MONTREAL (AP)—Tomas Plekanec scored the game-winning goal in overtime as the Montreal Canadiens outlasted the Washington Capitals, 6-5 Wednesday at Bell Centre. After Nicklas Backstrom’s goal tied things at 2-2 apiece in the second period for Washington, the Canadiens finished the period with three straight goals with Plekanec’s first score making it 5-2 for Montreal heading into the third period. In the last stanza of regulation, Brooks Laich finished off his hat trick with a pair of goals while Mike Green also scored before Plekanec’s heroics. The win improved the Canadiens to 29-26-6, while the Capitals suffered a rare defeat, falling to 41-12-7. In other NHL action Wednesday, Philadelphia edged New Jersey, 3-2 in overtime, Nashville doubled up the New York Rangers, 2-1, Columbus blanked San Jose, 3-0, Pittsburgh gashed the New York Islanders, 3-1, Phoenix tripped up Minnesota, 3-2, Colorado stymied Atlanta, 4-3 in overtime and Anaheim downed Edmonton, 3-2.

LAS VEGAS (AP)—Roman Martinez and Darington Hobson had 16 points apiece and the #19 New Mexico Lobos overpowered the #25 Nevada-Las Vegas Rebels, 76-66 Wednesday at Thomas & Mack Center in Top 25 mens’ college basketball action. Dairese Gary added 15 more points off the bench for the Lobos, who improved to 22-3 on the season. Oscar Bellfield had 15 points in the loss for the Rebels, who fell to 19-5. In other Top 25 action Wednesday, #3 Syracuse got past Connecticut, 72-67, #7 Duke bested North Carolina, 64-54, #16 Ohio State stonewalled Indiana, 69-52, #18 Northern Iowa tripped up Drake, 57-48 and Miami (Fla.) upset #20 Georgia Tech, 64-62.

NEPHI, Utah (AP)—Jake Bradford had 21 points and Taran Wright added 13 more as the Juab Wasps edged the Delta Rabbits, 54-51 Wednesday in Region 12 boys basketball action. Nick Nissen had 17 points in the loss for Delta.

CASTLE DALE, Utah (AP)—Nevin Jensen had 23 points for the Emery Spartans in an 88-50 rout of the Manti Templars in Region 12 boys basketball action Wednesday. Russ Hugentobler had 19 points in the loss for Manti.

RICHFIELD, Utah (AP)—David Bean posted 22 points and Robert Torgerson stepped in with 15 more as the Richfield Wildcats gashed the North Sanpete Hawks, 63-56 Wednesday in Region 12 boys basketball action. Dallen Bird and Devin Shelly each had 19 points in the loss for the Hawks.

ENTERPRISE, Utah (AP)—Ryan Jones led all scorers with 19 points as the Enterprise Wolves stonewalled the Beaver Beavers, 65-44 in Region 13 boys basketball action Wednesday. Austin Blackburn had 12 points in the loss for Beaver.

PAROWAN, Utah (AP)—Josh Curtis had 17 points for the Parowan Rams in a 64-51 win over the Millard Eagles Wednesday in Region 13 boys basketball action. Patrick Bendall had 13 points in the loss for the Eagles.

MONROE, Utah (AP)—Dillon Bishoff posted 19 points and Jace Meacham had 16 more as the South Sevier Rams crushed the Gunnison Bulldogs, 65-37 in Region 15 boys basketball action Wednesday. Drew Despain had 20 points in the loss for Gunnison.

PANGUITCH, Utah (AP)—Kayla Maxwell had 21 points for the Valley Lady Buffaloes as they edged the Wayne Lady Badgers, 38-37 Wednesday in the first round of the Region 20 girls basketball tournament. Amanda Grundy had 13 points in the loss for Wayne.

PANGUITCH, Utah (AP)—Kaylea Shakespeare had 10 points in the loss for the Bryce Valley Lady Mustangs in a 44-33 win over the Milford Lady Tigers in the first round of the Region 20 girls basketball tournament Wednesday.

