The Associated Press

MOSCOW - American Ed Moses won the 200-meter breaststroke and tied for first in the 50-meter race, extending his unbeaten streak in World Cup short-course races to eight. Moses won the 200 in 2 minutes, 8.27 seconds, well off the world record 2:02.92 he set Saturday in Berlin, and tied Russia's Roman Sludnov in the 50.

Moses swept the 50, 100 and 200 breaststrokes in Stockholm and Berlin in the last two weeks.

"I've raced so many 200s in the past three meets that I need a break from it," Moses said. "Every time I do the 200s really well, the next day I'm so tired. So tonight, I wanted to give myself a break and just win."

In a 50 heat, Moses and Sludnov, competing in his first World Cup event this season, each finished in 27.44 seconds.

"Whatever shape he's in, whatever shape I'm in, when we stand on the blocks it doesn't matter," Moses said of Sludnov. "He's going to go as fast as he can and I'm going to go as fast as I can - we are big rivals."

Moses said he plans on competing in the next World Cup meet, in New York later this month, but will skip the final event in Rio de Janeiro to prepare for the U.S. nationals Feb. 10.

Auto racing

EARNHARDT JOINS CHILDRESS: Kerry Earnhardt will drive a black No. 33 Chevrolet for Richard Childress Racing in a limited schedule of Nextel Cup races. He also will help RCR test and develop cars for full-time drivers Kevin Harvick, Robby Gordon and Johnny Sauter.

"We're going to have an Earnhardt back in a Richard Childress Racing car," said Childress, who once employed the late Dale Earnhardt Sr. "It gives me chills just to say that."

Kerry, 34, the oldest son of Dale Earnhardt and stepbrother of Cup star Dale Jr., will drive in five races for RCR, beginning with the event at Talladega April 25.

Hockey

MAPLE LEAFS 3, CAPITALS 2: Alexei Ponikarovsky, who has scored four of his seven NHL goals against Olaf Kolzig, beat the goaltender twice in the third period to lead Toronto.

BLUE JACKETS 3, BLUES 1: Manny Malhotra scored two third-period goals for Columbus. Picked up on waivers from Dallas in November, Malhotra has seven goals for Columbus - one fewer than his career best.

The win kept Columbus interim coach Gerard Gallant unbeaten at home (2-0-1) and ended the Blues' six-game winning streak over the Blue Jackets.

WILD 4, BLACKHAWKS 2: Jim Dowd put in the rebound of his own slap shot to break a tie with 15.5 seconds left for Minnesota.

HURRICANES 2, DEVILS 1: Jeff O'Neill's fifth goal in four games lifted Carolina.

AVALANCHE 6, PANTHERS 5: Alex Tanguay's third goal of the game with 5:41 left gave Colorado the victory.

BRUINS: Center Joe Thornton will have surgery today on his fractured cheekbone and is expected to miss at least one more game.

MAPLE LEAFS: Forward Darcy Tucker had surgery on his left eye and will be out indefinitely. Tucker, who was hit in the face by Islanders forward Jason Blake's stick Tuesday, has 14 goals and seven assists.

AHL: MIGHTY DUCKS 3, RAMPAGE 2: Casey Hankinson scored with less than 10 minutes left to give Cincinnati the victory. Hankinson also had an assist for the Ducks, who improved to 5-1-2-1 in their last nine games and are unbeaten in their last four home games.

San Antonio	1	1	0	-2
Cincinnati	1	1	2	-3

First period: 1. San, Huskins 2 (Koehler, Periard), 2:13 (ppg). 2. Cin, Gratton 1 (Hankinson), 11:28.

Second period: 3. San, Kudroc 1 (Dzieduszycki, Koehler), 2:22. 4. Cin, Stepp 5 (Smith, O'Brien), 5:02.

Third period: 5. Cin, Hankinson 9 (Aucoin, Parenteau), 10:53.

Shots on goal: SA 12-3-4=19, Cin. 13-10-12=35. Power plays: SA 1-2, Cin. 0-5. Goaltenders: SA Scott (32 saves; 16-12-5), Cin. Bryzgalov (17, 15-13-4). A: 2,202.