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A look at things to watch this week in the Big Ten:

EDMONTON, Alberta -- Taylor Hall is doing what he was expected to do when the New Jersey Devils acquired him last summer. He's tied for the team lead in points, even though he's missed nine games.

LOS ANGELES -- The St. Louis Blues and the Los Angeles Kings meet Thursday at Staples Center as both attempt to get back on track after poor home performances in their previous contests. The game is second of their three-game season series, with the Blues capturing a 1-0 victory on Oct. 29 with Jaden Schwartz scoring the lone goal.

TAMPA, Fla. -- The Buffalo Sabres and Tampa Bay Lightning are just one point apart in the NHL standings, out of the playoff picture but headed in different directions as they try to stay in the wild-card hunt in the second half of the season.

The Nashville Predators ended a frustrating first half of the season with an emphatic bang, one they hope will serve as a springboard to improvement.

DENVER -- The Colorado Avalanche hope to end their five-day break the same way it started -- with a win on home ice.

DALLAS -- Consistency is proving elusive this season for both the Detroit Red Wings and Dallas Stars, a trend the former Central Division rivals hope to begin reversing when they meet at American Airlines Center on Thursday night.

A look at things to watch this week in the Big 12:

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) Nebraska coach Mike Riley fired defensive coordinator Mark Banker on Wednesday after the unit underperformed in some of the Cornhuskers' most important games.

OTTAWA -- It would come as no surprise to see Matt Murray in goal for the Pittsburgh Penguins when they visit the Ottawa Senators at Canadian Tire Centre on Thursday.

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) Andre Iguodala offered a good-natured shoutout to those behind the design of his creative and coveted golf-themed bobblehead doll handed out Tuesday night. Other than that moment, he wanted to talk basketball and stick strictly to business.

PRO FOOTBALL

NEW YORK -- The New Orleans Pelicans held their breath when Anthony Davis took a hard foul and crashed into the front row of the stands at Madison Square Garden Monday.

SAN ANTONIO -- The San Antonio Spurs will look to make amends for a rare poor defensive game and are expected to be back at full strength when the Los Angeles Lakers visit the Alamo City on Thursday.

OAKLAND, Calif. -- The Golden State Warriors will have to deal with an elite big man for the third consecutive game Thursday night when they host Andre Drummond and the Detroit Pistons.

Second-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska defeated a tired Barbora Strycova 6-1, 6-2 on Thursday to advance to the Sydney International final against either Johanna Konta or Eugenie Bouchard.

NEW YORK -- Derrick Rose and Joaquin Noah will get another shot at their former team when the New York Knicks host the Chicago Bulls on Thursday at Madison Square Garden.

Colorado All-Star forward Nathan MacKinnon took a golf lesson over the team's bye week.

Brandt Snedeker won in his next start after losing the Sony Open in a playoff last year.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) CJ McCollum had 27 points and the Trail Blazers shook of fatigue caused by weather-related travel delays to beat the defending NBA champion Cleveland Cavaliers 102-86 on Wednesday night.