Canucks earn rare victory over San Jose

NHL

Canucks beat Sharks: Ryan Kesler and Alexander Edler each had a goal and an assist, Ryan Johnson scored his first goal of the season, and the host Vancouver Canucks hung on to beat the San Jose Sharks 3-2 on Thursday night.

Roberto Luongo made 32 saves as Vancouver beat San Jose for just the second time in 10 games over the past three seasons to move five points up on Colorado in the Northwest Division and within five of the Sharks atop the Western Conference.

The Canucks have won three of four home games since coming back from a record 14-straight road games over six weeks while Vancouver hosted the Olympics.

Ryan Clowe and Joe Pavelski scored for the Sharks, who have lost four straight (0-3-1) and lead Phoenix by just three points atop the Pacific Division.

Ducks' Wisniewski suspended for eight games: Anaheim Ducks defenseman James Wisniewski was suspended for eight games for delivering a hit to the head area of Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Brent Seabrook. Wisniewski, who was suspended two games on Oct. 31, 2009, is considered a repeat offender.

College football

Michigan-Notre Dame set as Big House's night debut: Michigan has a marquee opponent for the first night game at the Big House: Notre Dame.

The game is set for Sept. 10, 2011, and new Michigan athletic director Dave Brandon said he expects an unprecedented atmosphere at Michigan Stadium for the latest chapter in the rivalry between two of the most storied programs.

Soccer

Dempsey puts Fulham into Europa League quarterfinals: Just back from a layoff of nearly two months, Clint Dempsey put Fulham into the European League quarterfinals in one of the biggest victories in club history.

Dempsey got the decisive score in the 82nd minute as Fulham rallied from a three-goal aggregate deficit to beat Juventus 4-1 in London.

UEFA bans match-fixing Ukrainian ref for life: Ukrainian referee Oleh Orekhov has been banned for life for helping to fix matches.

Tennis

Nadal reaches semifinals at Indian Wells: Defending champion Rafael Nadal defeated Tomas Berdych 6-4, 7-6 (7-4) to reach the semifinals of the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, Calif., in his first tournament since returning from a six-week injury layoff.

Olympics

IOC to question Sochi on environmental record: The International Olympic Committee will question organizers of the 2014 Sochi Winter Games about their environmental record next month. The IOC said its coordination panel overseeing games preparations will visit the Russian Black Sea resort from April 13-15.

Sochi officials were strongly criticized by a U.N. environmental watchdog group this week that reported ecosystems were damaged and wildlife habitats were destroyed while building the Olympic infrastructure.

Boxing

Mayweather, Mosley embrace Olympic-style drug testing: Floyd Mayweather Jr. and welterweight champion Shane Mosley will undergo Olympic-style drug testing for their May 1 fight in Las Vegas, which they hope will set a new standard for boxing.

Mayweather's insistence on Olympic-style testing is the primary reason negotiations fell through in January for a fight against pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao.

College golf

NCAA puts Nevada on probation: The NCAA fined Nevada's athletic department $1,500, placed both of its golf teams on probation for three years and took away a scholarship. But the NCAA cleared the school's other sports of any violations and said there were no gambling issues.

An NCAA investigation that began more than two years ago determined that Rich Merritt, former coach of both the men's and women's teams, bought athletes beer, paid for meals and lodging, and helped cover expenses for one to fly to Colorado to try to qualify for the U.S. Open.

College wrestling

Iowa sends eight wrestlers to quarterfinals: Iowa started a methodical march toward a third straight national title at the NCAA championships in Omaha, Neb. The Hawkeyes advanced eight of their 10 wrestlers to the quarterfinals and finished the meet's first day with 34.5 points. Oklahoma State was second with 26 points and Iowa State third with 24.

Horse racing

Executive who transformed Preakness dies: Charles John "Chick" Lang, the longtime head of Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore who helped make the Preakness a must-watch for sports fans around the country, has died. He was 83.

Figure skating

Portland named host city: Portland was named the host city for the 2010 Skate America competition, part of the international Grand Prix of Figure Skating series. The competition is scheduled for Nov. 11-14 at the Rose Garden.

Biathlon

Fourcade wins World Cup sprint: Martin Fourcade of France has won a men's 10-kilometer World Cup sprint in Oslo. Simone Hauswald of Germany won the women's 7.5-kilometer sprint.

Seattle Times news services