Djokovic returns with exhibition win
Novak Djokovic is back after the longest injury layoff of his career.
Wearing a compression sleeve to protect his troublesome right elbow, Djokovic dominated the fifth-ranked Dominic Thiem 6-1, 6-4 in an exhibition at the Kooyong Classic, a tuneup for next week’s Australian Open. Djokovic, out six months, said he’d had doubts whether he’d be ready to play the first Grand Slam of the year.
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■ North Carolina State:
■ Rutgers:
■ Indiana:
■ St. John’s: Wednesday’s Top 25 games
■ (At) No. 1 Villanova 89, No. 10 Xavier 65:
■ No. 16 TCU at Texas:
■ Louisville 73, (at) No. 23 Florida State 69: Wednesday’s Games
Senators 4, (at) Maple Leafs 3: Tom Pyatt broke a tie with 3:05 left to lift Ottawa. Pyatt took a feed from Matt Duchene on a 3-on-1 — after Toronto defenseman Morgan Rielly got caught pinching at Ottawa’s blue line — and beat Frederik Andersen high to the blocker side. Thomas Chabot, Mike Hoffman and Gabriel Dumont also scored to help the Senators rebound from an 8-2 home loss to Chicago on Tuesday. Craig Anderson made 44 saves after being pulled against Chicago. Andreas Borgman, James van Riemsdyk and Rielly scored for Toronto, and Andersen made 29 saves.
Wild 2, (at) Blackhawks 1: Ryan Suter gave Minnesota the lead on a 4-on-4 early in the third period, and Devan Dubnyk made 34 saves for the Wild. Jonas Brodin scored in the second period for the Wild, who pulled two points ahead of Chicago (21-16-6) in the Central Division. Blackhawks defenseman Brent Seabrook, a healthy scratch in an 8-2 win in Ottawa on Tuesday night, was back in the lineup and celebrated with his first goal since opening night. Chicago’s Anton Forsberg made 25 saves in his third straight start.
NHL notes
Blackhawks: Chicago acquired winger Anthony Duclair and defenseman Adam Clendening from the Coyotes for winger Richard Panik and a minor leaguer. Duclair has nine goals and six assists in 33 games this season.
Senators: Forward Bobby Ryan is sidelined by another hand injury. This is Ryan’s third hand injury in 12 months and seventh since 2014. Ryan has five goals and 12 assists in 32 games this season.