September 13, 1996, 8:37am ET

Whoa, Canada!

Team USA put the brakes on Canada's hockey stampede Thursday night with a disciplined victory in Game 2 of the World Cup of Hockey finals. John LeClair, pictured celebrating at left with Mike Modano, scored twice as the United States defeated Canada 5-2 to force a decisive Game 3 Saturday. Mike Richter was brilliant for Team USA, stopping 35 shots and turning back a furious third-period comeback attempt where Canada could only get one of 18 shots past the netminder.

LeClair becomes big dog for U.S.
CBC's Grapes feels wrath from Ottawa hockey fans
Complete World Cup of Hockey coverage

Burks has 30/30 vision in Rockies' romp over Braves

Bernie busts out as Yankees sweep Tigers

No. 10 Hurricanes blow by Rutgers

Top-pick payoff: Sixers, Iverson agree to terms

San Diego State suspends star running back

Oh, fine: Paup loses appeal on $12,000 hit

Full recovery expected for M's Johnson

Cigar seeks to light it up again in Woodward

• The Wire

Chat with Dave Duncan
One of the top pitching coaches in baseball, the St. Louis Cardinals coach takes your questions about speciality pitchers and their effect on the game. Friday, 1:30 p.m. ET.

The Huddle with Ken O'Brien
He's back for more as the NFL rolls into Week 3. Hop into chat and air it out with former NFL quarterback Ken O'Brien. Friday at 7 p.m. ET.

ESPNET SportsZone Top 25 Fan Poll results
North Carolina enters the rankings for the first time, while Northwestern and Syracuse take a tumble after losses.

Sociologist Harry Edwards tackles race issue
The San Francisco 49ers consultant and the man behind the black-fist protests during the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City addressed the racial divide between black and white players in the NFL.

Chandler: Don't call me Fiddler
The Houston Oilers quarterback was the guest for the inaugural Zone Timeout, in which a new sports figure appears each Wednesday in a chat session.

Showdown: Does the Heisman honor the best?
Must the winner always be an offensive player who handles the ball a lot and whose team blows out its opponents? Join the debate and vote in a poll.

Gammons: Most Valuable Addition status for Murray
After the trading dust has settled, the Orioles' acquisition of Eddie Murray stands out as the most significant, says ESPN's Peter Gammons.

A D-lightful trend
They all have poster-boy quarterbacks, but five of the league's top teams are still getting it done with defense.

AFC East: Bills yet to prove they're real deal
The Zone's Jason Cole wonders whether Buffalo is pacing itself for a long playoff run or has just looked terrible against two mediocre opponents.

AFC West: Heavy expectations no Chief concern
Most coaches wouldn't say anything short of the Super Bowl is failure. But The Zone's Clare Farnsworth says Marty Schottenheimer isn't like most coaches.

NFC Central: Bears, Lions not passing muster
Both Detroit's Scott Mitchell and Chicago's Erik Kramer had breakout seasons in '95 -- and both have been terrible in '96, The Zone's Tom Oates says.

Olbermann: Time to hail Maris
ESPN's Keith Olbermann makes the argument why Roger Maris and his venerable home-run record should be in the Hall of Fame.

Granato won't change rugged style
San Jose Sharks forward Tony Granato has a new team and a new lease on life after undergoing brain surgery in February.

Donny wants back in the ballgame
Don Mattingly won't say it formally, but he's giving every indication that he'll wear a big league uniform next season.

Caught up in "The Catch"
As Michigan and Colorado get set for Saturday's rematch, everyone's still talking about the miraculous game-ending Hail Mary two years ago in Ann Arbor -- everyone, that is, except the Wolverines' coach.

They wrote what!?!
Don't fire Rich Kotite and Dan Reeves.

Deford: In defense of Bob Costas
Bowing to the almighty bottom line in chastising its announcer for on-air comments during the Olympics was as low as NBC can go, says Frank Deford.

Campus Connection
The Zone has correspondents on campus with some of the top football schools in the nation. Read their insider reports throughout the season.

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