Vancouver Canucks centre Ryan Kesler was doing damage control after practice on Thursday, refuting a report that hes asked for a trade. "I never commented to anyone that I wanted out," he explained. "My heart is with this group and making the playoffs." Kesler added that the rumours are "completely false" that he asked to be traded - recently or ever. "I dont want to talk about this," he continued. "I dont want this to be a distraction...Im happy to be here." While theres lots of speculation that the Canucks could be looking to move the 29-year-old centre, TVA Sports reported on Wednesday night that Kesler approached the team requesting to be dealt. Speaking to Adrian Dater of The Denver Post on Wednesday night, Keslers agent Kurt Overhardt also denied the story, calling it "a bunch of B.S." Kesler, 29, is recovering from a hand injury and did not dress on Wednesday night for Vancouvers post-Olympic opener against the St. Louis Blues. He hopes to play Friday night when the Canucks host the Minnesota Wild. He has two more years remaining on a six-year, $30 million contract, which pays him $5 million in each of the next two seasons. "Whether he wants to go or stay, hes not going anywhere," Canucks goaltender Roberto Luongo told reporters. "We all know how this script ends." . The 21-year-old Canadian earned a spot in his third career ATP final on Saturday thanks to his first Top 10 victory of the new tennis season, a 6-4, 6-4 win over world no. 10 Nicolas Almagro of Spain. .ca. The NHL Play of the Year showdown kicks off with some slick moves going head-to-head with a combination of soft hands and endless patience.
http://www.officialarizonacardinalsfoot ... sey-womens. -- Zach Johnson is like most players at the World Challenge, not sure whether hes still playing in 2013 or if hes in the middle of the new wraparound season that officially started in October. . JOHNS, N. . Hicham Khalouas late goal improved Almerias chances of avoiding relegation in a match dominated by contentious calls, including three penalties. One day after Barcelonas 4-3 win at Real Madrid featured three penalties, referees again dominated a wide-open game that saw Almeria ultimately move out of the relegation zone and one point ahead of Getafe which took its place.CINCINNATI - Four minutes were left when Peyton Manning took the field to try to lead his 51st game-winning drive. Plenty of time for the Broncos to pull it out.One bad throw brought the playoffs into sharper focus.Dre Kirkpatrick returned an interception 30 yards for a touchdown with 2:41 to go, then picked off Manning again in the close seconds to secure a 37-28 victory on Monday night that put the Cincinnati Bengals back in the playoffs.Cincinnati (10-4-1) will play in Pittsburgh next Sunday night, with the winner getting the AFC North title. The loser gets a wild card. The Bengals will have one thing in their favour: Finally breaking out of their prime time funk.The Bengals got blown out in their two previous night games this season and were 18-41 all-time in prime time, including 10-20 on Monday nights. This one was particularly soothing.Until we had a win like this, people kept saying we couldnt win in prime time, said Andy Dalton, who is only 3-6 in prime time and 0-3 in the playoffs. So it was big for us to get this win. Regardless of what people were saying, this win meant more because it got us into the playoffs.The Broncos (11-4) were already there as AFC West champions. They could have clinched a first-round bye with a win on Monday. Instead, New England got home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. Denver can still clinch the No. 2 seed by beating Oakland at home.Its disappointing, said Manning, who threw a season-high four interceptions. We had an opportunity to win this game tonight. We would have preferred that. We have another opportunity next week.Some things learned at Paul Brown Stadium:ABOUT THOSE PLAYOFFS: Cincinnatis four straight playoff appearances are a franchise first. Cincinnati hasnt won a playoff game since the 1990 season, tied for the sixth-longest streak of futility in NFL history. Theyre 0-5 in the post-season since then, with all of the losses coming under coach Marvin Lewis.HILL IS SOME ROOKIE: Jeremy Hill ran for 147 yards against the NFLs second-ranked run defence, including an 85-yard touchdown for Cincinnatis first points.ddddddddddddHe became the 10th Bengals player to run for 1,000 in a season. According to STATS, Hill is the third rookie in NFL history to rush for 140 yards four times in a season, joining Eric Dickerson (1983) and Curtis Martin (1995).ANOTHER DALTON MISFIRE: Dalton threw too high to A.J. Green on Cincinnatis second series, resulting in an interception that Aqib Talib returned 33 yards for a touchdown. It was a reminder of Daltons penchant for being off-target in the big games. The Bengals made sure Dalton spent much of the game handing it off or throwing short passes — 14 of his 17 completions went to a tight end or running back.IMPERFECT PEYTON: Manning was 8-0 against Cincinnati coming into the game, throwing for 20 touchdowns with only five interceptions. He had nearly that many on Monday night, throwing a season-high four. The showing raised more questions about the quarterback, who missed much of practice last week with a strained right thigh.It wasnt good, said Manning, who was 28 of 44 for 311 yards with two touchdowns. With four interceptions, youre not going to beat many good football teams.NOTEWORTHY: Broncos safety T.J. Ward left in the fourth quarter with a neck injury. Hell be reevaluated in Denver. ... Green bruised his right biceps when he was hit on Talibs interception return. He was in and out of the lineup for the rest of the game and finished without a catch for only the second time in his career. ... Demaryius Thomas set a Broncos record with his ninth 100-yard receiving game. He also joined Marvin Harrison and Jerry Rice as the only players with three straight seasons of 1,400 yards receiving and 10 TD catches. ... The Bengals started Eric Winston at right tackle for the first time since they signed him on Dec. 2. Cincinnati rushed for 207 yards, averaging 5.6 yards per carry.___Online: AP NFL website:
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