Senators and Blackhawks move on, Pens win
In Thursday’s action on frozen pond, Ottawa Senators and Chicago Blackhawks are both through to the second round of the NHL playoffs. Ottawa spanked Montreal 6-1 and Chicago mugged the Minnesota Wild 5-1 to win their respective series four games to one. The Pittsburg Penguins made a goalie change and blanked the Islanders 4-0. Tomas Vokoun made 31 saves in pitching the shutout.
There are three elimination game in hockey tonight. The Boston Bruins are -230 home ice favorites over Toronto. The Bruins lead the the series 3-1. The Washington Capitals are -140 over the Rangers in the nation’s capital. The series is knotted at 2-2. The Detroit Red Wings look to stave off elimination as the -130 home choice over Anaheim. The Ducks lead that series 3-2. In tonight’s finale, the Kings are -160 over the St Louis Blues. Los Angeles has won three straight after dropping the first to games in St Louis.
Friday Night NBA playoff preview
The NBA playoffs resume tonight with Game 3’s between the Heat and Bulls and the Spurs and Warriors. The front-end of the ESPN double-header starts at 8:05 P EST and has Miami -7.5 point road favorites at the United Center. The total is down a half tick to 187 1/2. On the 10:35 PM EST back end, Golden State is getting bet with both hands. The Warriors are -3 after opening at -1. The high/low is set at 203. Both series are tied at one game apiece.
ESPN Radio analyst and Basketball Hall of Famer Dr. Jack Ramsay is in need of immediate medical treatment and will not work the remainder of the NBA playoffs.Ramsay, 88, did not specify his medical condition. He was diagnosed with prostate cancer 14 years ago and previously had been treated for melanomas. God speed to Dr. Jack.
MLB News and Notes
Zack Greinke will make a rehab start tonight with the Dodgers Class-A Rancho Cucamonga team. Barring a setback, Greinke will rejoin the Dodgers rotation next Wednesday. Greinke broke his collarbone in an April 11th brawl with the Padres that was triggered after the right-hander hit Carlos Quinton.
There was a rare occurrence last night in the MLB when reigning Cy Young award winners met in Tampa Bay. Neither R.A. Dickey or David Price figured in the decision in Tampa Bay’s 5-4 10-inning win over Toronto. In the other matchups, Atlanta’s Tom Glavine beat the Roger Clemens and the New York Yankees 6-2 on July 15, 1999 and the Mets’ Frank Viola defeated the Dodgers’ Orel Hershiser 1-0 on Aug. 28, 1989.
Gold medal Olympian killed in America’s Cup practice
A 36-year-old British Olympian has been killed near San Francisco practicing for the yachting’s Americas Cup. Andrew “Bart” Simpson died after this high-tech catamaran platform trapped him underwater for about 10 minutes shortly after 1 p.m. A second Brit Olympis medalist was injured with neck injuries that aren’t considered life threatening. The incident is being investigated.
US Soccer drops in world rankings
The United States has dropped a spot to 29th in the FIFA rankings. World champion Spain is still 1st for the 19th consecutive month with the rest of the top ten (Germany, Argentina, Croatia, Portugal, Colombia, England, Italy, Netherlands and Ecuador) unchanged.
This is the Vikings final season in the Metrodome
This year the Minnesota Vikings will be playing their final season in the Metrodome. The Vikes will play their home games in 2014 and 2015 at the University of Minnesota’s TCF Bank Stadium with an option for an additional two years. Minnesota will pay the University $250,000 per game rent plus share $50,000 in concessions. The deal must still be ratified by the school’s Board of Regents.
Free Play
(MLB) Tampa Bay (Cobb) -165 over San Diego (Volquez) (Friday, May 10, 7:05 PM PM EST )