PANGUITCH, Utah (AP)—Kalani Norris posted 13 points and Breanne Bateman added 12 more as the Panguitch Lady Bobcats smacked the Escalante Lady Moquis, 41-20 Wednesday in the first round of the Region 20 girls basketball tournament. Airamee Bebee had nine points in the loss for the Lady Moquis.

(RICHFIELD) – Rocky Mountain Power officials are holding an open house tonight to gain public comment on a proposed transmission line project that traverses areas in Sevier County. RMP Communications Director Margaret Oler says the purpose of constructing the lines is due to the massive growth in the southwest part of the state. Oler said the construction project includes 160 miles of a new 345 kilovolt transmission line from the Sigurd substation to the Red Butte substation near the town of Central in Washington County. She said RMP needs public input as to the best locations to construct the lines. The open house will be held tonight from 5:30-8pm in the Sevier Valley Center Theatre. Another open house will be held Feb. 18 at the same time and location.

(BLUFFDALE)—Bluffdale City plans to opt out of the newly-formed Unified Police Department. Tuesday night, the city council voted unanimously to contract with Saratoga Springs for its police service instead. Saratoga Springs has proposed to have at least one officer on duty in the city at all times. With this option, Bluffdale will also create its own precinct with officers assigned to Bluffdale with their own uniforms and logos, but it would be managed by and report to the Saratoga Springs police chief. The deal takes effect in three months and guarantees the city a constant police presence, something it says UPD wouldn’t provide.

(OGDEN)—Ogden City is moving forward with plans to build a streetcar system. According to the Standard-Examiner, the city is applying for a federal grant to help fund the $25 million project. The grant would come from the Federal Transit Administration and would likely require Ogden to match funds up to $5 or $6 million. That money would come from a sales and use tax increase approved by voters in 2007. Ogden’s streetcar system would be similar to Salt Lake City’s TRAX and would circulate downtown. If Ogden is chosen for the grant, it may be months before it’s approved. It will then take several years beyond that for construction of the streetcar system, which would be just over two miles in length and carry an estimated 300,000 passengers per year.

(SALT LAKE CITY)—Utah Governor Gary Herbert is asking the state’s Drivers License Division to look at extended hours at driver’s license offices. Currently, the offices adhere to the state’s four-day workweek and are closed Fridays. However, the state is considering extending the hours at several locations in hopes of reducing long lines. The driver’s license office in Draper was already scheduled to begin operating on Fridays starting this week. Herbert’s spokeswoman, Angie Welling, says the state is also looking at offices in Davis and Utah counties. The big sticking point, however, is the money it would take to open the offices on an additional day. Current employees would have to work overtime or they would have to hire additional people as Herbert does not want to cut back the hours for Monday through Thursday. Officials have not yet decided how to pay for staffing the offices for extended hours.

(SALT LAKE CITY)—Utah’s governor would be allowed to appoint the chief justice of the state Supreme Court every six years under a measure the state Senate has initially approved. Currently, judges on the court elect the chief justice and the associate chief justice. Senate Bill 109 would change that. Under Senate Majority leader Scott Jenkins’ bill, the chief justice would be responsible for designating the associate chief justice. The Senate voted 15-13 Tuesday to advance the measure. It will require one more formal reading before advancing to the House.

(RICHFIELD) – A new bicycle moto-cross track may soon be constructed in Richfield. At the City Council meeting last night, developer, Rodger Brazell addressed coucilmembers on building the track on property owned by Dennis Jorgensen of Richfield on the airport road south of the golf course. Brazell wants to gain approval of the project, which could bring 500 moto-cross enthusiasts to the city several times throughout the year and a possible national race. Councilmembers said the property would need to be improved according to zone requirements but waived the requirement for two years to measure the profitability of the project. After discussion, the council approved the project.