HOCKEY

ZACH PARISE SCORES IN SHOOTOUT TO GIVE DEVILS WIN

Zach Parise scored the only goal in a four-round shootout and the New Jersey Devils won their third straight game by beating the Boston Bruins 3–2 last night.

Martin Brodeur stopped Bruins shooters Glen Metropolit, Phil Kessel, David Krejci and Marco Sturm in the first four rounds, setting up Parise’s duel with Tim Thomas.

Parise skated slowly down the middle, make a deke and lifted a backhander over the glove of Thomas, who had stopped Brian Gionta, Patrik Elias and Jamie Langenbrunner on the Devils’ first three shootout attempts.

BASEBALL

McNAMEE SELLS MEMORABILIA FOR DIABETES CHARITY

Brian McNamee was planning to dump all his mementos of his relationship with Roger Clemens. Then a friend persuaded him to think better of it.

Now the former personal trainer who claims he injected the seven time Cy Young Award winner with steroids is selling dozens of personal items in an online auction, and donating the profits to his juvenile diabetes charity.

A baseball signed by Clemens and McNamee that started yesterday at $38 was bidding $4,000 by late afternoon, said Phil Castinetti, a friend of McNamee’s and owner of SportsWorld in Saugus who is handling the sale.

At Castinetti’s suggestion, McNamee turned over 50 to 60 items including hats, uniforms, balls and pictures of Roger Clemens, Andy Pettitte, Jose Canseco — “all the steroid guys,” Castinetti says.

MARINERS PLACE CLOSER PUTZ ON DL WITH RIBCAGE INJURY

Mariners All-Star closer J.J. Putz was put on the 15-day disabled list with a ribcage injury yesterday.

Putz, who converted 40 of 42 save opportunities last season, blew one Tuesday night by allowing a go-ahead home run to Texas’ Josh Hamilton in the top of the ninth inning.

SOCCER

LIVERPOOL HOLDS ARSENAL TO 1–1 TIE IN FIRST LEG

Dirk Kuyt scored a tying goal midway through the first half, helping Liverpool hold Arsenal to a 1–1 draw last night in the first leg of their European Champions League quarterfinal.

Emmanuel Adebayor put the Gunners in front in the 23th minute, beating goalkeeper Pepe Reina with a powerful header from close range following Robert Van Persie’s left-footed cross.

Kuyt tied it three minutes later after Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard dribbled into the penalty area on the left and got by three men before sending across a low ball. Kuyt slid between two more defenders to deflect the ball into the net.

This was the first of three matches between the clubs in six days. They meet again in London on Saturday n the English Premier League, then face each other at Anfield next Tuesday in the second leg of the home-and-home, total-goals Champions League quarterfinal.

BASKETBALL

ARENAS MAKES SURPRISE RETURN FROM KNEE SURGERY

Gilbert Arenas made a surprise return to the Washington Wizards on Wednesday night, playing his first game since knee surgery in November.

Showing his flare for the dramatic, Arenas waited until the 5:30 mark of the first quarter of the Wizards’ game against the Milwaukee Bucks to emerge from the locker room wearing his No. 0 jersey.

He entered the game 9 seconds later to a large ovation and scored on a reverse layup with 4:49 left in the first, his first points since November 16 against Minnesota.