end Martellus Bennett (80) and wide receiver Laurent Robinson (81) celebrate a 9-yard touchdown reception by Robinson during the first half of an NFL game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Dec. 17, 2011, in Tampa, Fla. The Cowboys routed the struggling Buccaneers, 31-15.

NFL: Week 15

New York Rangers players swarm teammate Brad Richards, center, after it was determined he scored the game-winning goal in the final seconds of the third period of an NHL game against the Phoenix Coyotes, Dec. 17, 2011, in Glendale, Ariz. The Rangers won 3-2.

Choi Hyun-mi lands a right to challenger Sainamdoy Pitaklongen — AP Photo/ Lee Jin-man

South Korean champion Choi Hyun-mi, a former North Korean defector, right, lands a right to challenger Sainamdoy Pitaklongen of Thailand during the WBA women's featherweight title boxing bout in Seoul, South Korea, Dec. 17, 2011. Choi defeated Sainamdoy with a TKO in the 5th round.

Clint Dempsey challenges for the ball — AP Photo/Alastair Grant

Fulham's Clint Dempsey, right, challenges for the ball with Bolton Wanderers' Mark Davies during their English Premier League soccer match at Fulham's Craven Cottage stadium in London, Dec. 17, 2011.

Jonathan Gray is tackled — AP Photo/Mike Fuentes

Aledo's Jonathan Gray (32) is tackled by Manvel's Effirum Webber, right, during the first half of the Class 4A Division II high school championship football game in Arlington, Texas, Dec. 17, 2011.

United States' Ryan Lochte swims the 100-meter backstroke during the Duel in the Pool swim meet at Georgia Tech, Dec. 17, 2011, in Atlanta.

Syracuse's Kris Joseph, left, and Scoop Jardine celebrate a play during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against North Carolina State in Raleigh, N.C., Dec. 17, 2011. Syracuse won 88-72.

Evgeni Malkin collides with Jordan Leopold — AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar

Pittsburgh Penguins' Evgeni Malkin (71) collides with Buffalo Sabres' Jordan Leopold (3) as he attempts a shot on Sabres goalie Ryan Miller (3) in the second period of an NHL game in Pittsburgh, Dec. 17, 2011.

Andre Ward connects with a right punch to the head of Carl Froch — AP Photo/Rich Schultz

Andre Ward, right, connects with a right punch to the head of Carl Froch,of England, during the fifth round of the Super Six super middleweight tournament boxing final in Atlantic City N.J., Dec. 17, 2011. Ward retained his WBA championship and won the WBC super middleweight belt after defeating Froch in a unanimous decision.

Jeremy Pargo is blocked by Lance Thomas — AP Photo/Lance Murphey

Memphis Grizzlies guard Jeremy Pargo (1) is blocked by New Orleans Hornets' forward Lance Thomas (42) in the second half of a preseason NBA game, Dec. 16, 2011, in Memphis, Tenn. The Hornets won 97-90.

Buffalo Sabres goalie Ryan Miller makes a save against the Toronto Maple Leafs during the second period of an NHL game in Buffalo, N.Y., Dec. 16, 2011. Miller made 29 saves, Thomas Vanek had two goals and two assists, and Tyler Ennis added a goal and assist to help lift the Sabres to a 5-4 win over the Maple Leafs.

Former baseball player Barry Bonds leaves federal court after being sentenced for obstructing justice in a government steroids investigation, Dec. 16, 2011, in San Francisco. A federal judge handed Bonds a sentence of 30 days of house arrest, two years of probation and 250 hours of community service, but delayed the sentence pending an appeal likely to take a year or more.

Barry Bonds