Sports in Brief: Blue Jackets sign Bobrovsky for two more years

What Columbus Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen called "a big piece of the puzzle" fell into place Monday when the club signed goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky to a two-year contract extension.

The 24-year-old Russian, recipient of the Vezina Trophy as the NHL's top goalie this past season and a former Flyer, could have become a restricted free agent this week.

"I'm looking forward to the season and working with my teammates to help us to our goal of winning a Stanley Cup," he said.

An Islanders team official confirmed that the team will buy out the remaining eight years of oft-injured goalie Rick DiPietro's contract. The 31-year-old will be placed on waivers Tuesday before the compliance buyout can be used.

Goalie Tim Thomas, 39, is open to resuming his career after taking a season off, his agent Bill Zito said.

NHL's free agency opens Friday.

NHL players are just a slapshot away from returning to the Olympics next year. While a deal hasn't been reached yet between the NHL, the union and the International Ice Hockey Federation to send the league's players to Sochi, a long meeting pushed the sides much closer to an agreement.

The Phoenix Coyotes signed goalie Mike Smith to a six-year deal that averages around $5.7 million per season.

The Boston Bruins, hit with the news they will likely be losing right winger Nathan Horton to free agency, are one of many teams interested in signing free-agent forward Vincent Lecavalier.

SOCCER: U.S. national team members Joshua Gatt and Cory Ashe are battling injuries as the Americans prepare for the CONCACAF Gold Cup. The U.S. plays Guatemala on Friday at Qualcomm Stadium before heading to the Gold Cup.

U.S. national team captain Carlos Bocanegra signed with Chivas USA of MLS.

Ethiopia was stripped of three points in World Cup qualifying by FIFA for fielding an ineligible player. The sanction means Ethiopia is two points ahead of South Africa and three ahead of Botswana and is not guaranteed a place in Africa's final playoffs for the World Cup ahead of the final round of Group A games in September.

COLLEGES: The Atlantic Coast Conference's plan to expand, revealed in 2010 and modified along the way, came to fruition as Pittsburgh, Syracuse and Notre Dame officially became members, giving the conference 15 members.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: Two Texas A&M football players - junior Deshazor Everett and senior Floyd Raven - were charged with misdemeanor assault and criminal mischief after a fight at an apartment complex. Everett had a late-game interception to seal the Aggies' 29-24 upset win at top-ranked Alabama in November.

- From wire reports