In Brief

HOCKEY

Flyers stop Pens' 12-game run but not Crosby's scoring streak

The Pittsburgh Penguins' winning streak came to an end even as Sidney Crosby kept his point-scoring run alive.

Scott Hartnell scored a power-play goal at 9:54 of the third period, and the Philadelphia Flyers snapped Pittsburgh's 12-game winning streak with a 3-2 victory Tuesday in Philadelphia.

"It's the battle of Pennsylvania," Hartnell said. "It was a big measuring game. It was intense, and we played well enough to win."

Pittsburgh center Evgeni Malkin returned after missing four games with a knee injury and scored two goals to give him 10 for the season.

Crosby assisted on Malkin's goals, extending his point streak to 19 games. He has 20 goals and 18 assists in matching his career-long streak from Oct. 6 to Nov. 17, 2007.

Also: The time is right for NHL stars Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin to put aside their rivalry in a bid to promote the Winter Classic.

The Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington Capitals captains will appear together on the game show "The Price Is Right" on CBS on Monday.

With retired star Jeremy Roenick, they will introduce an NHL-themed showcase that includes a trip to Pittsburgh for their teams' New Year's Day meeting outdoors at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh.

Wranglers center Tyler Mosienko has been named ECHL Player of the Week for Dec. 6 to 12.

The 24-year-old scored five goals and added three assists last week as the Wranglers went 3-0-0 to improve their record to 13-4-2 for 28 points and a first-place tie in the Pacific Division.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Muschamp formally introduced at Florida as Meyer's successor

Will Muschamp spent part of his childhood in Gainesville, Fla., growing up a few streets from Florida Field and cheering for the Gators.

He left in the mid-1980s, then returned as a player at Georgia and as an assistant with Auburn and Louisiana State. He's back again -- this time in a much different capacity.

Muschamp, who agreed to a five-year contract worth $13.5 million to replace Urban Meyer, was formally introduced as Florida's coach.

"University of Florida is about winning championships," he said. "I understand the expectations, and that's what we're here to do. ... We're not on a five-year plan here."

Muschamp expects to hire his staff after the Outback Bowl and intends to install a pro-style offense, welcome news for Florida fans who groaned about the spread all season. His decision could keep quarterback John Brantley, blamed for the team's lackluster offense, around another year.

Also: Fresno State coach Pat Hill said three players did not join the team for the trip to the Humanitarian Bowl because they violated rules.

Hill said linebacker Kyle Knox, receiver Matt Lindsay and linebacker Daniel Salinas did not accompany the team for the bowl game in Boise, Idaho.

Knox is second on the team with 74 tackles. Lindsay has 14 catches for 208 yards. The Bulldogs will play Northern Illinois on Saturday.

Las Vegas High School senior receiver Marquan Major gave an oral commitment to Idaho, choosing the Vandals over a scholarship offer from UNLV.

Major said UNLV's coaching staff will visit his home later this week, but he was "sold on Idaho" after his official visit to the Moscow, Idaho, campus last weekend.

"(Idaho) coaches were mad they didn't go to a bowl," Major said. "That's good. You don't want to go to a program where they're used to losing."

The 6-foot-3-inch Major caught 43 passes for 545 yards and four touchdowns as a senior, helping Las Vegas (11-2) reach the Sunrise Region title game.

GOLF

Furyk humbled by PGA honor named after his hero, Nicklaus

Jim Furyk was voted PGA Tour player of the year by his colleagues, and making it even more meaningful was the image on the trophy. The official title of the honor is the "Jack Nicklaus Award."

Furyk's three biggest golfing heroes were Byron Nelson, Arnold Palmer and Nicklaus. He had the best relationship with the latter.

He once played a practice round with the 18-time major champion, and the acquaintance became even stronger through the Memorial and the Presidents Cup, with Nicklaus the captain of four teams on which Furyk played.

But what really helped is whom Furyk married. "He's always had a special place for me because of my wife being a Buckeye," Furyk said with a grin. "That was my in. He liked me because my wife was from Ohio State."

Also: Greg Bruckner of Phoenix shot a final-round 67 for a two-round total of 131 to claim a one-stroke victory in the Nevada Senior Open at CasaBlanca Golf Course in Mesquite.