PITTSBURGH — Evgeni Malkin — who had just returned from a five-game absence — has a major knee injury, Pittsburgh Penguins coach Dan Bylsma said.
Malkin was injured during Friday night’s 3-2 home win over Buffalo. He had an MRI on Saturday, which showed tears to the anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments in his right knee. Bylsma said treatment options are being discussed.
Malkin, who has 15 goals and 22 assists this season, is in his fifth season in the NHL and has had two 100-point seasons.
Knicks hire Warkentien
NEW YORK — The New York Knicks hired veteran league executive Mark Warkentien as director of pro player personnel.
Team president Donnie Walsh announced the move, saying Warkentien will work with him on preparing for the NBA draft, scouting assignments and personnel moves.
Warkentien was most recently vice president of basketball operations for the Nuggets, winning NBA executive of the year honors after the 2008-09 season. The Nuggets let his contract expire when they restructured their front office last summer.
Oliver wins 60-meter race
STUTTGART, Germany — Former Denver East High School star David Oliver won the 60-meter indoor hurdles at the Sparkassen Cup, with Olympic champion Dayron Robles unable to finish.
Robles was leading but clipped a hurdle and pulled up. Oliver finished in a personal-best 7.37 seconds, the first time the American beat Robles in six races.
U.S. in Fed Cup hole
ANTWERP, Belgium — Melanie Oudin and Bethanie Mattek-Sands of the United States lost their singles matches, giving Belgium a 2-0 lead in a first-round Fed Cup matchup.
Oudin lost to Australian Open winner Kim Clijsters 6-0, 6-4, and Mattek-Sands fell 6-1, 7-6 (6) to Yanina Wickmayer.
Canadians sweep halfpipe
PARK CITY, Utah — Michael Riddle won the men’s gold and Rosalind Groenewoud took the women’s, giving Canada a sweep of the halfpipe titles at the Freestyle World Ski Championships.
On the men’s side, Kevin Rolland of France finished second and Simon Dumont of the U.S. was third. Jennifer Hudak of the U.S. was second in the women’s competition, followed by Canada’s Keltie Hansen.
Footnotes.
Manchester United’s unbeaten start to the Premier League soccer season finally ended with a surprise 2-1 defeat at last- place Wolverhampton. United was unbeaten in 29 Premier League matches since April.
• Giant Oak unleashed a powerful stretch rally to capture the Grade 1 $500,000 Donn Handicap by two lengths at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla.
• The Minnesota Twins agreed to terms with left-hander Francisco Liriano on a one-year, $4.3 million deal that avoids arbitration.
