scored twice during the first period with help from

ALLEN PARK, Mich. - The Detroit Lions won a game in December for the first time since 2011. Theyre also on track for their first playoff appearance since that season.Were focusing on this week and this week only and not worrying about anything else, centre Dominic Raiola said. Thats a good thing around here, it really is. Its a new day.The Lions beat Tampa Bay 34-17 on Sunday. If they win out — beating Minnesota, Chicago and Green Bay to close the regular season — theyll win the NFC North, although a victory at Lambeau Field in the finale certainly wont come easy.If Detroit beats just the struggling Vikings and Bears in the next two weeks, it could earn a wild-card spot.There are a few causes for concern, though, especially since coach Jim Caldwell has a reputation for running a disciplined team.During his first stint as an NFL head coach, with Indianapolis from 2009-11, all three of his teams finished among the least penalized in the league, each averaging 4.7 penalties or fewer per game.This year, Caldwells Lions rank 24th, averaging 7.4 penalties per game. Thats the Lions highest mark since 2011, when they committed nearly eight per game.That is an area we have to improve, plain and simple, Caldwell said. I am more interested in winning. But I know one thing: If you have too many (penalties), they lead to problems, they lead to deficiencies, they lead to losses. That is an area we have to get straightened away.In Sundays win over Tampa Bay, the Lions had nine penalties for 122 yards. Caldwell mentioned that some teams have had great success while posting high penalty rates, such as the 2013 Seattle Seahawks, who led the league in flags and still won the Super Bowl.But that is not Caldwells philosophy.We talk about being somewhere in the top five in fewest penalties, Caldwell said. Were not there. Were working to get there. When were not there, Im not satisfied. ... We wont get there overnight. It takes time. It takes an understanding and development. Its not just training, but educating as well.Caldwell pointed to Detroits 34-17 win over Chicago on Thanksgiving, in which the team had five penalties for 38 yards, as a sign of improvement.Thats closer to where wed like it, he said. Its still two too high. We want one on offence, one on defence, one in the kicking game, maximum. Thats what were looking for.Caldwell also addressed the absence of running back Theo Riddick from the Tampa Bay game.(Reggie Bush) is back, Caldwell said. When Reggie is out, Theo takes on a number of the same roles. When Reggie is back, theres only one spot for one guy. We have talked about (wide receiver) Ryan Broyles. The same thing holds true there. There is only so many spots for guys to occupy. ... We try to spread it around as much as possible, but you cant use everybody.NOTES: Tight end Joseph Fauria has battled injuries this season. He hobbled off the field in the first quarter against Tampa Bay but came back to make a 10-yard touchdown catch. Well see whats going to happen with him, Caldwell said. Theres a few guys that are always, after a ballgame, a little worse for wear. Well see in the next couple days or so.___AP NFL websites: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL NFL Jerseys . Mired in an offensive slump, Lowry - the NBAs leader in taking charges this season - did what he has learned to do best, standing his ground and drawing a crucial offensive foul on the Cavaliers all-star point guard. Fast forward 30 seconds to the Cavs next possession, with the home team still trailing by three, Spencer Hawes - one of the leagues best passing big men - threw an interception, intended for Tyler Zeller and picked off by DeMar DeRozan. Custom Jerseys . As they are wont to do, the Spurs made things real easy. The Spurs signed Parker to a multi-year contract extension on Friday, ensuring that the six-time All-Star point guard will be in the fold whether Duncan and Ginobili are able to continue their careers or not. https://www.cheapjerseysjustwholesale.com/ .ca has you covered for whos in, whos out and what to expect from all 30 teams. Stitched Jerseys . Off-season additions Jermain Defoe and Michael Bradley did not train with the club today, prompting Nelsen to declare its too early to tell if either will be ready for Saturday. Offcial Jerseys . Costa Rica followed up its wins over Uruguay and Italy by holding England to a dour 0-0 draw on Tuesday, enough to finish first in Group D.SAN JOSE, Calif. - Even on a night when the play was hampered by choppy ice, the puck still seems to find Joe Pavelski and he keeps finding the net. Pavelski scored twice to move into a tie for the second most goals in the NHL this season and help the San Jose Sharks beat the Calgary Flames 3-2 Monday night. "It feels how you should play the game all the time, to be honest," Pavelski said. "Its the way you picture it. Ive just visualized this a few times, so it shouldnt be anything new." Pavelski scored on a deflection in the first period and on the power play in the second to give him five goals in his past two games and 18 in the past 20 to tie Anaheims Corey Perry with 27 on the season. Washingtons Alex Ovechkin leads the league with 35. "Its fun to watch," teammate Tommy Wingels said. "They go in a whole different variety of ways as you saw tonight. When youre hot, youre hot. Hell certainly take it and as a team well take it as well." Wingels also scored and Antti Niemi made 21 saves for the Sharks, who returned home from a perfect three-game road trip with a win over struggling Calgary to open a pre-Olympic stretch of eight games out of 10 at home. Jiri Hudler and Kevin Westgarth scored for the Flames, who have lost four straight games and 11 of 13. Karri Ramo made 24 saves. "Were disappointed in the loss, but you cant fault the effort," forward Matt Stajan said. "We had our chances. If we continue to work like that well give ourselves a chance no doubt about it." Pavelski followed up his first career hat trick on Saturday in Tampa Bay with his third multi-goal game in his past six as he thrives on a line with Joe Thornton and Brent Burns. Pavelski is four goals shy of matching his career high of 31 set two seasons ago. He broke a tie late in the second period after Stajan was sent off for interfering with Eriah Hayes on the only penalty of the game. After a broken play at the blue line, Jason Demers kept the puck in the offensive zone and passed to Thornton, who was all alone on the opposite side of the ice. Thoornton fired a cross-ice pass to Pavelski, who was alone near the front of the net and deflected the pass past Ramo to give the Sharks a 3-2 lead.dddddddddddd "The ice was just so bouncy tonight I just tried to get it in the general direction," Thornton said. "He just made a great play, just hand-eye co-ordination. Hes just playing great right now. The puck seems to hit him right now and go in." Both teams scored twice during the first period with help from shaky goaltending from Niemi and Ramo. The four goals came on 18 shots and included three in a span of 1:12 midway through the period. The Flames started the scoring when Hudler beat Brad Stuart in the corner and then beat Niemi with a backhand from in front of the net for his 13th goal. The Sharks responded with two goals in a 21-second span with Pavelski tipping Justin Brauns point shot for the first and Wingels beating Ramo with a bad angle shot from near the boards to snap a 15-game goalless stretch. Less than a minute later, Niemi allowed a big rebound in the slot on a shot by Brian McGrattan and Westgarth got to the rebound ahead of Matt Irwin for his first goal in 23 games this season. Westgarth was happy to contribute two days after he was part of the game-opening line brawl against Vancouver that led to coach Bob Hartley getting fined $25,000 earlier in the day. "I dont know what is being said about me and I dont care," Westgarth said. "I know the guys in this room respect me and thats all that matters. I figured something would be happening. You dont want to have a line brawl like that very often." This game had just one minor penalty compared to the 204 combined minutes of penalties between the Canucks and Flames on Saturday. NOTES: With the assist on Pavelskis second goal, Thornton moved past Bobby Hull for 48th on the career scoring list with 1,171 points. ... Flames F Paul Byron left the game in the second period with a lower-body injury. ... Calgary F David Jones (eye) returned to the lineup after missing eight games and D Kris Russell (knee) was back after missing the past 13 games. ' ' '