MORNING ROUNDUP

NASCAR short-track star dies

Sam Ard, a two-time champion of NASCAR’s second-tier series, has died. He was 78.

Ard died Sunday in South Carolina. NASCAR called Ard “a tough-as-nails racer” in a statement confirming his death.

St. Louis handles Nashville

Alexander Steen scored the tiebreaking goal early in the second period, David Perron had a goal and two assists, and the St. Louis Blues beat the Nashville Predators 4-1 Sunday.

Vladimir Tarasenko and Joel Edmundson also scored, and Jake Allen stopped 35 shots as St. Louis earned at least at point for the ninth straight game (7-0-2). Allen improved to 9-1-2 with two shutouts and 16 goals allowed his past 12 starts.

Rafinha injures right knee

Barcelona midfielder Rafinha has injured his right knee during Sunday’s 4-1 victory at Granada.

The club said that 24-year-old Rafinha will undergo further tests to determine the extent of the injury to the meniscus in his knee.

Thornton injures left leg

San Jose Sharks center Joe Thornton left Sunday’s game against the Vancouver Canucks with an apparent injury to his left leg.

Thornton ran into Canucks forward Michael Chaput from behind along the boards with just over three minutes to go in the first period before crumpling to the ice. He managed to get to the San Jose bench on his own, but couldn’t put any weight on his left leg and had to be helped to the locker-room.